To all our families…

As you may remember, our outdoor library was burnt down last year. Thanks to all the amazing fundraising, lead by one of our parents (Kyla).

With the money raised and a substantial amount added from our budget we have gone bigger and better. At the moment we have a company furnishing the in side of it and this will be completed in a few weeks. As this touched the hearts of so many in our community, we thought it only fair to allow our children to name it…

We recently ran this competition to name our outdoor space, please can you take the time to choose a name from the list below before Friday 2nd July.

They will be given a small reward and will also feature in a photograph which will be published in our local paper. We hope this will all be done by the end of term.

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=Uv_fRWSDc02_Oo-YvfENhzGYEp0zDERAnxWCoX5eIjVUMlg3V09DNEVCMEhLWjE5Q0kzUUVXTUpQRy4u

Good Luck to all the children who entered!

CJS Team

We have had to reschedule our American Themed Day which was due to be held on Monday 5th July. Our cook is isolating and as this was her idea we need to move it back a week.

Please make a note of this change of date.

All children now to come to school in their usual uniform on Monday 5th July
Text to those who have opted a school meal will receive a text on Monday 12th July
The new American Themed Day will be Wednesday 14th July and all children can come to school wearing red, white and blue.
There are no changes to any school start/finish times on this day.

CJS Team

Previous info sent below:

https://www.consett-jun.durham.sch.uk/american-themed-day-dinner-menu/

 

Dear families

Over the last year and a half our school has operated on a staggered start/finish system, whereby, lower school start and finish slightly sooner than upper school, and to support you we allow siblings to come in early or stay behind to await collection. At this moment in time, we are not able to tell you the plan for September, other than we have a Plan A – stay as things are now but slowly introduce extra-curricular after school clubs. Or Plan B we return to 8.40 a.m. gates open for an 8.55 a.m. start (this is for children not attending breakfast club), and all school finishes at 3.30 p.m. and clubs will resume as normal. We would like to be confident enough to say that the normal hours of the school day will return, however, this is highly unlikely.

Therefore, please plan for our school to remain on the same operational system that it is now; staggered start and finish times; year group bubbles; staggered breaks and lunchtimes; lower school collection from the yard; assigned year group entrance and exits; 7.45 a.m. bubble group breakfast club and coming to school wearing PE kits on their assigned days (timetables will be uploaded to the website class pages over the summer holidays).

If, during the school holidays we are informed that we can return to ‘normal’ we will keep you informed using our usual communication systems. Therefore, please ensure you check the school app and our website regularly over the holidays and we will text the primary contacts if there have been any updates. Unfortunately, it can often be very late in holidays when DfE guidance is released, and this is very much dependent on the Governments roadmap, so we can only apologise if this is short notice to you, but it will also be short notice for us.

Below is a link shared to parents regarding last year’s safe reopening. The times and staggers of the day remain the same, and the FAQ’s are also the same (however clubs are likely to start after the first half term). Please note that the dates to return to school in the link below are last years (2020). For this September children in year 3 in September return on Wednesday 1st September 10.00 – 2.00 p.m.. The rest of the school will return together on Thursday 2nd September, at the times stated in the links below. 

https://www.consett-jun.durham.sch.uk/changes-to-the-times-of-the-day-september-2020/

There is also a link to a YouTube https://youtu.be/6VnBhUJXJEs

CJS Team

Transition to CJS is different again this year, these welcome messages are a lovely way to let your children know who’s class they are in and also which friends will be with them.  It is really disappointing that the children cannot visit us next week, and we were hoping to arrange a Teams meeting, however, today we have just discovered that the teachers can actually come and see their new class of children in the CIS yard before the end of term.

To confirm;

If your child is in Class 1, their teacher is Mrs McMahon. However, Miss Hughes will teach them every Monday and also do small interventions groups with some children. Class 1 will be supported by Miss Lynch.

If your child is in Class 2, their teacher is Miss White. Miss Hughes will also do small intervention groups with some children. Class 2 will be supported by Miss Atkinson.

Listen carefully…

Dear Year 2 Families,

I’m sure you are aware of the significant increase in the Delta Covid variant in and around the Consett area in the last week. This is causing an increase in families isolating and schools closing bubbles across the area, indeed within our cluster of schools.

Therefore, having sought advice, I have reluctantly decided to cancel the transition day for the Year 2 children planned for Friday 2nd July. Although I am sure you and your child will be disappointed, I must be mindful about the advice from Public Health England and continue safeguard the children and staff in both schools.

We were already inviting the new children into school a day earlier than planned in September, where they will have the chance to explore the school grounds and environment without any other children on site. They will spend their day with their new teachers and support assistants.

In addition to this we will arrange for our Year 3 teachers to meet their new Year 2 class over TEAMs.

I really do understand the concerns parents have, with children transferring to a new school, but I can reassure you that last year’s children were in a similar situation, and they coped superbly. The first three days they are with us in September is to focus on transition and getting to know the school, the staff and adjusting to their new class groups.

Best wishes,

Mr Dixon

Head Teacher

In light of the current situation regarding a recent rise in covid cases in our local area please do not allow children to bring fidget toys into school as these are being swapped and touched by lots of different children. If your child requires these toys as part of their SEN plan, we will provide them.

Could we also remind you that children should only be bringing packed lunches and water bottles in from home. No pencil cases or large bags with nothing in. Therefore, children on school meals should only have their water bottle, children with ‘carry handle’ packed lunches should not have large bags.

Apart from the fact we are trying to keep our school as clean as possible, these items are not necessary and are creating issues with regards to safety as well as space in classrooms.

CJS Team

Dear families

Over the weekend we have heard of several cases of covid in our local area, which has resulted in school bubble closures and several people isolating. With only four weeks left of this term and the hope that the government moves us into step 4 of the roadmap in July, we are urging you to remain vigilant and not send your child to school if you suspect they may have Covid.

If you have been in contact with a positive case you must self isolate immediately.

If a member of your bubble has Covid you must all self isolate.

If you are waiting for PCR results the whole bubble must self isolate.

Please do not put others at further risk. For details about what you can and cannot do in step 3 of the road map please visit https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

CJS team

Dear families of Year 3, 4 and 5

Uniform providers are significantly busy at this time of year, please don’t leave it too late to place your September uniform order.

Your orders can be placed online at https://totstoteams.com/consett-junior-school

IF YOU ORDER ADULT SIZES FROM THIS WEBSITE THEY CANNOT BE RETURNED OR REFUNDED. ONLY SIZES UP TO XS CAN BE RETURNED OR REFUNDED.

You can opt for school or home delivery but please do not choose school delivery in July as it may not arrive at school before we finish on Friday 16th July. Jumpers, polo’s and t-shirts will arrive with our logo embroidered. You do not have to use our uniform provider, there are many high street stores who offer the same colours and be more suited to your budget.

Here is also a link to our uniform requirements https://www.consett-jun.durham.sch.uk/parents/our-school-uniform/

Mrs Raine
School Operations Manager

Dear Parents/Carers,

As an end of Year 6 treat we will be holding a sleepover for all children in Year 6. This will take place on Friday, 9th July from 6p.m. until 9a.m. on Saturday, 10th July. There will be members of staff present throughout the night to supervise this.

Children will need to bring with them a toothbrush, tooth paste, sleeping bag/duvet, camping mat (if they have one), a pillow, pyjamas, slippers and a DVD (U and PG rating only). Children CANNOT bring their mobile phones. Please complete the forms link below before Friday 25th June if you are happy for your child to take part. If this form is not complete they will not be able to stay.

We have arranged for a disco/party organiser to come and kick start the night, followed by a delivery of pizza and chips.

Any poor behaviour before the 9th of July may result in your child being unable to attend this event.

If you have any concerns please contact school.

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=Uv_fRWSDc02_Oo-YvfENhzGYEp0zDERAnxWCoX5eIjVUOU5LNDNJTEIzMk1PVEMzNEIyUlZRSjlBVS4u

Yours sincerely,

Year 6 Class Teachers

Dear parents/Carers

We are now able to share with you all who your child’s class teacher will be in their next academic year.

Children in current year 5 have been mixed for year 6, this is mainly to support friendship groups but also to prepare the children for changes when they leave our school at the end of year 6, even if children go to the same secondary school, they will not be to be grouped the way they are now. We feel it is our responsibility to prepare our children for these changes.

Children in current Year 5 will be sent a school text to state who their new teacher will be. Once received can you please discuss this with your child. The classes have been significantly changed but this has been a sensitive process with current year 5 staff working closely with Year 6 and the SLT.

Children in years 3 and 4 will remain in their current class groups and will move as a class to their next teacher, see below:

Year 3 Class 1 – Will become Class 4 with Miss Thompson (supported by Miss Wilson)
Year 3 Class 2 – Will become Class 3 with Mr Meadows and Mrs Taylor (supported by Miss Oselton and Miss Wilson)

Year 4 Class 3 – Will become Class 5 with Miss Breheny (supported by Mrs Wood)
Year 4 Class 4 – Will become Class 6 with our newly appointed teacher, Miss Clarey (supported by Mrs Hird)

Year 5 Class 5 – Text will determine Miss Waters (supported by Mrs Gilray and Mrs Hannant) or Miss McNeill (supported by Mrs Shield)
Year 5 Class 6 – Text will determine Miss Waters (supported by Mrs Gilray and Mrs Hannant) or Miss McNeill (supported by Mrs Shield)

The new year 3 children’s teachers will remain as Mrs McMahon, Miss White and Miss Hughes (supported by Miss Atkinson and Miss Lynch).

In September Mr Moore will be leading and teaching Science across years 4 to 6.

Unfortunately, we are not able to offer our children a move up day before the end of term, as we are not able to safely support our bubbles in doing so. However, current years 3 to 5 will spend the first two days of the new term doing transition activities as they would have done on a move up day. This means the full curriculum will not start until Monday 6th September.

CJS Team