Dear everyone,

One of the things I stop and get myself to do to help me think positively

and to support my mental health, is to list three things that I’m grateful

for that day. I’m stopping and noticing these things more often at the

moment, and I find myself looking forward to the community “event”

each Thursday night when all my neighbours come out with pans,

drums and anything else to hand to add to the clapping for health

workers, care workers and key workers. Feeling grateful and showing

gratitude has a positive effect on our own wellbeing, as well as being

wonderful for the person on the

receiving end. So when Tesco asked

their colleagues for designs to

decorate their online delivery

pickers’ trolleys, Blake made this

wonderfully colourful design to

show his gratitude for all the

emergency and critical workers

we’re so grateful for. Well done,

Blake, you’ve done a great job there

and thank you for taking the time to

say, “Thank you.”

Children in school have also made their

own rainbows of support. Gabi and

Elizabeth are here showing a beautiful

one they made for the school

noticeboard this week. We hope it

brings a smile to your face if you are

walking past!

GenR8 are releasing three more videos

which include puppets, bible stories

and songs, and aim to address some of

the particular challenges that children

will be facing at this time. The first

story is ‘The miracle of the feeding of

the 5000 - the little child who made a

big difference’. The video can be found

here: https://youtu.be/bJPMf9VGMUc

SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

5th 2020

Creating Your Own Little Soul Space

Mindfulness (via the Headspace app) is also something I try to take time to do a few times during a busy week.

Research shows that it helps us to develop a greater awareness of how we feel, accept situations with more

objectivity, and reframe how we perceive situations so they are less emotional and upsetting. I know it to be

very helpful for me. Although the children can’t experience the Soul Space in school for mindfulness, moments

of calm or spirituality, they can still use the techniques and ideas they have learnt. Therefore Mrs Gould has

written the following message for the children:

Note for parents: What is the soul space?

Our Soul Space was set up last September as part of our Wednesday afternoon well-being focus for Yr 2 and

above. Using an online website for schools Mrs Gould adapts age appropriate activities to tie in with our own

curriculum/lesson plan for each half term. Children are invited to take part in small groups once each half term.

All but one or two children have expressed a real keenness to use it again and again. Teachers have received

some very positive feedback from parents who have found the relaxation techniques useful for their child/ren.

Dear wonderful young Souls of Wilburton Primary School,

It has been a real delight to meet and talk (albeit at a safe distance) with some of you out and about

while I’ve been walking Alfie in the glorious sunshine we’ve had lately.

Some children have told me they’ve created their own quiet space at home. It would be super to see

some more pictures of them.

While you can’t enjoy the same sort of conversations you’ve had with each other in the mobile we can

still take time out to be STILL...... Really still. To practise our “heart” breathing and reflect on the

goodness that there is in the world.

You can still take time out to focus on how uniquely precious and loved you all are. Maybe you could

write your thoughts down in some form and/or draw them.

During the coming weeks I’d like to set you a challenge ...... of recording either in words or a drawing or a

close up photograph, something that you have noticed, maybe for the very first time, that is truly

awesome! Something that made you go “wow”. You can send it in on Purple Mash. I cannot wait to see

what you’ve noticed :))

With kind thoughts,

Mrs Gould

Our Family Worker has put together some tips which we’ll send out along with this newsletter, and remember

that you can call or email the Acorn Line as well – details reprinted below.

Be you a key worker, professional, parent or to anyone who is struggling right now (angry, frightened,

worried or overwhelmed). We are trained Social Workers, Counsellors and Dramatherapists, highly

experienced in mental health issues - in offering emotional support, a therapeutic perspective, and a kind

and sensitive ear.

WE ARE HERE TO LISTEN

Email: info@cambridgeacornproject.org.uk ; Text: 07388 497089

Someone will reply to you offer a timeslot where someone will call you back through a phone line or (if

requested) Skype or Zoom.

You can also contact us on behalf of someone else if they don't have access to the Internet or to a phone line

with credit as we know not everyone does.

Re-Opening Plans

Even though there are several (rather unhelpful I must add) stories in the media about schools re-opening, we

don’t know anything about when or how schools might re-open yet. We are expecting some of the answers to

be announced on Sunday (but we don’t get them any earlier than you!). However, we are already starting to

plan and think of the questions we’ll need to ask and answer for what might come. Cambridgeshire Local

Authority have been tremendous with schools right throughout this situation, and have been working

extremely hard on a Schools’ Recovery Plan. This has been emailed to schools on Monday, and is a 25-page

planning tool for schools to work painstakingly through to ensure the safety and best possible provision for

pupils and staff. We will start to do this now and again once announcements are made with specific details.

Therefore you will understand that we will not rush out quick decisions as we must discuss and think about all

the practicalities very carefully. When we have done so, we will send this out to everyone. If someone tells

you something beginning, “I’ve heard that…” then you know that it hasn’t come from us.

Plans for September

The school governors and leaders have also been working hard on the school structure for the next academic

year, which involves setting the school budget. As always, our aim is to provide the best possible educational

provision for our children, which is sustainable with the funding we have available. There are difficult

decisions to make, and we always look for ways to translate the limited funding we have into the biggest

impact for children at the school. As pupil numbers, pupil needs, and the funding available varies from one

year to the next, so too must we adapt to ensure the aim is always met. For September, we have decided that

the best way to do this is to maintain five classes in the mornings for English and Maths, and in the afternoons,

children in KS2 will be grouped in different ways, with two teachers, usually supported also by one teaching

assistant (this excludes individual pupils with named TA support). We are very keen to maintain and indeed

expand further all the best benefits of Forest School, outdoor learning, wellbeing afternoon and house

afternoons we have felt from this year.

Classes will also have different teachers in September, which utilises and develops the skills of our teachers.

Fieldmice Class (EYFS and Year 1) will be taught by Mr Lennon and Mrs Shepherd. Squirrels Class (Year 1/2) will

be taught by Mrs Skyes and Mrs Winn. In the mornings, Foxes Class (Year 3/4) will be taught by Miss Sadler,

Owls Class (Year 5) will be taught by Mrs Williamson and Hedgehogs Class (Year 6) will be taught by Mrs Smith.

KS2 pupils will be led by Miss Sadler and Mrs Smith in the afternoons, with specific lessons also by Miss Fisher

(PE) and myself. This is a very strong and experienced teaching team for pupils across the school. Further

information on the timetabling and structure of the week will follow soon.

Finally, it has come to my attention that there are some questions circulating about the future of our school

depending on pupil numbers (either not enough or too many for our school). I have it confirmed by the county

council that there is no question on the future viability of Wilburton Primary School, and this will not be

affected by planning decisions on developments in and around the village. Therefore, the school’s future

sustainability should not be mentioned in any correspondence on village development as there is zero basis for

any such questions. I have made this known and so any further unsubstantiated comments should be regarded

as attempts to mislead the community.

And what else have people been up to?

Well, Hedgehogs’ Class have been creating their

own incredible creatures based on the Norman

Messenger’s wonderful book: “The Land of

Neverbelieve.” You can read about Niall’s

Airniapod below.

The Airniapod

The Airniapod (with its love for heights) inhabits

the peak of Book Mountain. This allows it to scour

the Neverbelievian landscape, which is useful

because of its ravenous appetite. The Airniapod

usually bases a diet on leaves, insects and weeds,

devouring 15 ounces of food a day. The most common hobby for the Airniapod is swiftly skimming across the

calm surface of the languid lake. This unique creature has the ability to blow air out of its eight, lanky legs. This

can sometimes happen in sudden bursts allowing it to leap with incredible speed (this helps when pouncing at

insects and making a quick getaway). Moreover, its orange eyes, which don’t let prey out of sight, stand out from

its frost white skin. The Airinapod is petrified of only one predator: The Giant Dragonfly (a formidable beast with

the ability to gather insane speed and shoot projectiles of iridescent fire).

Grace has made this beautiful Viking Longboat and completed her project design book,

and Joel has been enjoying cooking over this lockdown including making banana bread

with his sister and a curry from scratch. Well done all of you and everyone for keeping

going! Hopefully it won’t be long before we can see you again and we will be ready for

you. Take care, stay safe and well in both mind and body.

Mr Aston.

The Airniapod is very small, if you

compare it to the size of its prey (a fly).

Its legs are wider at the ends because it

focuses the air to propel itself high into the

Neverbelievian sky.