Latest News

Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment via our X page @st_swinton

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• School Closure Update

  Wed 12 Feb 2020 Mrs Raynor

  Parents, you should have all by now received the following email:

   

  Dear parents, 

  My sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused.  Every effort is being made to have school up and running as soon as possible.

  Update of the situation is as follows:

  The boiler has been condemned and requires a whole new system to be put in place.  The school building consultant is trying to source temporary heating until a new school boiler is fitted.   Today, I have managed to obtain some temporary heaters.  However, I am restricted to the wattage use so the electricity supply is not overloaded.  

  Therefore, tomorrow and Friday, we can accommodate Key Stage 2 children only (Year 3 - Year 6).  This attendance is optional,  school must be informed of any child not attending via school email or phone for safeguarding reasons.  If your child is attending school, please ensure they are wearing suitable warm clothes (school uniform is not necessary). School will remain closed for Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 classes.

  Dinners will be provided as usual.  There will be no Breakfast Club or after school clubs, including Premier Sports After School Club.  Please access the school building via the school playground and use the old Year 6 classroom to keep this part of the school as warm as possible.

  Every effort will be made to keep the school up and running for the first day back.  Until further notice it will only be Key Stage 2 children attending.  

  We will keep you updated with regards to any information as we receive this from the LA and the Diocese.

  Updates will be via the school website, emails and the school app.

   

  Kind Regards, 

  Mrs Raynor

• KS1 Trip to Chester Zoo

  Tue 11 Feb 2020 Mrs Murphy
  Year 1 and Year 2 had a wonderful trip to Chester Zoo visiting the magnificent array of animals and learning lots of super animal facts. They also took part in the Curious Creatures discovery workshop; examining and grouping animal artefacts. Staff at the zoo commented on our pupil's exemplary behaviour and thought they were very knowledgable!

  

• Online Safety Day 2020

  Tue 11 Feb 2020 Mr Chadwick

  Research finds that being online is both liberating and limiting for children.

   

  The internet is a brilliant tool for helping children and adults in their everyday lives. In school we discuss how the internet helps with research, learning how to make and create things, watching videos of the world in action, learning songs and so much more. We know it is so helpful in today's world but we also try and impress upon our children that it can be a dangerous place if we are not careful.

   

  Today we looked into various pitfalls about being online and how we can stay safe - in many classes the biggest issues are around social media or 'open' online groups where we are unsure about who is playing games with us. 

   

  Lots of children in Year 3 mentioned that they are only allowed to play with children or family members that they know which is absolutely right. Some spoke about strangers approaching them asking to play and so they ran and told parents which is the perfect response. In Year 5 & 6 it is the scourge of Social Media and how difficult it can be to not be offended or be offensive in there. We spoke about age restrictions and why they were in place and how in Year 6 many children are still legally TOO young to be allowed on there. We post lots of helpful tips and links about how to stay safe online. If ever you are concerned please do use those links, call the numbers or speak to a member of staff.

   

  • New research from the UK Safer Internet Centre reveals young people’s online experiences are an essential part of who they are offline, with 38% saying it’s easier to be themselves online than offline
  • The internet is creating an informed and inspired generation that is taking action
  • But some feel pressure to shape their online identity for others – 62% are careful about what they share because they’ve seen people be mean
  • Certain groups are being targeted with identity-based hate
  • UKSIC call on people to start conversations with young people about online identity.

   

  Top Tips For St Mary's Children

   

  1)      Don’t post any personal information online – like your address, email address or mobile number.

  2)      Think carefully before posting pictures or videos of yourself.  Once you’ve put  a picture of yourself online most people can see it and may be able to download it, it’s not just yours anymore.

  3)      Keep your privacy settings as high as possible

  4)      Never give out your passwords

  5)      Don’t befriend people you don’t know

  6)      Don’t meet up with people you’ve met online.  Speak to your parent or carer about people suggesting you do

  7)      Remember that not everyone online is who they say they are

  8)      Think carefully about what you say before you post something online

  9)      Respect other people’s views, even if you don’t agree with someone else’s views doesn’t mean you need to be rude

  10)   If you see something online that makes you feel uncomfortable, unsafe or worried: leave the website, turn off your computer if you want to and tell a trusted adult immediately.

  

• Yr5 Gymnasts.

  Mon 10 Feb 2020 L.Johnson

  Our Yr5 gymnasts took part in the Salford School Key Steps Gymnastics competition. The children completed three disciplines: the vault, floor management and body management. The team did ever so well and had a great afternoon displaying their talents. Thank you!

  See videos in the Video Resource Centre.

  

• MINECRAFT CLUB IS BACK!

  Mon 10 Feb 2020 Mr Chadwick

  WE’RE BACK! St Mary's Minecraft After School Club

   

  We are pleased to be able to offer Minecraft after school club running from 3:30-4:45 pm every Monday from 24^th February until 22^nd May. (The club will not take place on Monday 6^th April as Mr Chadwick will be at Lledr Hall with Year 3)

   

  There will be no club over the Easter half term beginning 8^th April. 

   

  The club is organised, administered and supported by Mi Little Pad Ltd, an external provider who deliver Minecraft clubs across the whole of England and Wales.

   

  As well as completing a range of exciting educational challenges, students will have the chance to work both individually and 'join the same world' to work in teams. As an added bit of fun, students from the club will also take part in a weekly Minecraft competition where parents can vote for their favourites and points are won for the national leader board.

   

  20 Devices with Minecraft on will be available for the children to use as well as a wifi router to facilitate team activities.

   

  BOOK ONLINE

  The club costs £3.99 per child per session and is paid for termly in advance. All club places are reserved and paid for online.

   

  Just go to website www.milittlepad.com to book you child’s place. Note… Online sales close the day of the first session, places are limited and late payments may be more expensive.

  
  Any problems please contact us on 07704 991962/ 07411 482996 or  admin@milittlepad.com

  

• Rocking Rocks

  Fri 07 Feb 2020 Mr Chadwick

  Year 3 had a very special visitor today. Mr Garner, an expert geologist, popped in with his fantastic rock collection to talk to the children. They were gobsmacked at all the wonderful rocks, tree fossils, fossils and crystals that were on show. He was really engaging and just spoke about a love of rocks, collecting them from volcanoes, some near misses also.

   

  The children were great and asked some really difficult questions which were fielded superbly. Straight after the lesson it was break time and the children all went out and started hunting!

  

• Forest School Fun

  Fri 07 Feb 2020 Mr Chadwick
  Year 3 took part in the Forest School Fun today and started helping the St Mary's Birds ready for Spring. We made bird seeders getting our hands dirty with seeds, raisins and lard!

  

• Year 6 PE: Competitive Games

  Fri 07 Feb 2020 Mr Loynd

  Year 6 continued our Competitive Games PE unit today, with a lesson which focused on developing the skills of chest-passing and shoulder-passing, before incorporating these into a game of benchball.

   

  We began by having three boys from our class, who are also successful members of our St. Mary's school rugby team, leading a warm-up.  The exercises that the boys chose for us were picked especially to help us to prepare our bodies correctly for taking part in competitive games.  The boys also gave the rest of the class advice on how to perform these exercises safely.

   

  We followed this warm up with some passing drills, before moving into small-sided, competitive games.

  

• Children's Mental Health Week 2020

  Fri 07 Feb 2020
  Mental health is our feelings, thoughts, emotions & moods. We all feel different emotions all the time; including feelings of sadness, anger or worry. When we feel like this it is important to speak to an adult you trust & do something to make you smile

  

• Asda Green Token Giving Programme

  Fri 07 Feb 2020 Mrs Brown

  A HUGE Thank you to everyone who voted for us in Swinton Asda green token giving programme! 
   

  The prize is usually £500 but as the voting was over Christmas Asda have made it extra special...we have won £1000!!!

   

  Today we were presented with the HUGE cheque and our school council, eco council and arts council already have ideas of how it can be spent!