On Friday 3rd April, the whole community joined forces to send in photos to recognise the incredible efforts of the NHS in #Dress4NHS.  Although we were all working remotely, by the end of the day we had joined forces to produce a memorable and touching video demonstrating our appreciation of those that are working tirelessly at this extremely challenging time. Thank you very much to everyone for pulling together - the finished video montage clearly shows what a great community we have. 

Enjoy the video!

To: Head Teacher, Deanshanger Primary School.

Dear Mrs Rice,

Thank you and your school so very much for your amazing letters of support and fundraising during the recent bushfires in Australia.

We had forwarded your letters to Red Cross Branches and Clubs across the state, in particular those areas impacted by the fires.

We received the below response from one of our members Mrs Toni Noyce who had asked for us to forward this on to you and the school.

Mrs Noyce had actually lost her home in the fires and as you can see by her below response was very touched by your schools letters.

Thank you so much for your well wishes, it means a great deal to us all.

Kind regards

Chris Mansfield

NSW & ACT Mobilisation Hub

redcross.org.au

Subject: Support from the UK - Australian Red Cross - reply to UK

Dear Teachers and children, 

Thank you for your wonderful letters of support, your email was forwarded to me by Australian Red Cross, Batemans Bay branch. 

We live on the south coast of NSW (New South Wales). 

My grand-daughter, Ashley, goes to Broulee Primary School and is in grade 6. 

All the south coast has had fires, but it rained 2 weeks ago and this has helped put out the fires. All the coast is surrounded by State eucalyptus forests and beautiful beaches, with coastal farming land in the areas that do not have forest trees. 

A lovely place to live and visit. The trees will recover. 

Volunteers from the Red Cross have been present throughout the fires in all  recovery centres. The love and support of the Red Cross volunteers has helped all people in our local communities. Everyone living in NSW - mums, dads and children have been close to the bushfires and smoke from the fires.

Children have returned to school and everyone is receiving help from other Australians in other states and people all over the world. 

We wish to thank you all for writing your lovely letters to us. Your letters have cheered us up and made us smile.

We are most pleased to receive them.

We thank your teachers for helping you all to send your letters.

 

Kind regards,

Mrs Toni Noyce,

Member of Australian Red Cross,

Batemans Bay NSW

We are aware that the advances in technology are a real positive and that children and adults are now able to access tools to support communication and  learning at their fingertips. Whilst this is largely a huge positive, we are concerned about the growing popularity of some Smart watches and other wearable devices in school for two reasons.

1.They are extremely expensive and could easily be damaged or lost (particularly as they have to be removed for all PE sessions). 

2.Their functionality could pose a risk from data protection/safeguarding point of view as some of them can send and receive pictures, videos, record, receive texts and messages. For this reason, we reserve the right to ask for them to be handed in at the gate just as we do for mobile phones if they have the same functionality as a mobile.

From a safeguarding point of view, our staff are not permitted to wear these either.