Latest News

What's been happening at St Meryl this week?

• Week 4: Autumn is Coming..

  Fri 25 Sep 2020

   There was a multitude of learning that occurred at St Meryl this week. The more the week went on, the more children came to see me (in a socially distanced environment) with some of their fabulous work. I saw portraits. I heard singing from down the hallway. A young man demonstrated his computer programming skills to his class (and myself, via a video link). We could even hand out the tidiest cloakroom award (well done, Year 5!) and the attendance award (super job, Year 3!). Slowly, things are getting back to normal - even the weather is starting to feel a bit more "late Septemberish". 

   We continue to be very proud of the way that children are staying in their bubbles and frequently washing their hands. I often forget how drastically different school life is at the moment - yet the happy, positive, calm St Meryl spirit is still there for all of us to see. Stay this way please, everyone!

  

• Week 3: Getting More and More Normal

  Fri 18 Sep 2020

   While some children still learnt from home (and have made us ALL proud with  their AMAZING Remote Learning, I might add), the rest of us have showed some great classwork this week. 

   All the adults that work in Early Years have been full of praise for how rapidly the children have learnt new routines, and settled so quickly. There was a buzz of activity this afternoon when I called by - reading, constructing, being creative with colour - it was like a "party of learning"(copyright Mr Davies). 

   Friday afternoons are a good time to see the artwork happening in the school. We had Year 1 recreating Matisse's "The Snail", by choosing their own animals to represent with shapes. Year 2 were sketching self-portraits, many looking like mirror images of themselves. Year 3 were recreating some 3D shape sketches (very challenging!) and Year 5 were being artistic with their Scratch programs, creating games which may or may not be available in the forthcoming PS5 release of titles. 

   Year 6 had a very valuable circle time to end the week - something that we will all be continuing to do as we make the transition from lockdown to learning. Earlier in the day, just for fun, they tried an arithmetic challenge. Some children, in their words, "smashed it!"

    Amongst all this throughout the week, I read a fantastic descriptive story in Year 2, and was sent evidence of some crucial Home Learning - making a stocking for a pet hamster. Surely too early to think of winter festivals...?

  

• Week 2

  Fri 11 Sep 2020

   Children have settled into their new classes, and completed their first full week back. Although things are still different to normal, we have all been adapting to new ways of learning. 

   Year 2 have been writing "What is" poems, and they have illustrated them so well!

   Year 4 have been also been writing poems, as well as creating some wonderful art. 

   

  

• We're Back!!

  Fri 04 Sep 2020

   I am still pinching myself that I have actually seen FULL CLASSES of children over the last 2 days! 

   Nearly everyone I spoke to came in full of excitement and tales of their summer holidays and the wonderful things they got up to. 

   Teachers have spent the last 2 days exercising their training from Inset Day (called "From Lockdown to Listening"), and children have been given opportunities to talk and write about their feelings/ worries/ eagerness to get back into their learning.  

   Year 3 spent some time identifying positive things about themselves. They even created medals. Year 1 produced some wonderful artwork where they made themselves into superhero teddy bears. 

   Year 4 created some beautiful artwork with contrasting colours. 

   Even though it has only been 2 days, I am sure that the children have had a week's worth of fun. Roll on next week!