Have you booked your child’s school meal for this week? Don’t forget to book by Thursday midday for the following week on u98180@compass-group.co.uk

If you require a school meal for this week, Pippa has kindly said it is not too late to book one!

Following the recent media coverage, I just thought I should confirm that we are open for the start of the new term on Tuesday 5th January (see previous posting for more information).

Good Afternoon,

I hope that everyone has had an enjoyable Christmas despite the last minute change in guidance, and has also managed to make the most of the wintery weather whilst staying safe!  We nearly had a white Christmas!

This afternoon we have had it confirmed by the Minister of Education that most primary schools will be opening as planned next week – which for us is on Tuesday 5^th January as Monday is a PD for teachers.

We have also been informed that Shropshire is entering Tier 3 (Very High Alert) of Covid19 restrictions as of tomorrow, and the government is describing the situation as ‘precarious’ and ‘pretty grim’.  I would like to urge everyone to follow the social distancing guidance, and to also ensure that we can keep our class ‘bubbles’ apart. This distancing and spacing is what is helping to minimise any risk of spreading the virus within the community and putting lives at risk, and also reduces the chance of needing to close a class, or even worse, the school.

Care Club

With this in mind, I would like to request that parents only use Care Club if it is absolutely essential. The government briefing stated that “Covid loves a crowd” and as we cannot socially distance within our classrooms, it is so important that we keep classes apart from each other, so that if we were to have a positive case, we would only need to close one class.  We are having to host Care Club in the hall, in a joint space, so this increases the risk of virus spread. So please, only use this service if it is vital.  We appreciate that this may be inconvenient, but with Tier 3 (very High Alert) restrictions, the guidance states “everyone who can work effectively from home should do so.”

Covid Symptoms/Self-Isolation

It is really important that parents keep schools fully informed if anyone in their household has symptoms of Covid19.  If this happens, then the family needs to isolate and book a Covid19 test.  We kindly request that you let school know when the test is booked for, and also let us know the results as soon as you have them – we monitor schools emails out-of-hours. P

Please use admin@brownclee.shropshire.sch.uk or head@brownclee.shropshire.sch.uk.

This is so important, as if a test was to come back positive we will need to follow Track and Trace procedures to ensure that we can minimise the risk of spread.  It is also important, as it allows teachers to know who requires remote-learning.

Remote Learning

If children do have to isolate, and are well, then the expectation is that they participate in remote learning.  This will happen via email from your child’s teacher, and there is an expectation that the work is emailed back to the teacher to allow for feedback and ensure that learning continues.

Morning and Afternoon Procedures

I thought it would be helpful to remind parents of some of the procedures to ensure that we can continue to operate as successfully in the Spring Term as we did last term.  Please note that we have ‘tightened’ the timings to a specific time as opposed to a window – as this was what was working well in the Autumn Term.

Morning Drop-Off

Timings: Class 2 and 4: 08:45

Class 1 and 3: 08:55

• Class 3 and 4 access via Top-Gate / Class 1 and 2 access via main entrance gate.
• Siblings to arrive at the earlier time via choice of entrance (but please ensure distance from other children).
• Doors will be shut at 09:00. If your child is in Class 2 or 4 and you are running late, please arrive after 08:55 to allow Class 1 and 3 to enter. All late arrivals should bring children to the reception, knock on the window, and we will direct children to their appropriate entrance; however we do emphasise the importance of being punctual.
• Please do not drop children at the Top Gate before 08:45.

Afternoon Collection

Timings: Class 1 and 3: 15:05

Class 2 and 4: 15:15

• Class 3 and 4 children will depart from the Top Gate / Class 1 and 2 to be collected from the playground using the 2m yellow spot markings.
• Siblings to be collected at the later time.
• Parents of Class 3 and 4 children are reminded to remain on the pavement area and to respect local residents property.

I would like to thank all parents and families for your support last term, as you played a vital part in ensuring that we could operate safely and ensure all our children could receive the high quality educational experience that they deserve.  The Brown Clee children excelled themselves with returning to school in September, and it has been wonderful having the school functioning fully again – despite being in a slightly different manner.  With the news of the vaccines there is hope on the horizon that we can once again get back to normal, so with that in mind I would like to wish everyone a safe and happy New Year, and am looking forwards to welcoming everyone back to school next Tuesday morning.

We are delighted to share with you the nativity performance that Class 1 have created!  A big well done to Mrs Fox and her team, and the children, for their hard work!

Good Morning Brown Clee!

Here we are with just 10 days to go until the special day that we are all looking forwards to!  Today, behind the advent calendar window is a tree!  A christmas tree!

Have you ever wondered why we put a tree up inside our houses and decorate it?  If you think about it, it is really rather strange, as trees are natural and grow outdoors – and why do we cover it in baubles and tinsel and place a star on top of the tree??  You can probably work out why the star is there…… but if you want to find out a bit more about the history of the christmas tree, enjoy this video….

And to continue with the theme of the Christmas Tree, here is a well known song you can join along with…especially for Class 4!

Prayer of the Day

Dear God,
Thank you for the celebration of Christmas, the anniversary that marks the birth of Jesus.
Thank you for the fun and joy that we share with families and friends at this special time.
Please be with those who are lonely this Christmas.
Please help us to remember how fortunate we are.
Amen.

Good Morning Brown Clee!

What do you think this is?  It isn’t frankincense!……

Yes – it’s myrrh – but do you know what myrrh is and why the wise men gave it to the baby Jesus? Myrrh is a fragrant spice derived from the sap of a tree native to the Near East. Like frankincense, it can be used as incense, but in the ancient world it also had wider usage as a perfume.  Myrrh was also a key ingredient in the mixture of spices that were used to prepare bodies for burial – what a strange gift for a new born baby! Perhaps the wise men intended this gift as an indication of Jesus’ humanity and the manner in which he would save his people—namely, that he would die for them.

Sometimes we might not always appreciate the value in a gift, and we might have to look a bit deeper to really appreciate gifts – like the gift of myrrh.

Here’s a song depicting the journey of the wise men on their way to offer their gifts…

So as we think of the gifts that the wise men brought to Jesus, let us think of the greatest gift of all – the gift of Jesus Christ, who was born so that he could save us all by dying on the cross.

Prayer of the Day

Dear God,
Thank you for this special time of year that we look forward to.
We want to say thank you for the gift of Jesus
and ask that we may find ways to give to others as well.
On Christmas morning and afterwards, help us not to be disappointed with what we have been given.
Help us to remember the shepherds, who delighted in the surprising sight of an ordinary baby sent by God.
Amen.

Good Morning Brown Clee!

I hope you had a good weekend and lots of sleep as we head into our last week of the Autumn Term!  It has been a term of contrasts – such delight to have all the children back in school but sad that there are so many limitations to how we operate – but there is definitely hope on the horizon that we will be able to return to being the community, team-spirited school that welcomes families, friends and visitors to join us in school!

Today is the 14th day of Advent, and we are also building our hopes up of celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ on 25th December – just 11 days away! Today we are going to be thinking about the gift of Frankincense – one of the 3 gifts that the wise men brought to the baby Jesus.

It doesn’t look terribly special, does it?  A bit like frosted ginger or golden jelly babies!  But actually Frankincense is a symbol of deity – a divine status, godliness.  Can you remember what the other 2 gifts were that the wise men brought to give to Jesus, Mary and Joseph?

Enjoy this clip sharing some background to the meaning of frankincense, myrrh and gold…

We know that gold is shiny and bright and a precious metal, but who would have known that myrrh and frankincense were so special!?  It reminds us that all gifts are special – be they small or large, shiny or dull – a gift shows that someone cares and wants to show us that we are appreciated.  So as you wake up on Christmas Day – remember our value of this half term – Thankfulness – as there is so very much to be thankful for, whether the gifts come in a stocking hung on the fireplace, or in the companionship of family and friends, or a smile, or the sun rising to start each new day!

Prayer of the Day

Dear God,
We thank you for all that’s good in our lives.
We thank you especially for what we remember quietly in our hearts now,
Help us always to be thankful, whether we are happy or sad.
Help us to know that you are with us during ordinary days, good days and bad days.
Amen.

Can we kindly remind parents to park considerately around the properties on Station Rd, particularly with regards to not parking on the grass area at the junction with the school entrance.

Also, please do not leave children unattended at the Top Gate in the morning, as we cannot be responsible for them until 8.45am when the gate opens. Thank you.

Coronavirus: Symptoms and Covid Tests in Christmas Holiday

Schools have been asked to assist with Track and Trace during the beginning of the Christmas holiday.  To do this we need to do the following:-

• Ask parents to contact school if your child/children develops symptoms (temperature/new, persistent cough/loss or change in sense of taste and/or smell) over the weekend of 19 – 20^th
• Ask parents to contact school if your child/children tests positive for coronavirus between 18^th to 24^th
• If you need to inform the school of a possible, or confirmed coronavirus case, please email using admin@brownclee.shropshire.sch.uk
• If we are notified of a positive case during the beginning of the Christmas holiday then we may be asked by PHE to pass on advice regarding isolation procedures and we will be doing this via email.
• If you are contacted during the Christmas holidays by school and advised to isolate, and have any questions, then the advice is to contact Shropshire Public Health on 0344 225 3560 (option 2), or 01384 679 031 (out of hours)

Good Morning Brown Clee!

Yesterday we thought about how amazing it would have been to have been a shepherd on the hills surrounding Bethlehem on the night that Jesus was born.  Amazing – but also quite possibly very scary!  Today you can see this part of the Nativity story brought to life in a video clip….watch and think how it must have been that cold and starry night.

Have you ever seen or heard anything that has truly amazed you?  That was so out of this world you couldn’t believe it! Imagine being one of these shepherds and thinking how fortunate that you were picked to have the good news shared with you – wouldn’t it make you feel special?  Now think how lucky we all are, that we have all had this good news shared with us through the stories in the Bible, through the story of the Nativity – God believes that we are all special, and we are all capable of great things if we truly believe.

Prayer of the Day

Dear God,
We thank you for all the different skills and talents that you have given to us.
Help us always to make the best use of our skills
and to be determined to think that we too can do good things.

Please help us as we move through this year and through the rest of our lives.
Help us to dream big dreams and never to give up hope.
Amen.

Good Morning Brown Clee!  Today is the 8th December and in our advent calendar we are thinking about the shepherds in Bethlehem, who were tending their sheep on the hills.

Near Bethlehem there were shepherds keeping watch over their flock by night. Suddenly an angel appeared to them and dazzled them with the Glory of God. 

“Don’t be afraid!  I’ve come with a message of great joy for you and everyone else. Tonight a baby has been born in Bethlehem and he is to be your Saviour, Christ the Lord!”

Imagine what it must have been like if you were one of those shepherds?  There you were, tired and sleepy, looking after your flock, when suddenly  an angel appeared above you – all shiny and bright!  How do you think they felt?  If it was me I would have been amazed  – I’d probably wonder initially if I was dreaming!  I wonder whether I’d believe what I saw and heard?

The shepherds instantly believed – as in Luke 2:15-16 it reads “When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’   So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.”  Imagine their awe and wonder on arrival at the stable – to actually meet Jesus Christ, Son of God and Saviour of Man!

Prayer of the Day

Loving God,

Jesus said, ‘Knock and the door will opened’ and ‘Search and you will find’.

Give us curiosity and inquiring minds.

Inspire us to work together

and help us to be open to learn from others.

Amen.

Good Morning Brown Clee!

I hope you had a good weekend and stayed warm!  Winter is definitely here!

In today’s advent calendar we are thinking about the animals in that famous stable – what do you think would have been there?

You might recognise this song – enjoy and singalong!

Prayer of the Day

Dear God,
Thank you for Christmas, the time when we celebrate the precious gift of your son, Jesus.
Thank you for the peace he can bring to our hearts.
Please help us to use this season of Advent to prepare ourselves
so that we can enjoy Christmas, knowing that we are at peace with all those around us.
Amen.