Thursday 7th May 2020
Dear Parents/Carers,
I would like to thank all members of our school community for the overwhelmingly positive response to the unprecedented situation that has affected and will continue to affect us all. Understandably, parents/carers and staff alike are facing enormous pressures and want to do their very best for their loved ones – to keep them safe and in good health.
Home schooling is incredibly challenging; especially when you are attempting to juggle your own work commitments. The shifting sands of home learning can be exhausting and overwhelming, however, we don’t need to be a victim to the current circumstances.
Please remember that physical health and mental wellbeing are interlinked, and it is imperative that children are engaged in a variety of activities. If you have a garden, use it regularly. If you don’t, try to get out once a day as permitted by the Government (households can be together outdoors, but two metres apart from others).
Home learning can combine all of the aforementioned. Please visit https://youtu.be/9AJ2t6VWyGI, if have not already done so, for my video of a circuit training challenge. The circuit was created by my daughter Amelia and involved the whole family.
In addition, there lots of useful home learning support links on our website: www.elvingtonprimary.org.uk/achieving-success/home-learning.
The following are the approved term dates provided by City of York Council for schools in the City of York area for the academic year 2020-2021. In addition, all schools will also be closed to pupils for a further five School Training/Professional Development Days.
| Term | Starts | Finishes |
| Autumn 2020 – first half term | Monday 7th September | Friday 23rd October |
| Autumn 2020 – second half term | Monday 2nd November | Friday 18th December |
| Spring 2021 – first half term | Monday 4th January | Friday 12th February |
| Spring 2021 – second half term | Monday 22nd February | Friday 26th March |
| Summer 2021 – first half term | Monday 12th April | Friday 28th May |
| Summer 2021 – second half term | Monday 7th June | Monday 26th July |
Training Days and Bank Holiday Closures:
Monday 7th September 2020
Monday 2nd November 2020
Monday 4th January 2021
Early May Bank Holiday – Monday 3rd May 2021
Friday 28th May 2021
Monday 26th July 2021
I know that many of you have appreciated the contact you have had from class teachers via email, Twitter and Tapestry. We thought you’d also like a message from them in this week’s update, so here you go…
Message from Miss. Rushmer for Class 1:
Hello Class 1, Miss Rushmer is thinking about you all lots and lots! I am really enjoying looking at all the wonderful things you are doing at home. I smile when I see your beaming, happy faces.
Stay safe and I hope to see you all very soon.
Miss Rushmer
Message from Miss. Palmer for Class 2:
Hello Class 2 Bears. We are so impressed with how hard you are all working- you really are little superstars! We hope that you’re all continuing to keep well and safe at home with your families. We know that you’re learning and growing, so fast!
Every time we read one of your tweets or emails, it makes us smile, like wide-mouthed frogs! We are missing you lots and can’t wait to see you all again soon. Keep smiling and keep trying your best.
Miss Palmer and Mrs Harvie
Message from Mrs. Granger for Class 3:
Hi Class 3, I hope you are well and keeping busy. I am in school today (Tuesday 5th May) and it seems so strange without my class in my classroom. I am missing all the laughter and questions you like to ask. I have loved seeing any work you have done on Twitter.
Keep smiling, love Mrs. Granger
Message from Mrs. Holmes for Class 4:
Hi Class 4, I hope you’re all well and keeping busy at home. My top tip would be to write a little list in the morning of what you’d like to achieve that day. For example: the Joe Wicks workout, a maths task, a craft activity, phone grandma/ best friend/ uncle. I know I’ve found that it’s helped keep my days nice and busy and you feel good at the end of the day when you’ve achieved those things. It’s then nice to know you’ve got the remaining part of the day to play and relax. Remember, it’s also normal if you feel you have good days and then not so good days.
Thank you for sharing some of your work with me on Twitter and by email. I’ve really enjoyed seeing how hard so many of you are working. Thank you for taking the time to ask how bump is too 🙂
Remember to be kind to your siblings and be extra helpful at home, especially if your parents are having to work from home too.
I look forward to seeing you all hopefully in the very near future.
Take care! Mrs Holmes x
Message from Mrs. Haffey for Class 5:
Class 5, hello you fab bunch! I hope that you are all safe and well and making the most of your time at home with your families. I miss you all lots and have been really impressed by the work that you have been sharing with me. The pictures you’ve shared have shown a wide range of brilliant drawings, clever experiments and varied challenges along with some amazing descriptive writing.
Keep smiling and keep up the good work!
Mrs Haffey
Message from Mrs. Marjoram:
Hi everybody, I hope you are all keeping safe and well and keep up with your home learning. When you’re out on your 1 hour exercise, each day, notice the natural world around you: the birds singing, the animals, the flowers in bloom and enjoy.
See you soon. Mrs Marjoram
If you need to contact our school:
If you need any advice regarding EYFS/KS1 tasks please email Miss. Palmer: c.palmer@elvingtonprimary.org.uk
For KS2, please email Mrs. Holmes: s.holmes@elvingtonprimary.org.uk
Please contact me for any other queries: head@elvingtonprimary.org.uk
As always, please stay positive, stay at home (if your role allows), to protect our NHS and our incredible key workers – so we can all help to save lives.
Yours sincerely,
Mr. Andrew Buttery