Please be aware that in light of the UK and Scottish Government’s decision last night to begin a three week lockdown in order to delay the spread of the Coronavirus, the Highland Council has taken the decision to cancel free school meals today.

The current provision would involve staff and children gathering at school premises and this would go against national advice and directives.

The Council’s Strategic Group will consider the announcement first this morning and the implications this will have for delivery of essential services and the provision of welfare and humanitarian aid in a way that complies with the Government’s directive and protects life and our NHS services.

More information will be issued once this important step has been discussed with our Local and Regional Resilience Partners.

I’ve added below the Highland Council Acceptable Use Policy and Chromebook Agreement, which all children with Chromebooks and parents should be aware of. Children within Glenurquhart Primary have all been taught throughout all learning to:

BE RESPECTFUL

BE SECURE

BE SAFE

BE RESPONSIBLE

BE LEGAL

More information can be found in the booklets below.

This ties in with our school values of Respect, Trust and Friendship which children at Glenurqhart are super at upholding. While Google Hangouts have been enabled for senior pupils at the moment to allow them to connect, I’d remind pupils to keep these respectful.

I have also added a Parent Guide to our Family Learning site and below to support parents in the use of Google:

Happy, fun learning everyone! Remember to get outside and not spend all your time on the computer or doing work. The work set is optional this week and can be done at your own time and pace. Take time to get used to such huge changes in our week and be together as a family.

Thinking of our Glenuruqhart Community and wishing everyone well.

Our local Health Providers (Health Centre, Pharmacy and Glenurquhart Centre) are all working very closely to provide the best possible support during the current outbreak of Coronavirus. 

Do you need support to access services? Or don’t know what help is available?
Please contact the helpline.
 

Community Helpline
 07516 317180
 (a volunteer will try to man this line Mon — Fri 9am to 5pm)

Community Volunteers

Many people have been asking how they can volunteer to provide support. To volunteer please call the Community Helpline 07516 317180

 Please share this information with friends, family and neighbours.
 

If you’re looking for fun, creative and educational activities for your kids during the school closures, Eden Court Engagement team is offering these which, while accessed online, are far from being just screen-based, and will get your kids outdoors, active and making and keeping connected with their friends and classmates while still being non-physical-contact. The focus of this Eden Court project, which has been adapted to fit our current situation with the Corona outbreak, is making tiny connections, connections which are safe, and which offer ways to pass time creatively even in self-isolation. For an idea of what is on offer, check out Glenurquhart Primary 6 pupil Ossian Ballance’s Blog on his activity, Message in a Bottle, by clicking on this link: funplaces.co.uk/news/tiny-revolutions-of-connection/

You can also contact Ossian’s mum, Alis, who is continuing to deliver this Eden Court project part-time from home, on funpalaces@eden-court.co.uk

Please see link to key worker form – to be completed by 9am on Monday, 23rd March.

https://www.highland.gov.uk/keyworkers

Please see the letter below which I’m sure will answer many questions for parents.

Glenurquhart Primary will be open on Monday from 12-1pm to collect digital devices and essential medication only. Please make alternative arrangements if you are unable to do this for self-isolation purposes (see details in attached letter.)

Please the update from Chief Executive below. Glenurquhart Primary will remain closed tomorrow and then, as per the message below, until further notice. We continue to follow both National and Council guidance.

We appreciate that this is uncertain times for us all. As explained earlier in the week, communication will be through this page and class blogs. For P4-7, the children also have Google Classroom pages. Teachers have given out their Google email addresses and these will be checked daily during term time. The school email and my email; kerrie.laird@highland.gov.uk will also be checked daily.

We hope to set work for the week on class blogs/Google Classroom from Monday, 23rd March. These are new unchartered waters for us all and we recognise that online learning may be unfamiliar for many. There are also many resources and ideas within our Family Learning pages; https://sites.google.com/glenurquharthigh.org.uk/family-learning-gups/home which families can utilise as they wish. Families also have their maths packs which have several links at the back of the booklet for further ideas and resources. Furthermore, Highland Council have established the Highland Digital Schools Hub https://sites.google.com/millburnacademy.org.uk/highlanddigitalschoolshub/home which also contains many ideas and sites that can be accessed to continue learning.

We will keep in touch and pass on information as best we can.

Please note that Glenurquhart Primary will be closed now until further notice. Any further information and work will be issued through this page or, class blogs as notified of earlier in the week.

Please see details from Karate below. They are open to new members if you email Dolina Ross – dolinar@hotmail.co.uk
Difficult times ahead for us all with Scottish Government announcing all schools will close this Friday, probably remain closed until after the summer holidays.
It’s going to be tough, it’s going to be a challenge but if we work together and ride this storm, we will come out stronger and with a much clearer vision.
With children and parents staying at home for a long period, we need to help to keep them fit, healthy and entertained.
We will put in place Karate Alba Online Training for all our members, to provide grade specific Karate training, games, fun, quiz, learning and virtual competitions.
This may take us a couple of weeks to set-up as it requires a lot of background work by Sophie and I. This is a new concept and a great challenge, but we can do this.