Latest News
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CEO's Blog - 29th May 2020
Fri 29 May 2020First steps
On Monday, we will be welcoming back our nursery and pre-school children followed by our Reception and Year 1 children from 8th June and our Year 6 children from 15th June. I know that many of you will be feeling anxious about this so I want to reassure you that the health, safety and wellbeing of all our pupils and staff is my priority. Planning for this next stage has been done within the framework of the latest advice from Public Health England and we have worked strategically with the local authority and DfE to implement a specific and robust health and safety plan and to carry out rigorous risk assessments. On a practical level, children coming into school will be grouped into small ‘protective bubbles’ of no more than 15 children, areas will be cleaned regularly, children and staff will wash their hands regularly throughout the day and PPE will be provided if needed. As we take these first steps towards a return to school-based learning, our focus remains very much on the physical and emotional health and wellbeing of all our children and staff.
We look forward to seeing some of you on Monday and to getting our Rivers family back to some kind of normality as soon as is safely possible.
Stay safe and stay in touch,
Kate Brunt
CEO
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CEO's Blog - 22nd May 2020
Fri 22 May 2020Kindness
This week is ‘Mental Health Awareness Week’ and it couldn’t be more timely. We know that good mental health is central to our ability to cope with and recover from this crisis. However, unsurprisingly, this long period of lockdown and the anxiety and uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic has affected the mental health and wellbeing of us all, including our children. This year, the theme for the week is kindness, which seems an appropriate choice in the current circumstances. I’m sure that we can all think of numerous acts of kindness going on in our communities right now as we shop for elderly neighbours, keep in touch with relatives who live alone, donate to food banks, and much more. But the power of kindness doesn’t stop there – showing kindness to others has a positive impact on our own mental health and wellbeing too. In other words, by being kind to others we are also being kind to ourselves, which is just as important.
Another date to note this week was Wednesday 20th May, which was ‘National Thank A Teacher Day’. It was wonderful to see so many of you showing your kindness by sharing pictures, videos and messages online. I want to join you in saying a huge thank you to every member of the Rivers family for their amazing work, not only during these challenging times but all year round.
Finally, I wish you all a relaxing half-term break. Be kind to yourselves - try to switch off and enjoy the sunshine.
Stay safe and stay in touch,
Kate Brunt
CEO
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Rivers Family Rainbow Challenge
Fri 15 May 2020The Rivers Family Rainbow Challenge has been developed from ideas taken across our family of schools as part of our home learning working party.
This is an optional challenge and is designed to be a fun activity for everyone. It is open to all Rivers children and their families, and staff members are welcome to join in too!
Colour one part of the rainbow for each challenge that you complete and don't forget to share your work so that we can celebrate everyone's efforts and achievements.
Photos of your completed challenges can be sent to rainbow@riverscofe.co.uk. Please remember to provide the name of your school along with your child's first name and their year group.
You can complete as many challenges as you like - it is entirely up to you. Any pictures that are sent in will will be made into short video's and shared on our webiste and social media platforms to show that in our MAT, everyone MATters!
Keep your sheet until we are back at school and hand in to your teacher. Badges and certificates will be presented when we are able to do so.We look forward to seeing all your fabulous creations!
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CEO's Blog - 15th May 2020
Fri 15 May 2020Moving forward
I’m sure that, like me, you were all listening to the prime minister’s speech on Sunday evening as he set out the government’s plans to ease the lockdown over the coming weeks and months. I know that the announcement about the proposed phased return to school from 1st June for primary children will have been met with mixed feelings by many of you. I want to reassure you that the safety of everyone in our Rivers family remains my priority as we move forward.
During the next few weeks, we will continue to work closely with the DfE and Worcestershire Children First to make sure that we can open our schools safely. We are receiving regular advice from the DfE about how to implement the necessary policies and procedures for social distancing and regular handwashing. I will, of course, continue to update you as and when new information becomes available and/or the situation changes.
I continue to be awed by the efforts staff and parents/carers are making to ensure that our children are continuing their learning during this uncertain time. Thank you everyone - I realise the time and energy involved in making this happen and I am proud and humbled to be a part of such an amazing community.
Stay safe and stay in touch,
Kate Brunt
CEO
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CEO’s Blog - 7th May 2020
Sun 10 May 2020Keeping in touch
During this time, when we can’t see our friends or hug our relatives, keeping in touch has never felt more important. Even that phrase sounds strange in these strange times when ‘touch’ is exactly what we can’t do any more. I’m very lucky to have my family around me at this time but, even so, I am really missing seeing my Rivers family. I’m heartened and proud to see that we are all, staff, pupils and parents/carers, finding new ways to reach out to one another, to support each other and to stay connected and ‘in touch’.
During these weeks of lockdown, I’ve enjoyed seeing staff singing in videos, sharing photos and reading to children and I know that they are also contacting children and parents/carers individually as well as providing learning resources and feedback. It has been lovely to see children and parents/carers sharing photos and videos, posting supportive comments on social media and joining in MAT events such as our virtual Easter bonnet parade. I want to say a big thank you to all of you for the wonderful ways in which you are keeping the Rivers family connected and together.
This feeling of family and togetherness is going to be so important as we slowly return to some kind of new normality, whenever that may be. This is an anxious time as we wait for Sunday to hear the government’s plans to ease the lockdown. As adults, we must stay positive for our children and protect them from our own anxieties, however we may feel inside.
Once again, thank you all for doing such a fantastic job at keeping our community together. You are amazing!
Stay safe and stay in touch,
Kate Brunt
CEO
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A Wonderful Hello from St Peter's Opal Class
Sun 10 May 2020