News from Messy Church

Dear Friends of Messy Church,
July greetings! I hope this finds you well. We have two bits of news to share this month – see below. Hannah x

Forest Church is back!
We have two dates in the diary:
Sunday, 12th September, 3pm, The Isle, Bicton (by kind permission of Edward Tate)
Sunday, 19th September, 3pm, Leaton Forest (by kind permission of Charles Bridgeman)
Come and enjoy worship, crafty activities and (your own) food in the beautiful outdoors! We are really looking forward to welcoming people from our morning congregations and from Messy Church, and are hopeful of a truly all-age experience. Do save the date for now, and more details will follow soon.
During Lockdown many have reported a deepening appreciation for nature, along with a profound sense of God’s sustaining love being sung out through creation. Consequently, Forest Churches have grown around the country as a response to these pandemic times. We are so fortunate here in Severn Loop to live in the wild and lovely Shropshire countryside, and alongside wise stewards of our natural resources. We hope that by joining together in the outdoors we can learn more of God’s wondrous creation, and our part in it- which is fundamental to our God-given humanity. Come along, invite others, and be blessed!
Pyjama Church Survey
As the roadmap out of Lockdown continues, we are looking at how we might develop Pyjama Church. Whether you’ve watched it a couple of times, or are a regular viewer, please do take a few moments to complete a questionnaire at

Weekly News 02.07.21

Hi everyone,

There is a lot of information in today’s newsletter and I thank you in advance for taking a few minutes to read it.

School Photos

The photographer is visiting on Wednesday morning and will be taking individual photos, with siblings who attend Bicton School or Nursery and class photos.

Safer School Update

I’d like to congratulate Mrs Johnson and all at Bicton CE Primary School and Nursery on maintaining their Safer School accreditation. In 2017, the school was accredited a Safer School and via Teams video, I recently attended a Safer School meeting. It was a really positive and reassuring meeting, where we reviewed parent/carer feedback, listened to the views of pupils, updated the security checklist and discussed school incidents. During the meeting, the pupil contribution and enthusiasm reflected well on the school. An essential element of the initiative involves communicating and the school achieves this through Safer School meetings, parent/carer/pupil surveys and newsletters. A future meeting is planned for Summer 2022, excellent work! 

 Ian Bartlett, Crime Prevention Officer, Shropshire Council

One of the issues raised in the survey responses, and which was discussed in the Safer School meeting, was the issue of pedestrians using the main vehicular gate. Please see reminders below from Oak Class of what we need pedestrians to do, and we thank you  for listening to their advice.

School Uniform Letter – Please read

See below an updated letter about school uniform expectations. In September, we will be continuing with the current arrangement of children coming to school wearing PE kit on their PE days but children should wear the clothing set out in the attached letter.

Uniform September 2021

Beam – Information for Parents

Beam provide emotional well-being support to young people in Shropshire Telford & Wrekinare and are running some sessions over MS Teams, which are open to all parents and carers. There is no need to book – just click into the relevant link at the session time.

Mental Health & Emotional well-being in children & young people. We will cover:

·       Effective communication.

·       Empathy V Sympathy.

·       Overview of common emotional well-being topics such as anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicidal ideation and anger.

Wednesday 7th July 2021

 

12pm – 1.30pm

Join on your computer or mobile app

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Sleepy Heads.

 

2 session workshop around sleep & common issues.

 

It is advisable to attend both sessions.

Session 1:

·       Sleep stages.

·       Sleep hygiene.

·       Bedtime routines.

Wednesday 21st July 2021

 

12pm-1.30pm

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Session 2:

·       Tackling common issues around sleep including:

·       Prolonged night-time awakenings.

·       Bedtime refusal & resisitance.

·       Teen sleep.

Wednesday 4th August 2021

 

12pm-1.30pm

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Managing anxious behaviours in young people. We will cover:

·       What anxiety is.

·       Science of anxiety.

·       How to support.

Wednesday 18th August 2021

 

12pm – 1.30pm

Join on your computer or mobile app

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Shropshire’s Summer Holidays Activities and Food Programme

Shropshire Council have been awarded DfE grant funding to groups, organisations and individuals in the county, who are delivering a high quality and exciting programme of holiday activity and/or enrichment opportunities, over the summer for children and young people (aged 5-16).

The funding is intended to subsidise free places on new or existing holiday programmes for children who are eligible for free school meals (FSM).   Information on how to book places will be sent home with eligible families over the next week.

Some organisations are also offfering paid places for children not eligible for FSM.
Please see below information from Shrewsbury Town in the Community and Embrace Group for their summer provision:

 

Border Counties School of Gymnastics

See below information on gymnastics opportunities.

Gym4Free

Summer Gym poster

Virtual Shrewsbury Flower Show 2021

Please see below the floral art schedules and an amateur grower’s schedule, including childrens sections, that may be of interest if you have budding gardeners in your midst. Closing date for these is Monday 26 July 2021.

Virtual Children’s Floral Art Schedule

Virtual Amateur Growers Schedule

Virtual Adult Floral Art Schedule

Finally….

Thank you for your ongoing support, especially over the past couple of weeks. I am sure you will be very aware that the number of cases of COVID-19 in local schools (and the community) has risen significantly in the past couple of weeks. If your child or any family member is unwell, and you have any concerns at all, please do not send your child to school or nursery. We ask that you book a PCR test (and inform us of the result) which will help us to keep our pupils, staff and families safe.

I hope you have a lovely weekend and please take care and stay safe x

Weekly News 25.06.21

Hello everyone,

Thank you!

On behalf of all the staff, thank you for all your support this week.  I would also like to say a huge well done to our Year 5s and 6s, who have moved across to remote learning effortlessly and parents’ support with this at home is much appreciated. Please contact school if you are struggling with access to technology, as we have laptops available for Oak class to borrow for remote learning if needed.

PCR testing

Thank you to everyone who has taken their child for a PCR test, following the closure of Oak bubble. The PCR tests are readily available at local testing centres (Shrewsbury and Oswestry) and can be booked online or by phoning 119. You do not need to have symptoms to book a PCR test.

If you are doing the rapid lateral flow tests at home, please continue to do so and ideally as often as possible up to the end of term. These are proven to be very effective in picking up cases of COVID-19 and this will allow us to take action quickly and prevent further spread of the virus.

Our staff are doing daily tests, and we know those of you with older children may have been asked to do the same by your child’s secondary school.

Forest School – change of day next week

Next week, Forest School will take place on Thursday 1st (not Wednesday 30th) and just for those children who are not starting Bicton School in September i.e. current Willow class and Nursery children not starting Bicton school. Any current Bicton Nursery children, who are starting Reception at Bicton, will be spending Thursday morning with Mrs Bowes.

Children going to Forest School will need to wear: long sleeved top, long trousers, sunhat, suitable shoes (wellies or pumps depending on the weather).

Car Park – Reminder

Please can we remind all parents of the need to use the school car park safely and not to block other vehicles in, especially blue badge holders. If the car park is full, please park at the village hall. Thank you

School Photos

Please see new date (Wednesday 7th July 2021)

Forest Camp Shrewsbury

Wishing you all a safe and healthy weekend.

School Photographs – New date – Wednesday 7th July

We have re-scheduled a new date with the school photographer –  Wednesday 7th July (AM).

Unfortunately due to Covid restrictions we will not be able to allow younger/older siblings, who do not attend either Bicton School or Nursery. There is no need to bring your child earlier than normal if they already attend school or nursery, as staff will take them to the Hall to have their photos taken.

All children will have their photographs taken, individually and in their class groups, unless you tell us otherwise.

URGENT MESSAGE

Hello everyone,

As you will already be aware, following letters sent out to families earlier today, we have been informed of a confirmed case of coronavirus (COVID-19) within the school.

We are aware that comments and criticism have been posted on social media today questioning our decisions and suggesting that we have not followed the correct procedures.

We have followed Public Health England and Department for Education advice, and followed Shropshire Council’s Standard Operating Procedure. A bubble has been closed as a result.

We ask that any concerns or questions that you may have are sent direct to the school and not via social media.

Our priority, since the start of the pandemic, has always been to keep our children, parents and staff safe and we ask for your support at this time.

Mrs Johnson, staff and governors

Walk in vaccinations

Walk in vaccinations (Shrewsbury)

The NHS are running walk-in vaccination clinics at the Shrewsbury Bowls Centre, Sundorne Road, Shrewsbury SY1 4RQ

For people aged 40 and over (Astra Zeneca 1st and 2nd doses)

Sunday 27th June 8.30am – 1pm

For 18-39 year olds (Pfizer 1st doses)

Wednesday 23rd June 8.30am – 1pm

Sunday 4th July – 8.30am – 7pm

As these are walk in clinics, there is no need to make an appointment.

Walk in vaccinations (Oswestry)

The  walk-in vaccination clinics for people aged 18-39 are continuing this week at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Hospital in Oswestry. These are first dose appointments only and no appointment is needed; people can just turn up whenever is convenient for them during the opening times. The dates and times are below.  All vaccinations are Pfizer.

Wednesday, 23rd June, 8am to 5.30pm.

Thursday, 24th June, 8am to 5.30pm.

Friday, 25th June, 8am to 5.30pm.

Saturday, 26th June, 8am to 5.30pm.

Sunday, 27th June, 8am to 5.30pm.

Wednesday, 30th June, 8am to 5.30pm.

Thursday, 1st July, 8am to 5.30pm.

Friday, 2nd July, 8am to 5.30pm.

Saturday, 3rd July, 8am to 5.30pm.

Sunday, 4th July, 8am to 5.30pm.

Monday, 5th July, 8am to 5.30pm.

Tuesday, 6th July, 8am to 5.30pm.

Wednesday, 7th July, 8am to 5.30pm.

Thursday, 8th July, 8am to 5.30pm.

Friday, 9th July, 8am to 5.30pm.

Saturday, 10th July, 8am to 5.30pm.

Sunday, 11th July, 8am to 5.30pm.

Update on Sports Day

Hello everyone,

I’m aware that questions are being asked about our plans for Sports Day this year.

The advice from the Local Authority is that sports days should be conducted in bubbles with no spectators.  This will minimise risk to pupils, staff and the wider community.

To keep our pupils, staff and families safe, we will be following this advice. Our sports day events will be held in bubbles during the normal school day but spectators will not be allowed.

The children will not ‘miss out’ and they will still enjoy the experience in an environment where we are not putting anyone at increased risk. We thank you for your understanding and support.

Mrs Johnson and staff

 

PLEASE READ – Head lice

We have been made aware of a case of head lice in school. Please can you check your child’s hair and treat as necessary.  We also ask that long hair is tied up/plaited etc and please encourage your child not to take their hair down during the day and to keep their hair up.  Your support with this would be much appreciated. Thank you.

Weekly News 18.06.21

Hello everyone,

There’s a few bits of information I need you to read this week please.

URGENT – Walk-in vaccinations

The NHS are going to be running walk-in vaccination clinics at the Shrewsbury Bowls Centre, Sundorne Road, Shrewsbury SY1 4RQ from Sunday this week.

For people aged 40 and over (Astra Zeneca 1st and 2nd doses)

Sunday 20 – Tuesday 22nd June inclusive 8.30am – 1pm

Sunday 27th June 8.30am – 1pm

For 18-39 year olds (Pfizer 1st doses)

Wednesday 23rd June 8.30am – 1pm

Sunday 4th July – 8.30am – 7pm

As these are walk in clinics, there is no need to make an appointment.

Apply for free school meals

Your child is eligible for free school meals if you are in receipt of certain benefits (more information available on the link below.)

Registering for free meals could also raise extra funding for your child’s primary school, to fund valuable support such as additional teaching staff or provision of before- and after-school activities.

Even if your child is in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2, and receives ‘universal infant free school meals’, you may be eligible to apply.

Please use the link  below to apply:

https://www.shropshire.gov.uk/free-school-meals/apply-for-free-school-meals/

PE and uniform

Please ensure that your child wears the correct school uniform and footwear to school and we ask that they wear appropriate clothing on their PE days. We will be sending out updated information on PE kit for September, before the end of term.

Keyboard awards

Well done to Maya for achieving her Bronze award, to Freya and Jayden E for achieving their Silver awards, and to Ione for achieving her Gold award.

Arthog – Well done Year 5 and 6!

On behalf of all the staff who attended Arthog – Miss Carr, Mr Andrews, Mrs Walton and myself – I just wanted to say a huge well done and thank you to the Year 5s and 6s who went to Arthog last Friday. Their behaviour was exceptional and they were wonderful ambassadors for our school.

We had the most amazing day and they were such good company so here’s looking forward to next year’s visit!

I hope you all have a lovely weekend.

Mrs Johnson x