Dear Parents and Carers
We are now all at the end of our first week of school closure and Edu-Care on site provision. During the week, we have put together our first blog, to share stories about work that our students are completing at home and some messages from our staff.
Thank you for your ongoing messages of support and best wishes to our staff for the work they are doing; supporting children with work at home and supervising the children of key workers in school.
There have been too many comments to share but this one reflects the feedback we have received. I want to use this to thank all our amazing staff for the work they have done, and will continue to do for however long this takes.
“I’m not now likely to speak to you, but I wanted to thank you for all your support, patience and guidance. It has been a challenging time but you and your team have been amazing. X wants to say thank you in person, to you all, so hopefully she will get the chance. Until then, please stay well and pass on our thanks to all who have helped X.”
It really makes the difference to know we are working together so all our hardships now are for a better and happier tomorrow.
You will find all the information you need on our website here: https://plymstockschool.org.uk/distance-learning/
We will continue to keep you updated through our direct messaging service MyEd and our news feed here: https://plymstockschool.org.uk/news/
Many thanks for your understanding during these challenging times.
Please stay safe and take care.
Best wishes
Rob Pearsall
HEADTEACHER
Plymstock School’s Leadership Academy – Gold Sports Ambassadors
I was delighted to receive the following certificates this week in recognition of the work of our sports ambassadors earlier this term.They have supported both the Plymouth School Sports Partnership team and the children taking part in the 2020 Primary and Secondary Indoor Rowing Championships and the Plymstock Indoor Athletics Heats.
Thank you to Mrs Hughes for organising the Leaders.
Molly, Lauren, Lotty, Kate, Betsie, Charlotte, Holly, Beth, Iris, Natalie, Leah, Carmen, Imogen, Hollie, and Elouise.
Well done to you all! You are all incredibly helpful and supportive and we are very proud of what you achieved. Outstanding role models.
Stay at home. Save lives. Anyone can spread coronavirus
The UK government have asked me to re-enforce the important key message #StayHomeSaveLives.
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
We all need to remind and re-enforce the U.K. government’s message with our students at home. We must all do our bit to fight coronavirus. Stay at home. Protect the NHS. Save lives.
Do not meet up with people you do not live with. This is for everyone’s safety.
Do not meet up with family members from outside of your household. This is for everyone’s safety.
We know students will want to go out and meet their friends; this is incredibly hard for all of us, especially with the spring weather.
This is what we can all say at this time:
• We are staying in so we can go back out
• We’re staying apart so we can get back together.
Don’t put lives at risk. Follow the rules. Stay at home.
#StayHomeSaveLives
A message from Mrs Kirk, Head of Year 7
Dear parents,
I hope for most you are able to self-isolate and are safe at home. For those key workers, thank you for all you are doing in these unprecedented times, keep up the amazing job.
As teachers, we have been busy trying to ensure students are set appropriate yet challenging work that they can complete at home. As a parent myself, I understand the challenges this can create, trying to juggle your own child’s learning and completing work calls and emails without feeling overwhelmed. Please remember whatever learning is sent home, particularly for those of you that are unwell, is a target and should be completed where possible. If you’re finding work difficult please do contact teachers either by e-mail or Show My Homework, but please bear in mind the teachers may not answer straight away.
During the Easter holiday, students are not expected to complete home learning. As we are all at home, I thought I would make a list of things you might try to do to keep you entertained. These are things I will be trying to do with my family, bear in mind I have an eight year old!
1: Easter egg hunt. Whether you have a large outdoor space or are indoors, hide the Easter eggs in interesting places, you can even do clues if you like!
2: Have a family picnic or BBQ.
3: Build a den, inside or outside.
4: Play board games.
5: Play cricket, football, skipping or any sport outside.
6: Walk the dog or go for a run.
7: Have a Lego challenge, who can build the best rocket, car or vehicle?
8: Play a card game.
9: Do some baking, we love to bake cupcakes.
10: Complete a craft activity. Draw a picture, create some card eggs to hang up inside or outside, paint, glue and stick!
Obviously, the list is endless! Please take photos of this time, which will be remembered for years to come, and if you would like them shared please do send them into us to share on the blog.
Spring has finally arrived. Enjoy the sunshine whilst it is here and I hope you have a safe Easter enjoying some family time.
Mrs Kirk, Head of Year 7
Plymstock School Edu-care
This week we have provided a new on site provision as part of the government’s strategy to support key workers fighting coronavirus: COVID-19. The students were supervised by a team of staff on a rota and have been completing their distance learning work in school. Tia is one the students who has attended; she has written about her experience of attending this provision whilst ensuring we all follow social distancing.
Thank you to Tia and all the students this week; you have been amazing and we have enjoyed looking after you.
Going to school during isolation
It’s been pretty weird at first having to stay away from friends and washing our hands all the time.. but it’s good at the same time because we get time to do our homework and to learn. We get the same education as many other people except our parents can look after the vulnerable. Being in one classroom but being separated 2metres away has been a bit weird, especially at break and lunch. Apart from that school has been ok, sometimes a bit of a struggle because teachers can’t come close to help but we get round it in the end. I have got so much more work done that I would have done at home; this is a great benefit for us all.
Tia, year 8
Friday 27 March MFL Edu-Care
On Friday Ms Baker led some activities with our group
1. French Rainbows (Les arcs-en ciel) in progress at school on Friday- we looked up lots of positive words in French then pasted them around our rainbows.
2. Ellie and Jess in Y9 were working hard on their homelearning tasks.
BBC Young Reporters
On Wednesday 11th March, 24 intrepid Young Reporters took on the world of journalism for the day. They planned, investigated and wrote the news on the day. Between them, they interviewed an MP and the Headteacher; charity and committee heads; staff and students at the school; the Plymouth Raiders and the cast of ‘An Inspector Calls’, amongst many more.
Their creativity and independence shone through, with superb reports produced. Their work can be seen on the school’s website.
I’d like to thank all of the students involved – they were brilliant Young Reporters!
Mrs Parish
https://plymstockschool.org.uk/bbc-young-reporter-2020-reports/
#bbcyoungreporter
I would also like to add my thanks both to Mrs Parish but also all the students involved in the day. Their questions were tough and challenging and I really enjoyed the interviews. Highly professional and outstanding. I am sure we have at least one reporter of the future within this group.
Celebrations – Year 7 Progress Check
The following students in Year 7 are to be congratulated on their recent progress reports.
Excellent Effort
These 12 students for amazing effort in all their subjects:
Lucas, Finleigh, Bethany, Martyna, Ava, Oliver, Dagmara, Aleksander, Alex, Tilly, Kacie and Gracie
Highest Merit Count
These 15 students are to be congratulated for having the highest number of merits:
Lilia, Emily, Summer, Lily, Gracie, Lyla-Mae, Livia, Daniel, Aleksander, Louisa, Olivia, Alfie, Andra, Isabelle and Julia
We would like to celebrate with them, and will do eventually, but in the mean time we will wish them well done from a distance!
Mrs Kirk
Head of Year 7
Year 8 Distance Learning English
Mrs Bradley has sent me the following work from one her Year 8 students.
Amelia has worked incredibly hard over two years and is a very committed student always wanting to improve, learn more and get better. The work she has produced is on tasks related to the novel ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’. Mrs Bradley commented, “Amelia’s work ethic is excellent and this piece of writing is outstanding, nothing is ever too much bother for Amelia and every task has been completed in detail”
Well done Amelia
Poems from MS Robinson’s classes
Here are a selection of poems from 7XBerra and two from Year 8 students expressing how they feel about Coronavirus.
Year Modern Foreign Languages – Ms Baker reports
1. Quizlet Live results on Thursday for Ms Baker’s French 9yCongo and 9xIndus classes put Hashim as champion with 4 wins, closely followed by Dulcie, Mel and Jay, each with 3 wins. The challenge returns after Easter.
2. Year 7 and some Y8 French students have been getting moving to “Wake up shake up French” from Kidslingo on you tube
As I know you are a really active bunch, have a look at the links below. I would love some photos of you giving it a go to put in next week’s blog.
The top link is a simple 5 min workout designed for learners of French, the other one is a 25 min family daily fitness video by a French family, for French kids
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xv8rOwQaDlc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMrViE4ZCqM
Plymstock School Library – Distance Learning
Reading for Pleasure
Annie in Year 9 sent Miss Hogben the following:
“At home, my family and I have been sitting together at the end of the day and having 30 minute reading together. It’s nice to have that time together and to explore new books.”
Virtual Library
Miss Hogben has been very busy setting up a new online virtual library. The link is:
This is a fantastic piece of work and behalf of all of us, thank Miss Hogben we know how much this will be valued by our whole community.
Year 11 RS Distance Learning
Our teachers are trying to adapt to supporting both Year 11 and Year 13 now they are no longer sitting their GCSEs and A Levels. We are working to support them continue their studies. Below is a piece of work in response to one such inspired piece of distance learning by Mrs Tendell. Putting excellent Religious Studies into practice, in context to the times we are living in.
Mrs Tendell set Year 11 a piece of work that directly links to the GCSE that they have worked so hard for. She has received a nomination for Teacher of the Week her for setting such a thoughtful piece of distance learning and Abbie for her response.
Students of the week
This week we would like to recognise that all our students are winners and are demonstrating Endeavour, Resilience and Empathy at this time by how they are individually managing their social distancing.
The following have been nominated by staff. Once we are back I will catch up with the students nominated each week, including those who have contributed to this week’s blog.
Tia, Amelia, Olivia, Ellie, Abbie and Annie
This nomination arrived last week just before school closed, after last week’s blog.
The Year 8 team nominated Phoenix. She was chosen for always trying her best, and being resilient with herself when times have been tricky! Phoenix always has a smiley face and is a kind and caring person. This week she was particularly welcoming and supportive to our new student in Year 8. Phoenix is always helpful and polite to staff and appreciates all the support that she receives, constantly striving to improve herself.
In addition, Freya in Year 9 and Sharna in Year 9 have been nomination for their success in mixed martial arts. They have been involved in mixed martial arts for a number of years and started as a way of spending time as a family enjoying a healthy activity together. Just prior to the restrictions of the Covid-19 outbreak all three completed their grading to achieve first degree black belts in kickboxing which qualifies them as instructors. Part of the requirements was to defend yourself against five attackers in a sparring event – sparring against adults.
It is a fantastic achievement which has inspired them further to attain similar belts in combined mixed martial arts (MMA) which includes boxing, kickboxing, wrestling and jiu jitsu/grappling. Hopefully we will be able to publish some pictures of them in action again soon.
And finally…
The following is a message Mrs Robb has sent out to all Year 11 students by email:
Dear Year 11
Firstly I have got to say how overwhelmed I was on Friday by your flowers, gifts, cards and posters and most importantly your words. You have made me realise why I do my job and that maybe I had to make hard decisions at times, but that they were the right ones for the right reasons.
We are living in difficult times and it is set to get harder. The only way we can beat this virus is to work together. You have a huge part to play in this. You have to take social distancing and the rules about leaving the house seriously and follow them to the letter. This may not be what you want to hear but is it vitally important so that we can fight this together, every person playing his or her part. Our NHS is set to become stretched to breaking point and we all have to do everything we can to limit the spread of infection.
Please remember some of your relatives may be isolated at this time, take the time to phone, text or Skype them, remind them they are not alone.
Take this time to continue your studies, maybe also start to learn something new, challenge yourself in challenging times. Try to make something good come from a dreadful situation. Try to make this a defining moment for you, to make you a better, kinder more thoughtful person. I certainly know that for me this has put many things into perspective.
I know a lot of you will be worried and you may want to look at the document attached. If you require any additional support please let me know and I will try my best to help, the best way to contact me is through my school email.
I will carry on keeping in touch with you so keep on checking. Stay safe, keep washing those hands and stay indoors.
We will all win this battle together.
With Love
Miss Robb
