Good Morning Brown Clee!  Welcome back to the school at the beginning of the summer term and we hope that everyone had a restful and relaxing Easter holiday.  We were so lucky with the weather!

I always enjoy this time of year – when we are truly immersed in the midst of Spring – the days are longer, lighter and hopefully warmer, the colours of nature and the countryside are vibrant and rich and there is a sense of optimism and hope, that seems to lift everyone’s spirits.  This is also reflected in school as we start the last term of the academic year; we continue to teach and learn together, well and truly settled into established routines , all knowing what is expected of us, with each class working together as strong units within the Brown Clee team.

So today I would like to focus on the importance of being a team – on why working, playing and learning together in a harmonious, happy and supporting environment is so important for everyone – and that includes adults as well as children!

A successful team is one where different people work together and aim to help one another.  It is where EVERYONE supports and encourages each other to be the best they can be, so that the team can operate successfully.

I am going to share 2 video stories of the same story – the story from the Bible of Jesus and his first disciples – have a watch and think what this story teaches us about the importance of working together as a team….

So now you know the story of Jesus and his first disciples, a story which teaches us about the importance of helping each other, supporting each other, and working together, …have a watch now of the story from a different perspective…

Can you identify the different ways that ‘help’ was given in the story……

– Peter allowing Jesus to use his boat
– Jesus encouraging and helping the fishermen to land a large catch
– James and John responding to Peter’s request for help by helping to pull in the net of fish and helping one another safely back to shore
– Jesus asking the fishermen to help and follow him
– The fishermen agreeing to join his team

Have a think now about why asking for help and being ready to help others might be important in school today.  Can you share any examples?

Let’s take a moment now to reflect ….have a think about a time when you helped someone else; how did it make you feel?  What did it achieve?  Can you think of a time when someone helped you?  How did that make you feel?  Let us appreciate that working and learning together only works successfully if everyone helps and supports each other – if we are friendly and kind, respectful and forgiving…

Prayer of the Day

Dear God,
Thank you for all the people who help us in our lives.
Thank you for the people who have already helped us today.
Please help us to help one another.
Please help us to remember that it is good to work together in a team.
Amen.

It has been brought to our attention that there is a new online horror game which some children are talking about in school.  It is called Poppy’s playtime and is based on a toy which chases you around a toy factory.  There is not an official rating for the game; however, it is causing some of our older children to have nightmares.

The toy in this game is called Huggy Wuggy and he looks like this:

Online safety experts have been alerted to a video game, being described by some users as an “introduction to horror.” Videos, versions of the game, and associated material are becoming increasingly popular on YouTube, Roblox, and other platforms used by young children.

Poppy Playtime features frightening images and themes that are paired with child-friendly items. This may be especially upsetting to children who have not yet developed the resilience to deal with disturbing content.

• Added anxiety and stress – Children and young people are still growing and learning. They may not be at a level of emotional maturity that would be able to process frightening content, even if it is intentional. Horror games could hamper that growth by creating unnecessary anxiety and stress.
• Intrusive thoughts – Everyone has the ‘thing that goes bump in the night.’ If children play this game or watch it, the Boogeyman could easily be replaced with characters like Huggy Wuggy. This could cause children to lose focus or sleep and could interrupt family rest cycles.
• New fears – The manipulation of child-friendly items into threatening characters exploits the sense of security a child would feel around these things. They may suddenly be terrified of something that had never been a worry before.

To help parents and carers better understand these issues, you can find out more information here:-

Poppy Playtime: Online Safety Review

School Reports are being sent out today so please check your child’s bag.  We always appreciate feedback so have attached a feedback form to the reports – it would be great if parents could complete and return to the School Office.

We understand that all the children had great fun at the KS1 and KS2 discos last Friday. Thank you to the parents who kindly organised the discos and those who helped.

The grand total raised from tickets sales and tuck shop purchases is £584.87 and this will be paid into the DEC Ukraine appeal. Thank you for your generosity and we are pleased to let you know that the final total raised when added to our fundraising day in school is £1630.98.

Changes to measures and guidance for managing COVID-19 in education and childcare settings from Friday 1 April

On Tuesday 29 March, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Sajid Javid, set out the next steps for living with COVID-19 in England from Friday 1 April.

Free COVID-19 tests will continue to be available for specific groups, including eligible patients and NHS staff, once the universal testing offer ends on Friday 1 April.

Updated guidance will advise:

This is your last chance to book your place at the discos being held tomorrow in the Village Hall to raise money for the DEC Ukraine appeal.

Little Explorers, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 – 4.30pm to 5.30pm
Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 – 6pm to 7.30pm

Tuck shop and drinks available to buy on the night.

Please send £3 per child into the school office in a named envelope by Friday morning at the latest as the lists will be given to the parents organising the discos at lunchtime. Their name will then be added to the list to be ticked off on the night. There will be no admission on the night if their name is not on the list.

It’s with great sadness to tell everyone that Michelle will be leaving Pre-School for a very deserved rest after 18 years of being Deputy Manager at Pre-School, starting at Burwarton Pre-school in 2004 joining Wende and moving to Ditton in 2014.

Over the years Michelle has had a major part to play in Pre-School’s success, through her vision to provide the very best Early Years’ experience to all the children that have attended. Her practice, knowledge, commitment and love of children has a real positive impact on all of the children that have attended over the years.

Michelle is going to be missed very much by all the staff, especially Wende and of course all the children, therefore as Michelle has taught many children over many years, we thought the children who remember her in Brown Clee and maybe some parents would like to send her their best wishes, therefore any cards or notes can be left at Brown Clee School’s office, put in Little Explorers Post box or by emailing littleexplorers.ditton@gmail.com

Michelle’s last day will be Tuesday 5th April.

Thank you.

Wende

Don’t forget about the Discos to fundraise for the DEC Ukraine Appeal being held next Friday 1st April at Ditton Priors Village Hall. The KS1 Disco for Fireflies and Grasshoppers is from 4.30pm to 5.30pm and the KS2 disco for Dragonflies and Scorpions is 6pm to 7.30pm. There will be a tuck shop available on the night. The cost is £3 per child, please can you make your payment in cash in an envelope clearly marked with your child’s name to the school office.

All children must be accompanied by a responsible adult, although they can accompany a school friend as long as the adult who brings them is staying.

The organisers of the KS2 Disco are also looking for help on the night and if you are able to help please let Kat Shotton know (her details are on the poster) or speak to the school office.

We have a girls’ football competition this week  – which requires players to wear shin pads. A lot of our players do not have shin pads. If anyone has any spare or do not mind lending a pair (to be returned), it would be very much appreciated!

The tournament is on the afternoon of Thursday 17th March, so any pairs brought in before then would be fantastic.

We have received so many cakes that we have sent some across to Pre-School at Little Explorers!

We will also be providing some whole cakes to parents at the end of the day, and also in Well Done Assembly tomorrow!

Don’t forget to send in donations and cakes to help support the Ukrainian refugees tomorrow – as well as wear one thing blue and/or yellow with your uniform!  We want to show our compassion