Latest News | Booker Avenue Junior School

Contact details

Wed 18 Mar 2020 Mr Thompson

Can all parents please ensure that the school office has up to date contact details, including an e-mail address.

Thank you

Coronavirus Guidance as of 17th March

Wed 18 Mar 2020

New guidance for households with symptoms

Yesterday, the Government introduced new guidance on whole household isolation in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak:

· if you live alone and you have symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), however mild, stay at home for 7 days from when your symptoms started
· if you live with others and you or another member of the household have symptoms of coronavirus, then all household members must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill. It is likely that people living within a household will infect each other or be infected already. Staying at home for 14 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community
· for anyone in the household who starts displaying symptoms, they need to stay at home for 7 days from when the symptoms appeared, regardless of what day they are on in the original 14-day isolation period.
The symptoms are:

· A high temperature (37.8 degrees and above)
· A new, continuous cough
The full stay at home guidance for households with these symptoms can be found here:

· https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance

Message from Steve Reddy, Director of Children and Young People's Services

Tue 17 Mar 2020

17/3/20

Message from Steve Reddy, Director of Children and Young People's Services

Dear children, young people, parents/carers and families,

Following my letter yesterday the government has now announced a number of additional measures.

It is important that we all continue to follow the guidance set out by the Government and DfE and make the necessary changes.

Whilst schools remain open some planned activities will inevitably be cancelled.

Schools may well restrict all but essential visitors on to the site.

We will be speaking to Public Health England to consider the implications for children and staff with significant health needs.

Anyone who has high temperature/fever and/or new persistant cough will be required to self-isolate at home for 14 days along with anyone in their household.

We are very grateful for the continued support of all school staff, children, young people and families as we manage these difficult times.

It is important that we continue to work together and support one another.

Best wishes,

Steve Reddy
Director of Children and Young People’s Services.

Coronavirus information

Tue 03 Mar 2020 Mr Thompson

3^rd March 2020

Dear parents and carers,

The government body, Public Health England, recently updated their official guidance for educational settings regarding COVID-19, commonly referred to as the coronavirus.

While schools and educational establishments are low-risk settings, we believe it’s still very important to share these guidelines in order to maximise the safety of everyone in our school community.

While the infection is not serious for most people, including children, the coronavirus can cause flu-like symptoms, including fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, and it is crucial that everyone does everything they can to help keep others safe.

There are general principles anyone can follow to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including:

washing your hands often - with soap and water, or use alcohol sanitiser if handwashing facilities are not available. This is particularly important after taking public transport
covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throwing the tissue in a bin: Catch it, Bin it, Kill it
people who feel unwell should stay at home and should not attend work or any education or childcare setting

We are encouraging pupils, staff and visitors to wash their hands:

before leaving home
on arrival at school
after using the toilet
after breaks and sporting activities
before food preparation
before eating any food, including snacks
before leaving school

Further advice:

avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
avoid close contact with people who are unwell
clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
if you are worried about your symptoms or those of a child or family member, please call NHS 111. Do not go directly to your GP or other healthcare environment

We will be providing an alcohol-based hand sanitiser where available: please inform us if this is unsuitable for your child.

Face masks for the general public, pupils or students, or staff are not recommended to protect from infection, as there is no evidence of benefit from their use outside healthcare environments.

People who have returned from Category 1 specified countries/areas in the last 14 days should self-isolate. This includes avoiding attending an education setting or work until 14 days after they return.

People who have returned from Category 2 specified countries/areas in the last 14 days, are advised to stay at home if they develop symptoms. All other pupils or students and staff should continue to attend school or university, including their siblings attending the same or a different school (unless advised not to by public health officials).

See: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-specified-countries-and-areas

As a school, we will, of course, continue to follow guidance from Public Health.

Yours sincerely

Mr R Thompson

Headteacher

Our new minibus

Wed 29 Jan 2020 Mr Thompson

We are delighted that the school has now taken delivery of our brand new minibus. The larger 17 seater will enable us to get even more children out and about to events such as sporting fixtures in great style and comfort.

On behalf of the children and staff, I would like to say a huge thank you to every parent who has supported the fundraising efforts over the past couple of years. We are especially appreciative of the amazing work that members of the PTA have done to make this happen through all the fayres, bonfires, bingo etc they have organised.

Thanks you all so much!

Christmas Events 2019

Fri 06 Dec 2019 Mr Thompson

Dear parents and carers,

With the run up to Christmas upon us, here is some information about events during the next couple of weeks:

Tonight, of course is our PTA Christmas Fayre, 6 till 8pm. We look forward to see as many of you there as possible; it is always a great occasion.

Monday 9^th December – Coverdale Puppets Christmas Show

During school time – no cost

Thursday 12^th December – 5pm

Our choir will be performing at Duke Street Food Festival. Why not pop in, if you are in the area, and lend them your support!

Friday 13^th December – Christmas Jumper Day for Save the Children

Children may come to school in own clothes with a Christmas jumper or top for a £2 suggested donation which will go to the Save the Children charity. Please do not feel the need to purchase a Christmas jumper especially for the occasion. If you child does not have one, they could decorate their own or even just wear something red / green. No football kits though please!

Tuesday 17^th Dec

Christmas Dinner for the children at lunchtime.

Monday 16^th and Tuesday 17^th December, 7 - 8pm – Bethlehem The Musical!

Lots of our Y5 and 6 children and our school choir are busy rehearsing for this production. First opportunities for tickets will go out to parents of those children – details to follow.

Thursday 19^th December – Christmas Disco

Years 3 and 4 - 5pm – 6:15pm

Years 5 and 6 - 6:30pm – 7:45pm

£2 admission

Friday 20^th December

School finishes for the holidays at 1:30pm. Children may bring in a quiet game or toy on that day.

With best wishes for the festive season.

Mr R Thompson

Headteacher

Managing sickness and infections

Tue 03 Dec 2019 Mr Thompson

Across the Liverpool region we are experiencing increased reporting of diarrhoea and vomiting in school aged children consistent with viral gastroenteritis. This is often caused by Norovirus, a frequent cause of vomiting and diarrhoea in the community during the winter.

The most common symptom of Norovirus is vomiting. Diarrhoea tends to be short-lived and less severe than with other causes of gastroenteritis. Other symptoms include nausea, abdominal cramps, headache, muscle aches, chills and fever. The illness is usually self-limiting in nature and gets better without antibiotics, which are not appropriate for viral illnesses. Symptoms usually last between one and three days.

Pupils who become ill will be sent home as soon as possible; if pupils cannot go home, they will be kept away from other pupils.

Parents should be aware that the pupil should remain off for 48 hours from the last episode of diarrhoea or vomiting. This is a really important control measure to limit the spread of this infection.

In school we will be promoting good hand hygiene prevent outbreaks of sickness and we would encourage parents to do the same.

If you are unsure about whether to keep your child off school, please speak to a member of our school office team.

Thank you.