Family Matters - Back to School - Mid Somerset edition

MID SOMERSET EDITION

ISSUE 72 • SEPTEMBER 2020

choosing a secondary school

back to school meals

www.familymatters-uk.co.uk

school news

WELCOME Hello everyone, welcome back – for a lot of you it has been a very long time since you last spent time in a classroom, so we’re hoping that this issue will help ease you back in to the swing of things.

The extra long break that we all had means that we’re all struggling to get used to being back in a routine and with all the changes that have been made following the lockdown in March, there is a lot to get your head around. Luckily, with autumn just around the corner, September is a great time to introduce new changes and take on new challenges and this issue is full of things to help with the start of a new term.

So, whether you’re a new reader or you’re picking us up for the first time in a brand new school, we hope you have a good first term back. Don’t forget to keep us up to date with all your achievements and news, we love featuring you in our pages!

Until next time, have a good first term and we’ll catch up with you again in October!

p8 tips for starting a new school

p12 dealing with

p16 the benefits of

p19 talk like a

after school clubs

anxiety

pirate day

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Choosing a

secondary school While many of you might have children starting school for the first time, for some of you, this will be your child's last September at your current school and with the various challenges around hosting open evenings, you may be wandering what to do about viewing and choosing where they’ll be for the next stage of their academic career.

this is the time of year that you really need to start thinking about the options and getting your applications in. When it comes to finding the best school for your child, there are a lot of factors involved, including what is on offer in your area, what entry requirements there are and what sort of environment best suits you and your child. To help lighten the load, we’ve put together a quick checklist to make it as stress free as possible.

Choosing a secondary school is important and

Make a list of the schools in your area

Check the application deadlines

Schools have a catchment area, so you’ll need to see what schools cater for your postcode as a starting point.

There are always options to apply for schools outside your area if you have a strong case or if your local schools are full, but local authorities and school trusts will offer places to the students within their catchment area first.

Every school will have its own deadline for applications and these will be publicised locally in newspapers and online, if you’re not sure or you can’t find the info anywhere, you can always check with the school themselves. The majority of secondary schools have a deadline of October for those that are in their last year in primary school, so it might be an idea to start your search in Year 5, especially if you’re interested in a grammar school or other selective school which will have certain entry requirements.

When it comes to finding the best school for you, there are a lot of factors involved.

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Are there any entry requirements?

Some schools will have entry requirements in place for prospective pupils. Religious schools for instance will need you to be an active member of their church while others may have an entrance exam. When looking at what schools are in the area, make sure to check what will be expected of you when making your shortlist.

that have taken place, this isn’t going to be possible at all schools. Many schools are instead offering virtual tours, so make sure to book onto as many of those as you can and to treat them like a physical school tour.

Because you won’t physically be able to look around, it’s important to keep an open mind.

Keep an open mind While you might have a certain school in mind, it might not be the best fit for your child. Normally we would recommend visiting as many of the local schools as possible on their open days or asking to attend a tour while school is in session, but with the various changes

Finally, take your child’s skills into account As parents we know a one size fits all approach doesn’t really work, so when making your shortlist of schools make sure to check if there are any schools nearby that have an area of specialty. If your child is musical, see if there is a school with a strong arts programme or if they’re sporty, one that specialises in sports. These schools help further your child’s interests and existing skills. Or if you feel like your child needs more pastoral care, make sure to look at smaller schools where they’ll receive more attention.

These things will all help you narrow down the search.

Do you have any other suggestions for parents looking at secondary schools for the first time?

You can get in touch on Facebook and Twitter, find us at @ukfamilymatters

St Dunstan’s School GLASTONBURY

at See our online tour -tour.htm m/joining-us/online stdunstansschool.co

E X P L O R E | AC H I E V E | S U CC E E D

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Top tips for starting a new school

...the parent edition

If this is your first time reading Family Matters it means your little darlings have started school for the first time! In that case, welcome, we hope they’ve settled in well. We also hope you’ve settled in too, you see starting a new school isn’t just a new experience for the children, it’s a whole new experience for parents and carers too, so here are our tips for parents of new school children.

Acknowledge your feelings about school

Treat teachers as professionals

You might think that your child is the only one who has to navigate all these new rules and regulations and learn where they fit in the school hierarchy. But you’d be wrong. Parents are often surprised by the feelings they get from simply picking up and dropping off their child or when visiting the school. Much like when you were in school yourself you’ll find the same groups congregated in the playground waiting for their children, acknowledge your feelings about judgemental parents, yummy mummies and the other groups you spot but try to keep them under control.

Teachers can get a lot of criticism but they are all dedicated to doing the best for your child and the other children in their care. Schooling has changed a lot since you were there, don’t let your experiences cloud how you view your child’s school.

Make sure you get your timings right For the school there is nothing more annoying than a child that is consistently late, so make sure you are able to get them to school on time. Staff will not take kindly to having to hang around watching children that haven’t been collected on time, so being punctual is important.

Don’t take breaks during term time Yes, we know. Everyone doubles their prices during the school holidays, but there are rules about taking kids on holiday during term time for a reason. Each school has their own policy and these work with the rules and regulations set out by the local authority. If it's absolutely necessary, speak to the school, but don’t book a holiday in term time if you can help it.

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Be realistic Obviously you think that your child is the best – they are!

We all have huge expectations for our children, but you need to be realistic. Their teacher might not know your child as well as you do, but they see them every day in a classroom setting, so what they say about them and their progress is usually right.

Join the PTA If you have the time, joining the PTA and integrating yourself into school life will help you get to know different staff members as well as other parents and help you learn how the school works. Make sure you are able to make the commitment and be realistic about how much you are able to participate.

Praise teachers Positive feedback works well on everyone, so make sure to praise teachers and other staff members when you’re pleased about something.

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GOING BACK TO SCHOOL WITH ALLERGIES & INTOLERANCES If you are a parent of a child with allergies or intolerances sending them to school can cause anxiety. You are completely aware of their allergies and what needs they have but starting a new school with a new teacher and new classmates mean a whole host of people who don’t know your children’s health issues.

You want your child to be safe and to make sure that the school has systems in place to deal with an issue should it arise. Here are a few suggestions so you can make sure that your children have a safe, fun start to the school year.

MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS AWARE OF THEIR TRIGGERS. You know what triggers a reaction, so make sure that everyone else does too. Common allergies such as pollen and dust will find their way into the classroom and children who have pets will accidentally bring pet hair into the school. When it comes to other allergies such as nuts or dairy, make sure that this is something the school is aware of and that there are systems in place to keep these things away from your child.

MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH AN ALLERGIST OR DOCTOR. If you have noticed that your child is coming home with difficulty breathing or a runny nose or a rash of some kind, it might be that they have been exposed to something in the classroom that they are allergic to. Making an appointment with a medical professional will give you the chance to determine what it is that is causing the reaction and will also give you an idea of a game plan to keep them safe.

Medication and treatment plans will also need to be shared with the school.

MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD KNOWS THEIR TRIGGERS Obviously you don’t want young children having their medication on their person, it will need to be left with a teacher or member of staff, but it is important that your child knows when they will need medication before an issue becomes serious. Make sure they are aware, particularly at lunch times so they know not to share food or pick items from a menu that will cause them an allergic reaction. If you trust your child to administer their medication, make sure they know how and also check that someone at the school is aware of how to use it.

MEET WITH THE SCHOOL Ideally all members of staff should be aware of your child’s allergies, what medications they are prescribed and how this medication should be kept and administered. Make sure they understand the signs and symptoms and what precautions need to be in place. You’ll find that many schools are nut free or have certain menu items that are gluten or dairy free so be sure to check what their policy is.

KEEP YOUR CHILD’S FRIENDS AND OTHER PARENTS IN THE LOOP Communication is key when it comes to managing allergies and intolerances, so it is a good idea for your child’s friends and their parents to know so they can put precautions in place for birthday parties or play time at their house. It will also mean that as your child grows and develops their friendships, they won’t feel insecure about their health and will be able to discuss it with friends who can then also keep an eye on them.

Do you have any other tips for parents of allergy sufferers? Get in touch on Facebook or Twitter @ukfamilymatters ukfamilymatters |

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DYSLEXIA AWARENESS WEEK 5-11th October This year’s Dyslexia Awareness Week takes place from the 5th until the 11th October with the theme of Dyslexia Creates. While raising awareness for the condition, the British Dyslexia Association is looking at the power of dyslexia to create ideas and organisations and the invaluable contribution these ideas make across the UK.

Dyslexia is one of the most understood learning difficulties that children face at school today and those that experience it will often find school in particular challenging compared to their peers.

It’s not dyslexia it’s laziness

Smart people don’t experience dyslexia

Nope. There have been over thirty years of studies looking into dyslexia and how it affects people in their day to day life. If a child is struggling, in particular with reading and writing, it is very rarely laziness and almost always a learning difficulty like dyslexia.

As we look towards this year’s Dyslexia Awareness Week, here are a few misconceptions that we thought we’d clear up.

This is wrong as well we’re afraid. Dyslexia and intelligence aren’t linked, dyslexia can affect anyone no matter what their intelligence.

In fact, Albert Einstein, who is considered a genius, was thought to be dyslexic.

It’s really rare

It only affects boys

Actually dyslexia is one of the most common causes of reading difficulties, but despite this, very few people actually apply for or even qualify for extra help in the classroom. Most people with dyslexia have a mild form that may be overlooked by schools and parents.

Actually, the prevalence of dyslexia across boys and girls is pretty much identical.

However, it has always historically been more identified in boys than girls, possibly because more boys are sent for testing.

Dyslexia will stop me from achieving my goals Simply put, no it won’t. Lots of people with dyslexia have gone on to have great successes.

You’ll grow out of it If you’ve been diagnosed with dyslexia, you will have it for life, however, regular monitoring and certain learning styles will make life a lot easier for those living with dyslexia and will enable them to gain the skills they need to enjoy reading and writing.

If you’re concerned that your child might be dyslexic or you’re worried that they aren’t receiving the right support, please speak to your classroom teacher – they’ll be happy to help and share the right resources!

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Famous people with dyslexia: Have you been diagnosed with dyslexia? You’re not alone, lots of people are in the same boat, here are some famous names that either have or are believed to have been dyslexic.

Keira Knightly

Orlando Bloom Albert Einstein

John Lennon Jamie Oliver

Richard Branson

JFK

Leonardo Da Vinci

Dominic Wood (aka Dom from Dick and Dom)

Walt Disney George W Bush

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A

I ET Y X N

While it might seem like anxiety, as a medical condition is something new, it has been around since the beginning of time and now with the added pressure of COVID-19 and new routines being piled onto their little shoulder’s, children are displaying more symptoms of general anxiety disorder. But what is it and how can you help?

What is anxiety?

Anxiety presents itself a number of different ways and when someone is suffering from general anxiety disorder, it is a lot more than just the normal amount of anxiety one can feel when doing something stressful.

Feeling anxious has an evolutionary purpose, it helps activate the fight or flight response which we needed when it was likely we’d be eaten by sabre tooth tigers, these days, it isn’t something our bodies really need to stay alive. However, people who have an over active fight or flight response that perceives threats where there often aren’t any, which causes problems for them, especially when it starts to interfere with everyday life.

Are there any symptoms?

Some common symptoms of general anxiety disorder include: insomnia, heart palpitations, irritability, poor memory, muscle tension, unexplained uneasiness, poor concentration, cold, sweaty and in some cases, panic attacks, which present themselves in a variety of ways. Anxiety isn’t an easy condition to treat, as it is difficult for doctors to measure it, however, it can be treated and it is important to believe and support your child when you notice these symptoms. If left to grow, anxiety can lead to poor school performance, depression, physical illness and more.

What causes anxiety?

It could be a product of genetics; it can be triggered by a stressful or traumatic event. It can manifest over time from a combination of factors. Feeling anxious is normal in certain situations, younger children might feel anxious when separated from their parents, but it is important to keep an eye on these feelings and make sure they don’t start affecting their performance at school or relationships with other children. Adolescent anxiety is often triggered by academic pressures, again, make sure this doesn’t manifest itself into something more negative resulting in panic attacks and poor attendance.

What can I do?

Although you should maintain the same expectations for your child as you did before, you should make sure you are able to adjust them to help manage their anxiety. Plan ahead to help minimise their exposure to stressful situations. When they are experiencing anxiety, listen and empathise with your child, it is important to validate how they are feeling and not try to belittle them, even if you don’t quite understand what is happening in their heads. You can ask for advice from your child’s school and from your GP or speak to a professional organisation to help them manage their anxiety. When waiting for an appointment or as a general rule, you can encourage them to get adequate sleep, use mindfulness techniques, exercise regularly and eat well to help them keep their anxiety under check.

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NATIONAL CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED TO ENCOURAGE PUPILS TO #StaySafeGetActive As pupils prepare to return to education in September, a national initiative has been launched to encourage parents and children to improve safety and air quality around schools, as well as activity levels.

“In addition to the recognised benefits of active travel, fewer cars around the school gates will mean that there is plenty of space for families to follow the Government’s social distancing guidelines.”

Modeshift STARS, which recognises excellence in supporting sustainable travel, is inviting schools across the country to create a ‘walking bubble’ for families, placing parking and driving restrictions around a five-minute radius of the school gates, helping parents and children feel safer.

Modeshift STARS work with educational establishments across the country to develop and implement School Travel Plans, which include a range of initiatives to encourage sustainable and active travel on the journey to school.

The bubbles are part of Modeshift STARS’ latest initiative, #StaySafeGetActive, which enables any registered school to create a walking zone map to support them with their re-opening while encouraging social distancing outside of the school gates.

Nick Butler, Modeshift STARS accreditation manager, said: “We want as many schools as possible to create a #StaySafeGetActive walking bubble to protect children and their families, helping them to enjoy a safer and more active journey to school.

Paralympian and Active Travel Commissioner for the Sheffield City Region Dame Sarah Storey has been working with schools in partnership with the STARS South Yorkshire team.

She said: “As more pupils return to the classroom we have an opportunity to transform the school run, and this fantastic new ‘walking bubble’ tool from Modeshift STARS will enable children to walk to school safely, or park and stride the last leg of their journey.

“I hope this scheme is taken up by schools across the country.”

“Everyone where possible should walk, cycle or scoot to school.

Where families must travel by car, we’d like them find a safe place to park at least five minutes away from the school gates and walk for the final few metres to create a car-free zone around the school.”

The initiative has been launched on the back of research that found that only 51 per cent of primary children walk to school, compared to 70 per cent a generation ago. The Modeshift STARS team also hope it will build on the positive effect of the recent lockdown on air quality; research has found that pollutants from vehicle emissions are linked to rising levels of heart disease, as well as increasing the severity of Covid-19 infections.

Nick added: “We feel that this is the ideal time to launch the walking bubbles as, during lockdown, more people than ever were taking a daily walk, scoot or bike ride. Furthermore, with the reduction in traffic on the roads, the air quality improved dramatically with some cities seeing nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels falling by up to 60 per cent.

Larissa Lockwood, Director of Clean Air at Global Action Plan, an organisation calling for nationwide action by government and local authorities to improve air quality at schools said: “Returning to school is full of anxieties for parents, and simple street improvements like walking bubbles will drastically reduce the worry over children being able to get to school safely.

“On top of this, cleaner air was one of the few silver linings of the COVID-19 lockdown. Through our collective behaviours - working from home, walking and cycling instead of driving - we saw and experienced extraordinary improvements in outdoor air quality.

“If schools across the country rollout walking bubbles now, it will enable parents and children to continue these behaviours safely, and simultaneously keeping our air clean.”

Walking bubbles are free to create for all schools in England, outside of London.

For more information and tips on how to create a walking bubble, visit www.modeshiftstars.org/staysafegetactive ukfamilymatters |

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Easy back to school meals!

With the kids going back to school and the stress of getting back into a routine of home time, dinner time, homework time, bath time and bedtime, you’ll need some super speedy dinners to get you back into the swing of things.

Here are five simple suppers to help you out!

Sausage and Sweet Potato Skillet Here’s a flavoursome, easy to make dinner which will leave everyone warm and full on those autumn evenings.

Tomato spaghetti It’s a simple, easy to prepare meal and everyone likes pasta!

480g of spaghetti (use a gluten free alternative if you like) 2x tins of quality chopped tomatoes 1 medium onion cheese of your choice.

Put a saucepan on a medium heat and add olive oil and onion, cook until soft and golden.

Season with a tiny pinch of salt and pepper and then add tinned tomatoes Fill a new pot with boiling water and add the spaghetti Once the pasta is done, drain and add to the tomatoes Stir together and add in your cheese.

This is another recipe that can be adapted for children with allergies, plus you can use it as a base and add other ingredients if you’d like.

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1tbsp of oil or cooking spray 8 sausages – pork or vegetarian 1 onion 4 garlic cloves 1 sweet potato 1 red pepper In a large pan heat the oil or spray the cooking spray and brown the sausages for five minutes, take them out but keep the pan on the heat, turn it down and gently cook the onions and garlic until soft.

Add the sausages back in with the sweet potato and pepper and gently cook for thirty minutes occasionally stirring and turning.

Remove from the heat and serve straight from the pan.

If you’re going to use vegetarian sausages – these cook in less time than meat sausages, so brown them off to start and then reheat them for 10 minutes or so at the end.

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Baked Sweet Potatoes A more exciting version of the traditional baked potato, quick, easy and healthy!

A sweet potato for each person Olive Oil Preheat the oven to 180 degrees or gas mark 4.

Scrub the sweet potatoes, pat them dry and then rub with olive oil, sprinkle over salt and pepper and roast in a baking tray for about 40 minutes When they’re almost ready, grab some salad, coleslaw or whatever other toppings you would like, add and serve!

Sloppy Joe

Warning, this is messy, but the kids will love it! It’s an American staple which the whole family can get into!

1 tbsp vegetable oil 1 onion 2 small peppers 2 garlic cloves 400g minced beef/turkey/soya mince 2 cans of chopped tomatoes 1 tbsp of mustard/bbq sauce Burger buns Heat the oil in a deep frying pan, fry the onion, pepper and garlic for 10 mins or until soft.

Add the mince, breaking it up as you go and stirring until it browns all over. Be aware that some mince will cook faster than others.

Tip in the tomatoes and mustard or bbq sauce, add a little seasoning and simmer for 10-15 minutes.

Pile into burger buns, add the cheese for those that want it and serve.

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Pizza Quesadillas Combine Italian with Mexican with this easy to make crowd pleaser! It might be simpler to grab a frozen pizza and bung it in the oven, but these are quick to make and much healthier!

All you’ll need is a pack of large flour tortillas (grab a gluten free version to make this suitable for anyone with allergies) 150g grated cheese (substitute for dairy free cheese if you like) 2 tomatoes Tomato puree Your choice of veg or meat – pre cooked chicken, ham etc Preheat your oven to 200 degrees C or gas mark 6.

Place half the tortillas on a baking tray and sprinkle over cheese, add a few veggies and then place the rest of the tortillas on top.

Spread tomato puree over the top layer, add the remaining cheese, sliced tomatos and the rest of your veg and bake for 15-20 minutes.

And that’s it, you’re done!

This is a perfect alternative to a frozen pizza or creating one from scratch, it can be made vegetarian and adapted to be gluten and dairy free and is sure to be a big hit with the kids!

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ITS F E N E B E H T E R A T A WH OF JOINING AN

?

B U L C L O O H C S AFTER LEARNING A NEW SKILL

Children who participate in a variety of activities are introduced to new skills and new ways of working, as well as the chance to develop new and existing skills. As children realise they are capable of doing new things, they become more confident and additional skills are always useful on future applications, should they want to go on to university or get a job.

DEVELOP INDEPENDENCE

By participating in a club, which may or may not be with their usual group of friends, children learn to thrive outside of their comfort zone and these skills are paramount to getting on in life.

GETTING OUT

If your child spends too much time in front of a TV or playing computer games, clubs can give children an opportunity to explore more varied activities, become more active and enable them to challenge themselves.

MEETING NEW PEOPLE

Joining a club will give children a comfortable place to meet new people and develop friendships with other young people with similar interests. If the club is specific to something that isn’t taught during the school day it can also widen their social groups.

KEEPS THEM OUT OF TROUBLE

If your kids are at a club, then you know exactly where they are! What could be better!

IMPROVING THEIR SELECTION PROCESSES

In addition to further education, employers and social groups also like to see well rounded applications, participating in a club will help enhance any application.

GOOD OLD FASHIONED FUN

Leaning to play an instrument, taking part in a team sport, dancing, singing or just a youth club, these are all just enjoyable things to do and the more fun you have, the better!

Obviously, this isn’t the end of the list, but it gives you an idea of how good clubs are for your child!

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W

e've all been there. The last minute rush to get homework done that leaves both my child and I stressed, and, in contrast, the homework session that drags on and on with him twiddling his pen, staring into space.

AVOID THE HOME WORK BLUES

But homework can, and should, be time well spent that connects you to your child's learning, as well as being a benefit to your child's overall education. Here's how I overcame a few pitfuls and made homework a breeze! (Well, a little easier anyway)

LOCATION IS ALL

I like to provide my son with a quiet, well-lit space, away from distractions and with all the study materials that he needs to hand — paper, pens and pencils, a dictionary, and whatever else he may need to be comfortable yet productive.

PERSONAL SPACE

I would recommend that you try to find a separate space for each of your children, or schedule quiet times for homework in designated spaces. If one child finishes their homework earlier than the other, I would encourage reading time or quiet time until the entire family is ready to do something together, or 'noisy' time.

CREATE A ROUTINE

I find that the most productive time for homework is earlier in the evening and not too close to bedtime. Sometimes he needs a little after-school play break and dinner, or at least an energising snack, before hitting the books. The most important thing is to establish a routine that works for your child.

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Every year on 19th September the world celebrates a very important holiday: International Talk Like a Pirate Day. This is a worldwide celebration where you are encouraged to talk like a pirate using all the slang you can find in pirate movies and books all day! Luckily for us, the West Country accent makes this quite easy. As part of this year’s celebrations, we thought we’d delve into the history of local pirates!

The West Country, particularly Bristol and the coasts of Devon and Cornwall, are well known for their connection to piracy, many of the famous names came from this area including Blackbeard!

The South West coast of England is full of coves, cave systems and ports which is why it was so popular among pirates and smugglers. Back in the golden age of piracy, these ports were the main way that goods were imported and exported around the world, which is why these regions became targets for pirates.

How many of these names have you heard of before?

Blackbeard

Woodes Rogers

AKA Edward Teach. This fearsome pirate was born in Bristol in the 1800s, it is thought that he initially served in British privateering ships during Queen Anne’s War in the early 1700s before joining forces with a band of pirates.

He was well known for using fear to best his opponents and was always well armed, apparently his beard was full of fuses which he would light! How scary does that sound?

While he was captain of his ship he terrorised the main route between Europe and America.

Also from Bristol, was Woodes Rogers who started his life as an ordinary seaman and merchant sailor before becoming a pirate hunter. At one time, he was the Royal Governor of the Bahamas, where there was a large pirate community, he managed to establish control over the region and controlled many of the pirates that were based there.

William Dampier This pirate from East Coker in Somerset is the only recognised pirate to be allowed wall space in the National Portrait Gallery in London. After sailing around the world as a buccaneer, he was made a naval officer and commanded his own expeditions around the world where he discovered and named his own island. Though not a well-liked man, he published a widely read account of his life on the high seas and features in many books about Britain’s maritime history.

Lady Killigrew Perhaps the claim that having a woman on board brings bad luck came about because sailors and pirates had the misfortune to meet Lady Killigrew. She was part of the notorious Killigrew family from Cornwall, Lady Killigrew not only married a pirate but was the daughter of one, she took part in a raid on a Spanish ship, killing the crew and stealing the cargo. Eventually her crewmates were found guilty but the Queen at the time, Queen Elizabeth 1, pardoned her.

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LATEST SCHOOL NEWS

EVENTS

DIARY DATES

YOUR SUCCESSES

News and Reviews NEW RECRUIT AT OAKFIELD ACADEMY This beautiful girl chocolate Labrador (called Acorn) is the newest recruit at Oakfield Academy. The 'School Dog' will be based in Headteacher Miss Wilkes' office!

The academy hope the little dog will be seen regularly around the site, as Acorn is looking forward to being a listening dog at reading time! Oakfield is also certain that she will be able to help some pupils with their anxiety issues.

She cannot wait until she can welcome all of the pupils back in September.

PEPI HELPS CLEAN UP FROME Pepi, a pupil at St John’s CEVA First School, Frome, inspired by Blue Peter and the mess made at Bournemouth beach during the warm weather, headed out in Frome and did a spot of litter picking.

She and her mum went to Weshmill Park and filled a bin liner with litter.

Pepi and her mum said it felt good to be cleaning the area so that children could play there again and Pepi was praised by a council worker who was there unchaining the gates. Her parents have written to Blue Peter about her achievement and we’re all hoping that she earns one of their badges!

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KEYNSHAM CHILDREN TO BENEFIT FROM PARK REDEVELOPMENT Major improvements are beginning at Kelston Road Park in Keynsham as part of a £100,000 investment by B&NES and Keynsham Town Council. The park, which is next to St Keyna Primary School will include junior and toddler play zones, accessible equipment and a range of swings and climbing apparatus as well as better seating and new trees as part of a complete overhaul.

The project follows a consultation

that was carried out last year which highlighted that improvements were a top priority for the park, especially to play equipment, signage and safety measures.

The previous equipment was installed over 30 years ago.

It is expected to take six weeks from start to finish to complete the project. Visitors are reminded to continue to follow social distancing measures and to make sure to wash their hands when visiting parks.

SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE SCHOOLS TO TRIAL TIMED STREET CLOSURES AT DROP OFF AND PICK UP South Gloucestershire Council has announced plans to introduce experimental traffic orders banning vehicles from roads outside King’s Oak Academy, Barley Close Community Primary and Kelston Close at drop off and pick up times to help maintain social distancing.

The scheme would ban traffic between 1st September and 31st July on those streets around school start and finish times. The proposed scheme will be trialled in September.

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WELLS JUNIORS’ GLAST-HOME-BURY FESTIVAL Pupils in Years 2,3 and 4 at Wells Catherdral School had a great time recreating their very own Glast-home-bury Festival during last term making the most of the sunshine in their own home made campsites!

Pupils and teachers kicked off what would have been the Festival week by watching a special video message from Old Wellensian Michael Eavis before taking part in a number of virtual workshops. The children’s creativity was amazing and it’s safe to say that the spirit of Glastonbury Festival was truly alive!

BIG THANKS TO THE PTA Midsomer Norton Primary School would like to thank their incredible PTA for all their help and support over the last academic year.

Although many of the usual fundraising activities were drastically curtailed in the second half of the year, they continue to play a key role including managing school uniform orders. They are led ably,

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enthusiastically and with great energy by Jo Guy and Jodie Plummer. Thanks to all the hard work the PTA did in the first half of the year, the school were able to spend £1,000 on their new PSHE scheme and another £1,300 on classroom and curriculum resources – so thank you and well done guys!

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ST BENEDICT’S 2020 YEAR 6 AWARDS

SCHOOL SECURITY TO BE IMPROVED

At the end of last term, the staff at St Benedict’s had the difficult task of handing out awards to their leaving Year 6 pupils. After some discussions, the awards were as follows:

Plans to carry out alterations at Bitton’s The Meadows Primary School has been approved by South Gloucestershire Council.

Award for writing – Benjy

The plans will make access arrangements safer in terms of safe guarding with an extension to the entrance and a number of internal changes, however the impact of the new designs will be limited to preserve the character and appearance of the village.

Award for art – Jack Award for effort – Verity and Alfie Award for achievement – Harry R and Sarah Award for sportsmanship – Sadie and Will Congratulations everyone!

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St Benedict’s Catholic Primary School Charlton Road, Midsomer Norton BA3 4BD ‘Growing Together Through Christ’

Where every day is an OPEN DAY We are a smaller than average school and pride ourselves on our caring approach and our ability to meet every child’s needs, helping them develop and ensure they reach their full potential, whilst growing in the love of Christ. We welcome children of all faiths.

We also offer wrap-around care as well as an independent on-site Nursery.

Come and see for yourselves what the St Benedict’s experience can do for your child.

Give us a like

Please call 01761 418594 to make an appointment Email: stbenedicts@educ.somerset.gov.uk www.stbenedicts.info

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SCARED ABOUT STARTING THE NEW TERM IN A NEW CLASS? READ DEXTER’S POEM Dexter, a pupil at Trinity Church School in Radstock, rightfully received a Headteacher’s Award last term for the poem he wrote for younger children moving into Year 4 to help them with the transition.

“Year 4 Don’t be worried about your new teacher The prospect of change can be daunting at first Miss Treasure is a fabulous teacher You have so much fun you might even burst!

With every year you’re working harder Finding out new combinations But you will find that you’re getting smarter It’s just a matter of imagination

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It started on the Shackleton’s Antarctica And then went on to Greek mythology Then Boudicca’s life went out in a flicker There’s swimming again and even biology Assemblies are great I even got to be a giraffe Make sure you’re not late But always remember to smile and laugh.”

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GOODBYE MRS HOWARD! Everyone at Trinity School said a fond farewell to Mrs Howard who left Trinity School after eleven years at the end of last term.

Mrs Howard has supported many children across all age groups throughout her time at the school and everyone wishes her the best of luck for the future.

RUBY BEATS HER PERSONAL BEST! Ruby from Kilmersdon School set herself a challenge to beat her personal best in cross punches and round kicks per minute.

She carried out extra training on top of her usual taekwondo sessions to increase her body strength with the help of her instructor at Jamie Woodland’s Black Belt Academy.

She managed to exceed her PB over 40 in each event, totally 194 punches and 139 kicks. She was planning to raise £75 for the Diabetes UK Mendip Support Group to help children who have been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes and their families.

WORLD SPELLING CHAMPIONS! Congratulations to last year’s Barn Owl class at Kilmersdon School who managed to reach the top 90 in the world league table on the Spelling Shed! Well done everyone!

THANK YOU FOR HELPING REVAMP SCHOOL LIBRARY! Staff and pupils at Midsomer Norton Primary School would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who supported the school by buying books for the library via their online wishlist.

Thanks to your generosity, the school have completely overhauled the library and it now looks amazing! Thank you everyone!

At the time of going to print, she had managed to raise £600! Well done Ruby!

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l o o c r u o y Keeping ild... h c a g n i r du With the rise of social media taking an active role in our lives we can often feel the need to be the most perfect families in the universe. We like to feel that our kids are the best behaved of all the kids, we like to think that we’re the best parents, we’re fair and strict when need be, but mostly, life is super easy because our kids are the best kids. In reality, we all know that this isn’t the case. Children can be difficult, being a parent can be difficult. No one has endless amounts of patience and let’s be honest, who hasn’t wanted to crawl into a ball when their children start screaming about wanting sweets while at the supermarket.

In certain situations, like your child screaming in the back of the car or niggling their brothers and sisters or refusing to do their homework, it can be impossible to keep your cool. So, here are a few tried and tested methods to help blow off steam.

n the kitche Hiding in t weets tha s g n ti a e and kids. nt for the were mea

Watching cats on YouTube.

Even if you don’t like cats, cat videos help everyone.

Texting your BFF Take some deep breaths. Sounds boring, but it will help!

Washing up.

Seriously.

Give it a go.

Can you think of any more ways of keeping your cool with the kids? Send us your suggestions to news@ignyte-uk.co.uk

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