Newsletters

MESSAGE FROM MRS JONES

Welcome to our new look School Newsletter.

I hope all our families are keeping well and safe

We are excitedly, expecting to open our gates on Thursday 3rd September to Year 1 - Year 6 pupils.  There will be staggered drop off and pick up times so please read the letter you have received carefully, keep checking the website and your emails for this, and any other important information.   The school leadership team are continuing to plan for the full opening of the school and I would like to reassure parents that we are looking at getting back to being a school community from September. 

We have some very exciting news and I’m sure parents will enjoy congratulating Miss Sayedi, who with her partner, welcomed a beautiful baby girl, Indie Rosa, last month.  Mrs Varsani has also given birth in the last few days to a beautiful baby boy.  We wish them both the very best. 

We also have some sad news to share with you:  Miss Fitzsimons, Mrs Farmer, Miss Othman and Mrs Schiop are all leaving us at the end of this term.  I want to formally thank them for all their hard work and efforts at Vaughan in supporting the school community.  On behalf of all the staff, I want to wish them all the best in their future endeavours.

I am very much looking forward to seeing all the children returning to school in September 2020, along with our new Nursery and Reception children. 

Finally, I would like to wish our current Year 6 children the very best of luck as they leave Vaughan and continue their education in high school.  It was by no means the way that we wanted to say goodbye to them but we look forward to hearing from them in the future as they move on to do great things.  I am sure their time at Vaughan has prepared them well for the next stage in their education and the staff are very proud of the young adults that they are becoming.  Remember, once a Vaughanie, always a Vaughanie!

I would like to wish all our families a good summer break ready for the new term ahead in September. 

Keep safe and take care.

TERM DATES

School will close at 1.35pm on the last day of each term

Afternoon Nursery will be closed on the last day of each term.

After School Club finishes at 4.00pm on the last day of term. 

NATIONAL SPORTS WEEK

To mark National Sports Week (20th - 26th June), and without any Sports Days to enjoy, we decided to run our first ever Vaughan Virtual Sports Week. 

To encourage pupils, staff and parents to be physically active, we devised events from jumping and hopping to balancing a book, to "not quite" the egg and spoon race! 

Nearly 150 people participated (including lots of brave parents and even some staff members!) with many completing all 13 events.  Special mention to Mrs Cullum, who completed 10 events and managed nearly 10 metres balancing a book on her head! 

Feedback has been really positive and we will definitely look to host a similar event to celebrate Sports Week next year (and possibly other virtual events) - watch this space!.

SOCIALLY DISTANCED SPORTS DAY

On Thursday afternoon during National Sports Week Vaughan Primary School hosted a Socially Distanced Sports Day on our school field. 

On a very hot afternoon, children that were in school were able to compete against each other in a running event and a throwing event.  There some brilliant races and some fantastic throws on the day!  Even the teachers got to have a go!

A big thank you to all the staff who were involved in setting up the event and a huge well done to all the children who competed.  Well done!​

TATE YEAR 3 PROJECT

If you missed the chance to view the Tate Year 3 Project and see our current Year 4 children's photograph hung, there is still time.  Tate Britain will be reopening on 27th July and, due to the recent closure, the Steve McQueen Year 3 exhibition has been extended until 31st January 2021.  All visitors will need to book a timed ticket in advance via the website.

https://www.tate.org.uk/visit

HARROW FOODBANK

Every day people in the UK go hungry for reasons ranging from redundancy, receiving an unexpected bill on a low income, changes to benefits, not being eligible for benefits (for example due to immigration status) or delayed wages.  A simple box of food makes a big difference and the Harrow Foodbank can provide families with three days of nutritionally balanced food and support.  

The Harrow Foodbank is part of a nationwide network of foodbanks, supported by The Trussell Trust, working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK.  Their belief is that they don’t think anyone in our community should have to face going hungry.

Vaughan Primary School understands that at such times, some families may need emergency support or aid, therefore we are an agreed voucher referral partner and we are able to support families and provide them with emergency support. 

Please contact Ms Keohane, Mrs Fink or Ms Perschky if you require the support of the school or the Foodbank.  We have assisted many parents to access this support and they have found the foodbank very supportive.  Please be reassured that there will be complete confidentiality in this matter.

What happens at a foodbank?

Foodbank clients bring their voucher to a foodbank centre where it can be redeemed for three days’ emergency food.  Volunteers meet clients over a warm drink or free hot meal and are able to signpost people to agencies able to solve the longer-term problem.

What is in a typical food parcel?

Food parcels can include:  Breakfast cereals, soup, pasta, rice, pasta sauce, tinned beans, tinned meat, tinned vegetables, tinned fruit, tea or coffee, sugar, biscuits and snacks

Dietary requirements

The Foodbank can usually adapt your food parcel to meet your dietary needs, for example, gluten free, halal or vegetarian.  When you arrive at the foodbank centre, a volunteer will chat to you about any special dietary requirements you may have.

Foodbank locations

Harrow Foodbank Office number: 020 8416 7344

They are open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays 10:00am-3:00pm

The foodbank is closed on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays and Bank Holidays. 

KEY MESSAGES FROM WELFARE

Medical Conditions and Health Care Plans:

If your child has a diagnosed medical condition, a Health Care Plan needs to be completed (if we have not got one already).

If there are any changes to a child’s medical condition and/or a new medical condition emerges over the summer, parents/carers need to complete a new Health Care Plan.

If we do not receive a new or updated Health Care Plan, your child will be unable to attend school.  If we do not receive medicines upon return in September (as outlined in your child’s Health Care Plan), your child will be unable to attend school.

The Health Care Plans are available on the school website by clicking on the banner at the top of the home page.

Epi pens:

If your child uses an epi-pen at school, please can you provide three epi-pens so that we can keep one in the lunch hall, one in the classroom and one in Welfare.

Inhalers:

When returning inhalers, please ensure that the inhalers are kept in their original packaging with the child’s name and instructions.  All inhalers have to be accompanied by an age-appropriate spacer.

If your child has one, please encourage your child to use their preventer at home.

Inhalers for children in the Junior School:

If your child uses an inhaler, please can you provide a second inhaler so that we have a spare one available to be kept in Welfare.

Please be reminded that children who have asthma, should be seeing their Asthma Nurse/GP for yearly reviews.

Collection of Medicines:

Children who did not return to school during the lockdown, but still have medication in Welfare, can collect it on Thursday 16 July 2020 when collecting Summer reports at their allotted times.

LOCAL INFORMATION

Please find below information on events taking place in the local community which may be of interest to your family.

Harrow council is planning a number of temporary low traffic neighbourhoods across the borough, which are published here:

https://harrowstreetspacesproposals.commonplace.is/

All London boroughs have been instructed by the Government and TfL to rapidly implement such schemes to enable people to walk and cycle safely, and reduce overcrowding on public transport, during the COVID-19 recovery.  A particular aim is to ensure that children are able to walk or cycle to school safely.

In West Harrow the plan is for point closures to motor traffic on Blenheim Road and at West Harrow station.  This will prevent any through traffic from using The Gardens, Vaughan Road or Blenheim Road, and will significantly reduce traffic on all the roads in West Harrow that are currently used by through traffic (such as Butler Road, Butler Avenue, Drury Road and Argyle Road).  The road closures will be temporary, using planters, with a future upgrade to a permanent scheme depending on public consultation.

You can submit comments or show your support here: 

https://harrowstreetspacesproposals.commonplace.is/

The link below shows details of the scheme around Vaughan.

https://harrowstreetspacesproposals.commonplace.is/schemes/proposals/low-traffic-neighbourhoods/details

ONLINE FRENCH LESSONS WITH KARINE CHASSOT

Online French Clubs will be resuming in September.  If you would like your son/daughter to start their journey learning a foreign language through engaging lessons, please email me the name of your child and their class in September.  Email address: kchassot@hotmail.com or call me on 07423 064929. 

Merci beaucoup

Karine

ONLINE SPANISH LESSONS WITH MARCIA PURUNCAJAS

After school Spanish online lessons are available for Year 1 to Year 6 children, from 4.00 pm onwards (via Zoom), contact Marcia Puruncajas directly on merooney@protonmail.com or Phone 07927 944117.