The children have worked really hard this term and have earned their 20 cubes.  In order that they earn a single cube, the children have to all  work together, be kind, respectful and persevere with challenges.  To reward them for all their hard work, the children get to choose what they would like to do as their reward. This time they have chosen to watch a Christmas film with hot chocolate and popcorn.  This will take place on Friday afternoon.  The children have asked if they can bring their teddies and I’ve said yes, as long as they fit in their bag.  The children can wear their PE kit as usual.

Tomorrow is our Christmas party, Can the children bring their party clothes in their bag so that they can get changed after lunch.

The children will have PE as usual on Wednesday.

If I don’t see you before hand, I hope you all have a lovely Christmas and a happy New Year.

Mrs Pope

Dear all Year 4 Parents,

I’d like to introduce myself, officially, as your child’s new Teacher. It feels a little strange introducing myself at this point in the school year but very exciting, all the same. I am quickly learning all about the children’s interests and where they are academically. They are a truly lovely bunch.

I will be teaching every Monday – Thursday and Ms Knowler will be teaching on a Friday.

We continue to do P.E. on Mondays and Fridays. I will also endeavour to include a Forest School session, once or twice a half-term, on a Wednesday, as I know they love doing this. I will inform you of these sessions via text. Spellings will be sent home on a Friday and tested the following week.

My email address is Amanda.Smout@ppce.co.uk Please do get in touch if you need to.

Amanda Smout

Dear year 4 parents and carers

I am contacting to let you know that Mrs Gwyther will be returning to work from tomorrow, 20th January.

Her return will be phased over the next couple of weeks as follows:

• Thursday 20^th January – None contact day
• Friday 21^st January – In class working alongside Mr Bremner
• Wednesday 26^th, Thursday 27^th and Friday 28^th January – In class
• Monday 31^st January – Return to work full time.

If there are any questions or queries regarding this, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Mr Langford

Dear Parents

Thank you to those parents who have emailed me detailing your concerns about the staffing issues we have had in our Y4 class.

Since the beginning of Mrs Gwyther’s absence, we have striven to provide as much continuity as possible with the teachers we have employed in room 6.

I appreciate that there have been a significant number of supply teachers employed, but during the autumn term we simply have not been able to ensure consistency of staffing.

This is due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic across all schools in Shropshire. With so many schools requiring cover for teachers self-isolating, the supply agencies simply have not had enough employees to cover the required demand.

This, together with the issue of only been in the position to employ cover on a short-term basis, as is often the case with long term sickness absence, has severely hampered our ability to provide consistent supply cover of the right calibre for the year four class.

In the New Year, when the children return on the 5^th January, I am happy to inform you that Mrs Glover will be continuing after Christmas starting on Wednesday 5^th January. The timetable will then be:

• January 5^th, 6^th and 7^th – Mrs Glover
• Mondays and Tuesdays from 10^th January – Mrs Glover
• Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays – Mr Rory Bremner.

Mr Bremner is a fantastic teacher who has worked at Pontesbury many times over many years. I am delighted he is available to teach our wonderful year 4 children.

This arrangement will continue for as long as necessary until Mrs Gwyther returns. If necessary, this will continue until the end of the academic year.

I am very aware that there is a rumour circulating amongst the year four parents that we will be having a TA re-shuffle in the New Year.

Consistency, when the year has already been so disruptive, is vital for all our children, but especially so for those in year four.

I therefore inform you that, whilst there may be adjustments to TA deployment across the school, Mrs Green will be continuing to provide TA support in room 6.

I would like to thank you all for your continued support, especially considering how very challenging this year has been.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Mr Langford