Newsletter 5.02.21

​Dear Chagford Families,
 
This week we have had a focus on learning how to look after our own mental health.
In assemblies and in our curriculum time in school and at home we have explored different feelings, emotions and how they show in our thoughts and actions. We have remembered that it’s ‘ok to not feel ok,’ and that no emotion is a ‘bad emotion.’ 

​We know that sometimes it can be hard to talk about how we are feeling, often we say we are ‘fine’ when we are not feeling fine at all.  
A really helpful question is, ‘how are you feeling right now on a scale of 1 – 10?’ 
Sometimes we don’t feel fine and we don’t really know why.  This week we have spent time thinking about why we might not be feeling fine.  It might be we are tired, worried or dehydrated and we can do something practical to feel better such as have an early night, talk about a worry with someone you trust or have a drink of water.
We have been thinking about ways we express ourselves. Some people like to dance or sing, some to draw or build. Finding ways to express ourselves can be really good for our mental health.  I like to write poems.
 
Express Yourself
In assembly today, children were invited to wear something to express themselves.
I covered my hat in things which are really important to me.
I included a penny from 1928, the, theatre masks earrings I bought when I went to New York the first time on my own, Celtic badges and tartan to show my Scottish roots and of course most of you know my passion for dogs and bees, so they are incorporated too!  I also pinned on my bronze skiing award, in assembly I told the story of my mum saving up so I could go to Italy to ski when I was at Primary school.
 
Thank you to everyone who took part! Unfortunately we were not able to see all of your hats. Please email your photos and your teachers can share them on the class blogs.
 
Live Learning and Connection
It is lovely to see so many of you on screen for the assemblies, meetings and live lessons. Please prioritise these in your weekly schedule as they are a great way for class and school connection – and very helpful for fostering positive mental health.
I am so impressed with how good children are at muting when someone is talking. Well done! Next week Internet safety week so we will be learning more about internet etiquette as well as keeping safe.
If you are struggling with access, please let me know! I have access to grants and funds to support home learning.
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2021/01/mobile-providers-table-students/
 
Covid Update
Many of you will be aware that this week we have had 12 children and 5 staff isolating due to two more of our school community testing positive for Covid. The weekend was very stressful for the families affected but Thank God, again we are so lucky that none of our school community have had severe or long lasting symptoms.
We closed the school on Monday for a deep clean.  Please can I urge everyone to continue the strictest ‘hands, face, space’ regimes. We need to keep our school community and our families safe. Also, on a practical level it has been difficult to run our bubbles in school and manage the office, kitchen and administration with limited staff.  We should be back to ‘normal’ on Tuesday.
 
Ethos Meeting
We have an Ethos meeting for Chagford on Wednesday 10th February 10am. If you would like to join is, please let me know so I can send you an invite for a Teams Meeting.
 
Keep safe and keep in touch,
With very best wishes
Tara Penny
Head of School