Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• Friday 4th September

  Fri 04 Sep 2020

  Good afternoon all :)

  I would like to say a big thank you to everyone at St. Margaret's for all your efforts this week. I think the return has been a big success. Getting all the children in and back out is tricky but we have managed as well as we can and as the week has gone on everything has become smoother.

  The  children have been fantastic in school. There is no other words to describe them. Please tell them well done!! You can be very proud of your children!

  We are aware of the issues at the end of the school day regarding large numbers on Heywood Road now that Parrenthorn are back. This is why I have changed the drop off and pick up times. This will be reviewed by the end of next week and I am working with Mr. Bell at Parrenthorn to see what can be done to make the end of the day better. Having said that, the fact of it is the two schools are directly opposite each other and as with everything at the moment, we can only try our best!

  Have a lovely weekend. Let's hope the sun keeps shining.

  Lots of love.

  Mrs. Perry.

• Thursday 3rd September

  Thu 03 Sep 2020
  Dear Parents and Carers,
  
  Thank you for all your support today. Arriving at the allocated time has really helped. Please can this continue.
  
  School will need to tweak arrangements for next week so please keep an eye out for web information and school texts. We have worked so hard to arrange the day safely for our community and if we all keep to it..... it works!
  
  If you have more than one child in school, please talk to the office to arrange one time to collect your children - if you haven't already done so. This is one of the times when parents are having to wait around and we are trying to minimise this.
  
  Everyone at St. Margaret's is so pleased to see the children and one another.
  
  The children have been a credit to you as parents and to school as well today, once again.
  
  I am so proud of us all.
  
  Next week there will be hot meals available from the kitchen and Smarties to support families. Please be patient as we try to get school back to our new normal.
  
  Thank you so much.
  
  Mrs. Perry.
  
  XX

• Wednesday 2nd September

  Wed 02 Sep 2020

  Dear Parents and Carers.

  Can I say a huge 'Thank You' for today. This morning went really smoothly and the children were absolutely brilliant in class all day. It couldn't have gone better really.

  Pick up at the end of the day was more difficult because of the horrible weather. It is really important that children are picked up within the correct timeslot. Classes have been allocated a timeslot to limit the number of parents on the school premises at one time. A significant number of parents arrived very early today and as a result there were too many parents on the premises which caused congestion around the main entrance in particular.

  Please keep to the allocated timeslot, to keep us all safe.

  It was lovely to see everyone today. It was a great start!!

  Thank you for wearing your mask as well.

  Mrs. Perry

• Tuesday 1st September - 2nd Update

  Tue 01 Sep 2020

  Good evening all,

   

  Staff have been in school today and we are ready for tomorrow. We will be on the path to help you all find your way to classes. As I said earlier, please keep the journey into school smooth and calm. I have discussed wearing masks with staff as we meet you. I will be wearing a mask and I ask that you do the same especially once on school grounds, due to the high level of cases in Bury including the Prestwich area..

   

  Please be patient tomorrow and in the coming days. We have to get 250 children in to school as safely as possible and you (Parents) off the premises as safely as possible. We will rise to the challenge!!! What I do believe is that our community - staff, children, parents, grandparents and carers will be happier now that children are back with their friends and with their teachers.

   

  The new Risk Assessment is on the website. 

   

  See you tomorrow ! :))

   

  Mrs Perry

  
   

• Tuesday 1st September

  Tue 01 Sep 2020
  Good Morning everyone,

   

  I hope you have enjoyed your Bank Holiday. It was supposed to be very cool temperature wise. Personally, I found it very pleasant and I may regret not putting on any sun tan lotion this afternoon.!!

   

  I will be meeting with staff today to finalise plans to welcome everyone back on Wednesday. We are as ready as we can be and are looking forward to seeing everyone. Staff will be on hand to help you with drop-off arrangements. (See the Risk Assessment and additional information on the website).

   

  As you will know the number of C-19 cases is high in Bury (including in Whitefield and Prestwich). In light of this, I would ask again, that adults wear masks on their way to and from school, especially in the school grounds.  Please prepare your child for the fact that staff greeting your children into school may be wearing a mask. This will be at each staff members discretion. I will be wearing one. I have considered the effect of staff wearing masks and worrying the children,  compared with the strong message that we all need to put out about safety for us all. 

  Once in class, staff will not need to wear a mask. All the children will be told about arrangements in school and what is expected of them. They will spend the vast majority of their time in their classes and moving around school will be kept to a minimum. This is to keep them as safe as possible.

   

  It is extremely important that you tell your child that they must keep to the rules and do as they are told.

   

  As they come in to school all the children will use sanitiser and then be taken in to class. Leaving your child will be difficult after some time at home but this needs to be smooth so please prepare them for this.

   

  I will be in later with final arrangements. 

   

  Enjoy the rest of your day. Keep safe and I will see you soon.

   

  Mrs. Perry

• Saturday 29th August

  Sat 29 Aug 2020

  Hi everyone,

   

  I hope you are enjoying your weekend?

   

  Plans to re-open St. Margaret's will continue as stated on our website. The Government  issued more guidance late last night. The timing was interesting to say the least, but the vast majority of the changes apply to High Schools in areas of increased risk. Bury is admittedly one of these areas at the moment as you may know.

   

  As we approach the time when we all return, more things occur to me that I need to share. Here goes :)

   

  I have spoken with the Head Teacher at Parrenthorn and there will be staff from both schools situated on Heywood Road as the children come to school. Mr Longworth and I will be there for St. Margaret's children on their first day back. Other staff will be visible on the path up to school, please observe signage. Staff will be there to guide you around our one way system.

   

  Office staff will be present in the area outside the main door (so let's hope it doesn't rain!). If you have a question or a need to speak to them, I ask that this be done via phone or email where possible. Please update the school office if there are any changes to your contact details. School asks that the contact between all adults is kept to a minimum. 

   

  As Bury is an area of high risk at the moment, I ask that parents bringing children to school wear a face mask to keep the risk of cross contamination as low as possible.

   

  It is crucially important that if your child has a cough, a high temperature or if they tell you that their sense of smell and taste has gone, then you must keep them at home.

   

  Please remember that if you need to ask a question, get in touch with the school office. We are here to help.

   

  I am sure that there will be lots of other things that pop in to my head before Wednesday. 

   

  I am looking forward to seeing you all.

   

  Mrs. Perry x

• Wednesday 26 August

  Wed 26 Aug 2020
  Hi everyone,
  
  I hope you are all well. I was in school today and several staff were there too, getting ready to welcome you back to your classes. I feel that as we approach the new term there are more and more things to tell you. I will be in touch more regularly now to answer questions and tell you of any new / additional arrangements. None of us have faced a new term like this so please be patient and try not to worry. We are all here to support each other.
  
  Lunchtime arrangements: For the first three days all the children will have a packed lunch. This is not ideal but I want to get the children back into school as a first priority and 'test out' our risk assessment. From Monday 7th September it is our aim to have the school kitchen up and running with a full menu, including hot meals.
  
  No child who has opted for a school lunch needs to bring their own. If a child has opted for packed lunches from home then this will continue as normal.
  
  Children will be doing PE so please get their kits ready. It will be useful to keep an eye on class pages on the website so that if there is any extra guidance from your child's teacher; you are aware of it. This will be particularly true for the youngest children.  (Keep an eye on Tapestry for Reception children).
  
  The guidance around wearing masks in school is changing constantly. AT THE MOMENT the recommendation is that children under 12 do not wear a mask in school. At this point in time, if a member of staff feels more comfortable wearing a mask, say for health reasons, then this will be permitted following discussion with me.
  
  I am sure there will be many further questions to answer. Again, please try not to worry. We are here to help.
  
  Have a lovely evening,
  
  Mrs. Perry x
   

• September Drop Off and Collection Times

  Mon 24 Aug 2020

  School Drop Off and Collection Times

   

  WILLOW ENTRANCE		Drop Off Time	Collection Time
  	OAK	8.55 – 9.05	2.45 – 2.55
  	LILAC	9.05 – 9.15	2.55 – 3.05
  	WILLOW	9.15 – 9.30	3.15

   

  MAIN ENTRANCE		Drop Off Time	Collection Time
  	HAWTHORN	8.45 – 8.55	3.00 – 3.10
  	YEAR 5	8.55 – 9.05	3.10 – 3.20
  	YEAR 4	9.05 – 9.15	3.20 – 3.30

   

  PLAYGROUND ENTRANCE		Drop Off Time	Collection Time
  	YEAR 6	9.00 – 9.10	3.30
  	YEAR 3	9.10 – 9.20	3.00 – 3.10

   

  If you have more than one child at the school, you can choose which time would be best to drop them off and collect them. Please let the school know the times so teachers can prepare

• Monday 24th August

  Mon 24 Aug 2020

  Good afternoon to you all,

   

  I am aware that as we approach the start of the new term, some parents will be anxious about sending their children back to school. Please be re-assured that the school has given the most serious consideration to the safety of all children, parents and staff. Things will be different for the foreseeable future but every effort has been made to make school as safe and friendly as it possibly can be. 

   

  Our Risk Assessment is fully up to date and can be found on the school website. It will answer many of your questions; but admittedly not all, as Government advice changes so regularly. 

   

  Where possible, the children will sit in rows facing the front of the class. However, the youngest children will work in the classroom environment in which they are used to. This will be one of the major differences the older children will see. The children will go to the toilet one at a time and staff will disinfect the toilet handles, door handles etc after use.

   

  Start times and pick-up times will be staggered for now, which will not have an adverse effect on the time spent learning. This is because lunchtimes will be staggered and the children will spend less time on the playground over lunch. Also there will be no assemblies at this point as schools are advised to keep the bubbles of which children are in as small as possible for as often as possible. This will 'free up' half and hour for learning time each day.

   

  Children can bring their own school bag in to school, but they do not need to bring any stationery as these items will be provided by school and the children will be actively discouraged from sharing anything. Children can bring their packed lunch in their lunchbox from Wednesday 2nd September.

   

  School is aiming to re-open Smarties from Monday 7th September. We recognise that many parents need this facility so that they can return to work and we have brought the re-opening date forward as a result of this recognition.

   

  If you have any concerns or questions then school is here to help, please do not hesitate to ask. One thing I have learnt in the past few months is that no question is a silly question. We are living in very different times and it is important that we support each other. I look forward to seeing you again next week.

   

  Lots of love,

   

  Mrs. Perry

   

• Wednesday 19th August

  Wed 19 Aug 2020

  Dear Parents and Carers,

   

  I am writing in response to some questions that parents are worried about.

   

  The children will be doing PE when they return. Coach Leon will have his own Risk Assessment and the children will be doing individual work as much as possible. Where equipment is used the children will have their own individual item - eg. a hoop. All equipment will be disinfected between classes. 

   

  School bags are allowed but we ask that children bring as little as possible with them. They do not need to bring any stationery, however they will need to bring a full water bottle that requires washing and refilling each evening. Details are in the school Risk Assessment, on the school website. 

   

  https://www.st-margarets.bury.sch.uk/safeguarding/

   

  All children are required to wear full school uniform and as per Government guidelines it does not need washing any more often than usual. 

   

  I have tried to include as much detail for the children returning to school in the Risk Assessment, however this will change in accordance to new Government directives and changes will also need to be made once school is 'up and running’. 

   

  I realise that parents will have concerns about returning in September and this is why I have tried to include as much detail as possible in the school Risk Assessment for you to view.

   

  Keep safe and well.

   

  Mrs. Perry