HEADTEACHER UPDATE 1/4/21
Dear Parent/Carer
It has not been the end of term that we planned but I would once again like to say a big thank you to staff and pupils who have jumped back into home learning with ease (although tinged with a great deal of understandable frustration and disappointment at not being together in person).
Class Organisation for 2021-2022
Please can parents/carers of any pupils who are planning on not attending Hermitage Park next year inform us by email as soon as possible. The organisation of classes is dependent on the numbers of pupils in classes across the school and as such it is really important that we have a clear idea of expected numbers for August 2021.
Dates for Your Diary
I have outlined some key dates for your diary below. Please be aware that as guidance is amended we may need to adapt planned events.
20th April 2021 – All pupils Nursery – P7 return to school.
3rd May 2021 – BANK HOLIDAY (School closed for pupils and staff)
4th May 2021 – IN SERVICE DAY (School closed for pupils Nursery – P7)
6th May 2021 – ELECTION DAY (School closed for pupils Nursery – P7: A home Learning pack will be sent home to be completed on the day)
24th May 2021 – BANK HOLIDAY (School closed for pupils and staff)
1st June 2021 – PRIMARY ONE TRANSITION VIRTUAL INFORMATION MEETING
4th June 2021 – PRIMARY ONE VIRTUAL MEET AND MAKE
7th -16th June 2021 – HERMIE OLYMPICS (Classes will complete Olympic challenges as classes which will go towards our annual Sports Day House Cup)
14th June 2021 – FINAL REPORTING COMMENTS PUBLISHED ON ONLINE LEARNING JOURNALS
16th June 2021 – HERMIE OLYMPIC CEREMONY (Announcement of Sports Day House Cup)
17th June 2021 – P7 EPIC DAY (Primary 7 will attend an outdoor activities day at Bonaly 9am – 9pm – more information to follow)
18th June 2021 – P7 LEAVERS EVENT (2-4pm in the Playground TBC – P7 Pupils Only – This celebration event is dependent on further guidance from Edinburgh Council/Scottish Government)
23rd/24th June 2021 – HERMIE HOOLIE FOR NURSERY – P7 IN THE PLAYGROUND (Further information to follow)
25th June 2021 – P7 LEAVERS ASSEMBLY (This will be virtual or outdoors dependent on guidance)
25th June 2021 – NURSERY GRADUATION EVENT (This will be virtual or outdoors dependent on guidance)
25th June 2021 – SCHOOL CLOSES AT 12 O’CLOCK FOR THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS
Please see attached letter from NHS Lothian regarding the importance of continuing to follow the measures over the holidays to support the smooth and full reopening of schools after Easter. If you or a family member test positive during the school holidays please report this to the council contact centre on 0131 200 2000 and they will inform the school.
I hope that you all have a restful Easter break and we can’t wait to see everyone back and learning together on the 20th.
Best wishes,
Faye Calder-Kelly
Public health COVID19 information to parents carers and staff 290321
HEADTEACHER UPDATE 28/3/21
Unfortunately, a number of new positive cases have been reported over the weekend. The individuals have been asked to self-isolate, together with others who are identified as their close contacts.
Following further consultation with the Health Protection Team, NHS Lothian & City of Edinburgh Education and Environmental Services we have had to make the difficult decision to return to remote learning for all pupils for the final 4 days of term. This will replace the plan for Blended Leading (2 days of which would have been in school) that I shared with you on Friday. We recognise that this will be very challenging for many families and I can assure you that it is not a decision that has been taken lightly.
REMOTE LEARNING PROVISION
Live lessons will take place on TEAMS and learning tasks/resources will be posted on Learning Journals in the same manner as during lockdown. Further information on lessons times will follow. Should you need to borrow a digital device to access the online content please email or call the school and we will make arrangements for you to collect this tomorrow.
FREE SCHOOL MEAL PROVISION
Pupils in P1-3 and Pupils in P4-7 (who meet free school meals entitlements) will be able to collect their meal from the dining room entrance in the front playground. If your child is entitled to free school meals and their class have been asked to isolate we will contact you to arrange delivery. Please only attend at the times noted below to allow us to distribute meals safely. You will receive a refund should your child be in P4-7 and you have paid for their meal.
The return to remote learning is a response to the number of cases and the lack of sufficient staffing due to staff having to self-isolate. Unfortunately, we are therefore unable to offer key worker provision.
Yours sincerely,
Faye Calder-Kelly
Headteacher
OUR VISION AND VALUES
CONTACTING THE SCHOOL
Please do not enter the school building/visit the office in person unless at the request of office staff You will be able to contact staff through emailing the office on admin@hermitagepark.edin.sch.uk or contacting the office by phone. It is vitally important that we have up to date emergency contact numbers and an email address. Please email the office if yours has changed.
Parent Help Sheets – Accessing and supporting home learning
Here are a number of help sheets that may be helpful to our families to access teams for our daily class check-ins.
Teams Meetings – Advice for Pupils
Accessing Teams via Games Console
Teams Meeting using a tablet or phone
Teams Meetings – using a laptop
Letter sent to parents with further advice on logging into teams
Parent Guide for Learning Journals –
Parent Guide
Parent leaflets on supporting reading and setting learning routines at home.
7_Top_Tips_to_Support_Reading_at_Home
Supporting_home_learning_routines_-_Planning_the_day
If you, or someone you know, is struggling during this very difficult time we have gathered together a list of supports available. As we become aware of others we will update this page. Click Here
We have provided USEFUL WEBSITES which you may want to use while your child is at home, we will try to update this throughout the closure. Click Here
For medical information please see the NHS Scotland Website. Click Here
Why not try some of the recipes from our Hermie cookbook – see below?