Hi Everyone,

We hope you are enjoying all of the amazing activities that are being added to your class pages.

We would love to see what activities and learning you are doing while you are at home. Please feel free (with permission from an adult of course) to send any photos or scanned pieces of work to adminoffice@castle.hants.sch.uk and maybe you will see your work in our online gallery.

Please do keep an eye on your class page as teachers are updating the content regularly.

Take care

Mrs Thomas

In view of recent developments we have taken the decision to cancel the following events which are in the school diary for the next two weeks:

19th March - Y3 parents Maths Workshop

20th March - YR parents coffee morning

23rd March - Wellbeing coffee morning

25th March - Rock Steady concert

                   - Y2 Reading Cafe

26th March - Y4 Fishbourne trip

27th March - Y3 Egyptian Day

31st March / 1st April - Y3/4 Cinderella & Rockerfella Production

1st April - Y4 Ukelele concert

The government issued new advice regarding Coronavirus yesterday evening:

If anyone in your household has a new, persistent cough or a high temperature, EVERYONE in the household (not just the individual with the symptom(s)) must self-isolate for 14 calendar days.

Any child who has been sent home since last Friday 13th March with these symptoms will not be allowed back in school for 14 calendar days from the onset of their symptoms. Similarly, any child who has parents or siblings displaying symptoms will not be permitted in school for the same period.

Given the seriousness of the current situation, this is not negotiable even if symptoms improve over the course of the day or week.

I am acutely aware of the challenges this will bring for families and schools, but it is vital that government guidance is followed.

The social distancing strategy will, no doubt, have significant impact on a number of planned school events - I will email again in due course with an update when I am able. Parents will appreciate that this is a rapidly developing situation and we respond to developments on a daily basis.

Thank you for your support during this very challenging time.

Mr J Bartlett

Headteacher

As parents may well be aware, schools in the UK are remaining open at this time, despite some speculation that they may temporarily close. The latest advice from the government in relation to self-isolation states:

“Symptoms

The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of:

•new continuous cough and/or

•high temperature

For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild infection

Key messages

•if you have symptoms of coronavirus infection (COVID-19), however mild, stay at home and do not leave your house for 7 days from when your symptoms started.”

We are following official advice from the government and the NHS – if your child displays the symptoms identified above then it would not be appropriate for them to attend school for 7 calendar days.

Tues 7th - Children were up bright and early looking forward to their cooked breakfast followed by orienteering and shelter building activities this morning.

Mon 6th - Year 4 have arrived safely at the Stubbington Study Centre and are just getting settled into their rooms before heading off to their morning activities.

1812 Ringwood.

The coach is moving slowly through Ringwood. There has been an RTA ahead and this is causing slow progress through Ringwood. ETA 1915. Apologies for late return, but as parents will realise, RTAs are out of our control.

The children have slept well once again and have all eaten a good breakfast. They have celebrated a birthday with cake and balloons and are all packed up.

The children have one more activity where they will be learning about the food and medicines grown in the rainforest before heading home. The are hoping to leave at around 12pm.

Updates on expected time of arrival back at school will be posted on this page as they arrive.

Another successful day exploring the Biomes. The children have constructed shelters and learnt about different materials found growing in the rainforest. They all enjoyed spending their money in the gift shop and the ice cream stand!

They are all currently eating their dinner now before heading off for their evening activities.