Thorntree News & Events 2020-2021
On Friday 4th September we welcomed back all Thorntree children. It was great to hear the excited chatter of the children in the classes and playgrounds again.
During the summer break the top playground had the tarmac replaced in preparation for bright new playground markings later during the term.
Our two gardening clubs were very busy in the school grounds. The Year 5 and Yea 6 group tackled the allotment and the Year 1 & 2 group created a vertical herb garden just outside the Headteacher's office and planted flower tubs around the grounds.
In place of the usual annual Harvest Festival assemblies, this year we recorded our children singing their songs, each class separately and socially distanced, and we uploaded them to the website for parents, carers and families to hear. They were wonderful.
During the October half term the new playground markings were added to the top playground. A huge thank you to FOTA, our parents and friends association, who contributed £3,000 towards this. The children are thoroughly enjoying these amazing new play activities.
On Friday 13th November we took part in the BBC Children in Need day. Our staff and children all dressed up as Key Workers for the day and raised £156.
This year we could not invite families into the school to participate in our Christmas events. Throughout December we decorated the school, the children learnt their Christmas songs and Year 2 practiced their nativity play. On Friday 11th December we recorded the children singing their songs, each class separately and socially distanced, and we uploaded them on to our website so that families could at least hear them.
On Friday 11th December the children came to school in their Christmas Jumpers. We raised £144 for the Bexley Cottage Hospice.
On Thursday17th December we closed for the Christmas holidays.
Due to fresh lockdown measures, on Tuesday 5th January the school re-opened for Key Worker children and for Vulnerable children only. All other children accessed lessons online via Google Classrooms.
At the beginning of February we started our Library Lockdown Loan system for pupils learning from home. On designated days, at specific times and with strict safety measures in place, children from certain year groups came to the lower gate weekly to borrow fresh books from the school library.
Tuesday 9th February was Safer Internet Day. Pupils both in school and at home completed a variety activities raise awareness around the safe use of the internet.
In February the school purchased an Activall Reaction Wall, an energetic hi-impact reaction wall, designed for fitness, health, and fun. It combines movement, action, coordination and problem-solving. The children love it. They are using it both indoors and outdoors.
On Thursday 4th March we celebrated World Book Day with a wide variety of activities offered both in school and for those children learning at home. Some children dressed up as their favourite book characters. You can see photos in the Recent Events section of the Showcase part of the website.
On Monday 8th March we were able to re-open the school to all pupils. The corridors and playgrounds were filled with the sounds of children re-connecting with friends and staff.
Fundraising 2020-2021:
BBC Children in Need - £156
Christmas Jumper Day - £144 raised for the Bexley Cottage Hospice
Christmas Raffle - £438
