I stumbled across a recent poem today, I smiled and thought ‘how true’.  My youngest boy having a ‘hissy fit’ at the time I started to read it.  It made me think of some emails we have received over the last two months and remembering the reassuring telephone calls we have had with some worried parents/carers. You are all doing a brilliant job of parenting and supporting your children, whilst balancing work and worry about the unknown times ahead.

Read the poem, we, as parents/carers are not alone in the process of home learning. Just remember how brilliant you and your children all are. It will bring tears to your eyes (I have stopped home learning for today, they are on the Xbox).

Be thankful to our children… A Mum’s poem that reflects the challenges of home schooling

A picture tells a story

That only our eyes can see

We can choose what to make of it

But won’t necessarily all agree

A quick snap of an achievement

Can feel like we’ve found gold

But the end picture shown to everyone

Leaves the beginning of the story untold

When something made us beam with pride

And we chose to show you all

Don’t forget that what you didn’t see

Almost drove us up the wall

The tears, the tantrums and hissy fits

Have become a daily event

When working through the school tasks

That teachers have kindly sent

Not many kids are happy

Having a school inside their home

They long to be back in their class

Not having to learn alone

So while the crying may not end too soon

And some days aren’t so good

We’ll struggle through the worst of it

And pray tomorrow brings a better mood

If there comes a time where you’ve found joy

And something you want to share

Please show us all, we’d love to see

And show you that we care

We won’t need to know the beginning

Of the story you’re trying to tell

We’ll see the end, the picture

And we’ll see it’s turned out well

It’s easy to hide all the stress

And feel you’ve failed the test

But rest assured we’re all the same

You, me and all the rest

So if we see a picture

We’ll try not to compare

We’ll not know what led up to it

That made them want to share

It’s certainly a very strange time for all

Like no-one has felt before

We’re staying in, seeing nobody

Barely stepping out over the door

One day this will all be over

And our kids will begin to smile

They’ll get back to school,

to their teachers and friends

Who they’ve missed for such a long while

When this happens be thankful

For big things and for small

But mostly to our children

For the way they have dealt with it all.

https://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/news/be-thankful-to-our-children-mums-poem-reflects-the-challenges-of-home-schooling-198603/

To all our friends and families of Consett Junior School – either directly or extended family and friends.

During the academic year of 2019/20 we decided to raise money for ‘If U Care Share’, an amazing charity that supports those affected by suicide. We held non-uniform events and monthly coffee mornings, sadly, school went into lock down due to Covid-19. This meant that our future events; 10th July fun day, coffee mornings and running events have or will be postponed.

One of the events cancelled due to Covid-19 was my 69 mile run along Hadrian’s Wall, achieved in one day. However, let’s not be beaten! I have signed up to run this race in 2021 as well as run the virtual wall throughout June. We will continue to support this amazing charity, which is needed now more than ever before as people are faced with challenging times and unable to turn to family and friends due to social distancing.

Our previous online fundraising page also closed (due to Covid-19), so a new page has been set up. Once the charity confirm fundraising money already received from us prior to this closure, we will upload to the new page.

Once again, thank you to everyone that has supported us over the year.

I aim to complete the 69 mile virtual Ultra in 6 individual runs, which means I will ‘virtually’ stop at all Hadrians Wall pit stops. After running 15 miles last night I am currently resting at Lanercost!  Miss Oselton has also signed up for the Virtual Wall and will complete her runs throughout June, also raising as much money as we can together.

All sponsors are very much appreciated.

https://www.totalgiving.co.uk/mypage/consettjuniorschool

Mrs Raine on behalf of CJS Team

Transition Tuesday

Many young people feel a mixture of excitement, fear and nerves as they go to secondary school, probably more so this year because Year 6 has been disrupted due to COVID-19 and social distancing measures. We are very well aware of how big this transition is and, even with the restrictions, we are doing all we can to help your child, and you, settle into a new routine. Here is a site to support students and parents with this transition.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/tags/zh4wy9q/starting-secondary-school/1

See some top tips from one of our Year 7 students:

We also know that you will have lots of questions, which ordinarily you would get the chance to ask us face to face. To try and address this we have created two online questionnaires; one is for parents and the other for students. If you would like to share any questions with us can you please complete and submit by Friday 5th June. We will try and have answers to your queries next #transitiontuesday.

Parental Questions ­

https://bit.ly/2ZXLNKM

Student Questions

https://bit.ly/3eDgqZP

Hi everyone!

I hope you are all well and enjoying the beautiful weather that we are having! Next Saturday I’m getting a new baby kitten. I’d really love one of you to choose her name. If you would like to enter the competition, please send a picture of yourself holding a piece of paper with the name on in large letters to consettjunior@durhamlearning.net

I will choose the name that I like the best and call her this. The winner will also receive a special prize as a thank you.

Good luck everyone!

Miss Waters

Aston H – Echo

Teagan H – Whiskers

Further to our post for FSM vouchers during this half term, link below:

https://www.consett-jun.durham.sch.uk/edenred-vouchers-half-term/

The DfE ARE now funding vouchers so there will be no break in the usual cycle you receive them, article below:

https://www.tes.com/news/coronavirus-dfe-u-turn-over-funding-free-school-meals-half-term

At present, the summer holiday provision of vouchers is yet to be decided.

DCC Headteachers received a press release yesterday – please see attachment below to read the information shared.

Durham County Council has provided the information after new scientific advice was published on Friday 22 May and due to concerns that key issues outside of its control have not yet been resolved. This provides further information to schools on plans for phased reopening.

Schools Press Release 27-05-20

I hope everyone is enjoying what would have been the half term and are taking a break from home learning.

I am in school this week and have noticed that many families have not collected their work packs for last week, with some families not collecting theirs from weeks before. If you no longer require them would you please email consettjunior@durhamlearning.net to be removed from the list for printed packs.

We appreciate that it is very difficult to work with your children at home and we know many of you are struggling, just do what you can and please don’t put to much pressure on you or your children, this is all very different. The work packs are accessible on your child’s class page if you prefer that to paper copies and there are also very good lessons and subjects on
National Oak Academy and Access BBC bitesize

I am in school most days and working from home (and ‘attempting’ to home learn my children) the rest so my time in school is extremely valuable and the resources to print the packs are expensive. Please consider this if you have opted for packs but are not able to collect them.

Stay safe and take care
Mrs Raine