CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S OFFICE



105727524447500287655-7620000 Education, Communities & Organisational DevelopmentKim KaramHead TeacherMilne’s Primary School150495101600.uk00.ukHigh Street, FochabersIV32 7ERTelephone: 01343 820977School Website: milnesprimary. e-mail: admin.milnesp@moray-.ukHEAD TEACHER NEWSLETTER UPDATE: 7 MAY 2020Dear Parents/Carers,I hope this finds you safe and well in these unusual times. We are all missing our pupils but hope you are finding some moments of joy and fun during lockdown. If you need to get in touch with any school staff, please either do so through the GLOW Teams or email us via the admin address and we will respond to you as soon as possible: admin.milnesp@moray-.ukPlease continue to be patient with us as we do not have reliable access to all systems from home. You may be aware that some periods during the day seem busier and frustratingly slow. We are all learning new skills. May I take this opportunity to thank our dedicated staff for all they are doing to support the school, while also caring for their own families and, in some cases, also volunteering at Moray’s Childcare Hubs for key workers.We promote the use of GLOW Teams to access your school work because this allows pupils to interact with their teachers and get feedback. If GLOW is not accessible, I also post as much of the work as possible on the class pages of our website:milnesprimary.Whole school updates from now are posted on the new ‘May 2020’ page. This includes our ‘Family Challenges’. As with all work we post/provide, this is to help you. We are very understanding that all family situations are different and we urge you to do what is right for yours circumstances – you may dip in and out of the work and also do some family activities, gardening, baking, crafts, video calling and nature walks. You may find some days are easier to manage than others. Please know that we are here and that we feel Health and Wellbeing should be everyone’s number one priority. There is no pressure to complete all/some of the tasks but, if you do, we love hearing about it.In response to parental communication and to support the children with their feelings of isolation, we have set up remote chat facilities via GLOW. The details are on the class GLOW pages. The times are:P1 – 3 each school day at 1.30 – 2.00pmP4 and P5 each school day at 2.00 – 2.30pmP6 and P7 each school day at 2.30 – 3.00pmhese sessions are monitored by our support staff and we thank them for learning how to do this and taking this forward during lockdown. I know these times might not suit everyone and that there will be some frustrations (such as P5s and P6s not being able to chat together, for example) but, this is what we can offer at the moment. School rules/behaviour expectations apply – be kind to one another. Can I apologise for the delay in setting this up for you; we had to ensure the technology was available for all staff at home, discuss plans with/seek guidance from HQ and practise with the PSAs. As always, we welcome feedback; positive and/or constructive. Not everyone has to participate every day – children can attend on the days that suit, or not all.ICT Resources SupportIf you do not have any computers at home that allow your child(ren) to access work, there is support: “We know that not every family with school-aged children in Moray will have access to IT equipment to support digital learning, but we want every pupil to be able to have that opportunity. Glow, and other learning websites, are widely used in schools and can support your child’s learning in and out of the classroom.We’re asking families to let us know what equipment and broadband is needed, so we can make this happen. We can then work with our schools and community partners to make sure our all of children and young people are equipped and ready for online learning. School MealsYou may have found that your financial circumstances have changed as a result of Covid 19. If you feel you may qualify for Free School Meals or would like to find out more, please email education@.uk with ‘free school meal voucher’ in the subject line or telephone 563374 to talk with someone about this. All communications will be treated sensitively. You can find out more on the Coronavirus banner of the Moray Council Website .uk . ReportsCurrently Moray Council is not distributing Pupil Annual Reports. I will let you know if this situation changes. Thank you for your understanding.Phone ContactWe have tried to call every household to check that you are well and to offer support, should you need it. If we were unable to get you, we will have left a message (if possible). Please email the school admin account if you would like us to call you back and we will try to, as soon as we can. If your phone number or contact information has changed recently, please can you email us the most up-to-date details.Dates for your DiaryFriday 8 May 2020 – A day off school for all staff to commemorate the 75th anniversary of VE Day. Please note that no work will be set or looked at on GLOW on this date. We hope the weather stays nice for the long weekend.Thursday 14 and Friday 15 May 2020 – These are In-service days. Staff will be doing online courses and training so no work will be set or looked at on GLOW on these dates.We do not have any idea of dates of school return or what form this may take. As soon as we have any information we are able to share, we will do.Cyber Crime/Online SafetyWe have already forwarded information about this from Police Scotland. If you don’t recall receiving this via email, please let us know and we will email you again.Instrumental Instruction ServiceDuring this unusual and challenging time, music can be a source of enjoyment. Alexander Davidson, Acting Head of Instrumental Instruction, would like to remind families that advice and support can still be sought from their instructors. If you wish to seek guidance regarding next steps, please contact education@.uk . I believe Amy is in contact with her fiddle pupils separately.Educational Psychology ServiceThe Educational Psychology Service aims to provide an ongoing service to help support pupils, parents and schools. If you would like to chat about any social, emotional or educational concerns you have about your child, please contact our link Educational Psychologist Mrs Elaine Wood via email on elaine.wood2@.uk Please ensure you add the ‘2’ into the email address. A telephone message can be left on 01343 550999. Parents/carers that already have, or have had, involvement with the service can, of course, make contact in the same way.ParentlineDuring this time of Coronavirus, Parentline is available to support families seven days a week. You can find out more at or by calling free on 08000 28 22 33 (Mon-Fri 9am – 9pm and Sat – Sun 9am – noon). Children 1st can also help to deliver food parcels provided by Moray Foodplus.Childcare Hubs Hub staff are doing a wonderful job supporting children to access their home learning, to play and enjoy some outdoor space as safely as possible. If you are a key worker in Category 1, 2 or 3 and you have no possible alternatives, you may want your child(ren) to access one of Moray’s Childcare Hubs. Please email education@.uk and a link to the online form will be provided.Financial SupportIf you have money worries during the Coronavirus outbreak, please see the attached sheet ‘Corona Virus Money Problems’ giving general guidance on financial support available.Moray Emergency Relief Fund is a fund launched to provide financial relief to people in the Moray Council area suffering severe hardship, illness or poverty as a result of the CV-19 crisis.Application forms for a grant may be downloaded from the Moray Council website under the heading ‘Moray Emergency Relief Fund’. Completed application forms may be sent by post to: The Chief Executive’s Office, Moray Council, Council Office, High Street, Elgin, IV30 6BE. These will be forwarded to the trustees. The trustees will consider applications on a regular basis.If you wish to donate to the fund, I will put details of how to do this on our website page ‘May 2020’.Child Welfare ConcernsIf you have any worries or concerns about a child or children during this period of lockdown, please contact 01343 554370 during regular working hours or email childrenaccessteam@.uk If you wish to call out of hours, please contact 03457 565656. Useful Numbers:Police Scotland (non-emergency number) 101Fochabers Medical Practice 01343 820247Moray Women’s Aid 01343 548549Samaritans Support/Information 116123Please pass on our very best wishes to all the members of ‘Team Milne’s’ in your family. We are thinking of you. Stay safe.With best wishes to you and yours,KimMiss Kim KaramHead TeacherMilne’s Primary SchoolAttached: ‘Corona Virus Money Problems’ guide sheet ................
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