Issue No 07 - 17.12.2021

Headteacher News

 

Dear Parents and Carers

We have had such a fun week even though all the children have continued to work hard:  finishing story writing, completing Maths quizzes, writing up history timelines and more.  I have been amazed by the children’s commitment in the last few days, especially with Christmas Parties, Christmas Lunch, Christmas Jumpers and our special visit from Santa!  The children have been very happy and excited in the lead up to the Christmas break.  Please see our links to our latest news items that have been posted on our website home page this week below in this newsletter.

I would like to thank Millie and the Pabulum team for cooking a wonderful Christmas Lunch for all the children and Mia Jenkins, Chair of the Friends of Tetherdown, for organising crackers for the children to enjoy.  We all had such fun this morning.

Earlier this week we appointed a temporary replacement to support our children’s learning in Chinese Mandarin.  We have been waiting since September for our new Mandarin teacher to arrive from China, but because of COVID, we have experienced restrictions on VISA applications making travel to the UK very challenging.  Teachers at Tetherdown have been following the Chinese Mandarin lessons supplied through the Confucius Institute for children in Years 3-6 (statutory age for Foreign Language provision) and we hope to enhance children’s learning with the intervention of Chinese Mandarin language expert.  We look forward to our Mandarin teacher joining us in January when we hope to roll out our provision to younger children, too.

I would like to say a big thank you to all those families who have very kindly donated books.  We have received so many that all the bookshelves in all the classrooms have been replenished – and we still have hundreds left over!  Staff at school are now identifying ways to support charities supporting children who would love to receive a book.  However, for the time being, please kindly donate your well-loved books to other sources and charities whilst we manage this process.  Your generosity is very much appreciated.

 

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a lovely Christmas and a restful New Year.  Please stay safe and take care of loved ones.  If anyone in your family becomes ill with Covid, please check here for the latest government guidelines in managing close contacts and communication.  Covid cases over the holiday period are being managed by NHS Test and Trace.  Tetherdown will continue to monitor any reports to our school tracking system on the school website but will not make communications over the holiday period.  Should your child have a positive Covid test result at the start of the new term, please inform us in the usual way using the school website, when communications will be reinstated on our return.

We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday, 5th January 2022 at 8.50am for the start of term.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Kind regards

Tony Woodward

Headteacher

LATEST NEWS

16 Dec 2021
Year 5 Strictly Come Swing Dancing!
Year 5 have been busy practising and honing their skills for our very own final of 'Strictly Swing Dancing Competition'!
Read more
16 Dec 2021
Year 5 Christmas Party
We had an amazing party!
Read more
16 Dec 2021
Year 2 Host Mary and Joseph for the Day
Hosting Mary and Joseph for the day!
Read more
15 Dec 2021
Year 1 Christmas Class Parties!!
We even saw Santa!
Read more
15 Dec 2021
Year 2 Christmas Class Parties!!
Year 2 enjoying snacks!
Read more
15 Dec 2021
Y4 Science & Design Technology
Fabulous light up cards!
Read more
15 Dec 2021
Year 3 Sing-Song!
The 12 Days of Christmas
Read more
14 Dec 2021
Pathways Assembly
Year 1 and 2 Pathways Assembly
Read more
14 Dec 2021
Year 6 Ancient Greek Day
What an incredible Ancient Greek Day this week!
Read more
14 Dec 2021
Michael Holland Author Visit
I ate sunshine for breakfast
Read more
14 Dec 2021
Receptions Santa Visit
Reception have been enjoying all the Christmas festivities this week!
Read more
07 Dec 2021
Year 4 Christingles
This Little Light of Mine
Read more

COMMUNITY NEWS 

Links to Haringey Website Providing Parents with Local Information

  1. Child flu vaccine – Haringey catch-up clinics  
  2. COVID-19 vaccine Q&A event for Italian-speaking community – Thursday 16 December 
  3. Free urgent 24/7 mental health support for young people over Christmas 
  4. Holiday Activity and Food clubs during the Christmas break 
  5. New River Sport & Fitness – Christmas holiday camps for children 
  6. Read the December SEND newsletter 
  7. LDBS Academies Trust consultation on entry to reception in September 2023 

LOOKING AHEAD AND REMINDERS

Symptoms of COVID

Please can we ask you to familiarise yourself with the process if your child has any symptom of Covid. If you child has a new or continuous cough or fever or loss of smell or taste, i.e. any of the recognised Covid symptoms as identified by Public Health England, please keep them at home and report the absence. Ring 111 or your GP and follow their advice. Please inform the office of the advice provided to you. If you are advised to take your child for a PCR test, please inform the school office of the result.

Please note Public Health England have stated that Lateral Flow Device tests and Rapid Antigen tests can now be used for children under the age of 12 as long as they do not have symptoms. If your child has symptoms you must book a PCR test.

All information can be found on our website, and we have created a Covid-19 FAQ.

PLEASE REMEMBER WE ARE A NO NUTS SCHOOL

Products containing nuts (including for staff as some may also have allergies) must not be brought into school under any circumstances.

Tetherdown School Communications to Parents

We have a brand-new website please ensure your explore our website regularly so not to miss any important communications. This should be your 'FIRST PORT OF CALL' for information.

The Parents page is dedicated to you! - here you will be able to find answers and links to everyday questions and queries you may have as well as further useful information and support - to name a few...

  • Calendar - check this regularly
  • Term dates
  • Key Letters
  • School Day & Wraparound Care
  • Health & Welfare

Please do not hesitate to contact the school office if you have explored the website, and you cannot find what you are looking for.

Parent Communication to Tetherdown

Please remember when emailing the admin mailbox to ensure you put your child's full name and class. There are over 400 pupils on roll and as you can imagine finding any child with only their first name can be tricky!

ParentPay - Communication from Tetherdown

ParentPay is the schools Communications and Payment System All communications sent directly from the school are sent using ParentPay only.

Parents will receive an email from platform@parentpay.com - when you receive messages from this email you can be assured this is an official direct school communication.

Any undelivered emails to parents the school are notified - we have not been notified of any undelivered messages to date.

Text and Email Alerts

Parents are advised to set up text and email alerts - this advice has been a standing item in recent newsletters including this one.  If you have missed an email please search your mailbox for platform@parentpay.com messages and check junk mail.

If you are having any problems receiving official school communications please contact the school office after you have checked your mailbox and junk mail and not ParentPay.

Thank you for your continuing support.

New to Tetherdown - Free School Meals Eligibility Checker

Your child may be eligible for free school meals (FSM) if you are in receipt of any of the following benefits:

  • Income Support.
  • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance.
  • Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
  • The guaranteed element of Pension Credit.
  • Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190).
  • Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit.
  • Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get).

To find out whether your child qualifies for free school meals, and hence whether Tetherdown Primary school would receive additional funding, please fill in the details requested using the free school meals Eligibility Checker below. In some circumstances we may ask you to provide confirmation that you are in receipt of any of the benefits listed above. Parents can also find a useful FAQ on the Eligibility Checker site to assist them.

Free School Meal Eligibility Checker (lgfl.org.uk)

Eligible pupils will receive free school meals and Tetherdown School will receive extra funding. 

Note: Free School Meals is not the same as Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM) where the government provides funding for Reception, Year 1 and Year 2.

REMINDERS

Reporting Absences and pick up

If your child is absent for the day, please call the main office before 9am and select option 1. Leave a clear message with your child’s full name and class and a reason for the absence. Pick up information needs to be communicated before 2:45 pm via the office email admin@tetherdownschool.org stating your child’s name and class and who is collecting them.

Please do not email teachers as they are unable to check emails during the teaching day.

ParentPay – Set Up Text and Email Alerts

To ensure that you do not miss any important information from Tetherdown please set up ALERTS on your accounts. Details of how to do this can be found on our Payment & Bookings System pages.

Children Leaving

If you are planning on leaving Tetherdown it is important that you inform the school as soon as possible. Please fill in the destination form which can found on our School Forms & Links page.

Medicines in School

As a reminder that medicine cannot be given to your child to bring into school. The school can administer prescribed medicine only (the parents form on our website must be filled in). Any over the counter medicine must be administered by a parent / nominated carer. Please refer to our Health & Welfare pages for further details.

Official Appointments

You do not need to fill in the absence request form for medical appointments, or official appointments, but proof must be provided which must be sent to the office. Please remember to include your child's name and class in all correspondence.

Forgotten Items

The school does not accept forgotten items. We aim to promote independence and responsibility in our children. This includes snacks and packed lunches, water bottles, PE kits, instruments etc. We can accept medical and reading glasses. If a child has forgotten their lunch one will be provided and will be charged via your ParentPay account.

Unhealthy Treats

We are a healthy school and as such we kindly ask that children do not bring in sweets or cakes/biscuits to hand out to their friends on their birthday. A class book donation is always much appreciated. We will share your book-gift with the class and insert a special book plate to mark the occasion of your child's birthday.

DIARY DATES TO THE 14TH JANUARY 2022

End of Autumn Term - School closes at 2pm
All Day
17
December
Rec-Y6 Virtual Pantomime Cinderella
All Day
17
December
INSET DAY - No pupils
All Day
04
January
Spring Term Starts - pupils return to school 8:50am
All Day
05
January
Year 5 Assembly
9:15am – 9:45am
14
January