Keep up to date with all the news happening in school at the moment.

• Bookings for Wraparound care

  Fri 01 Apr 2022

  At present parents are unable to make any bookings through the School Gateway app for wraparound clubs.  Due to unforeseen technical issues, this will not be available until the start of next term.  Please accept our apologies for the delay – please be assured we are happy to receive your bookings by email to admin@gilesinfants.herts.sch.uk or by phone call to the office.

   

• Charlie Chicks for Garden House Hospice now available

  Fri 18 Mar 2022

  This year we are supporting Garden House Hospice Care by selling Charlie Chicks. The cost is £2 per chick which includes a Cadbury Crème Egg. They are available to purchase from the school office.

   

  For more information, please see www.ghhospicecare.org.uk.

• Year 1 Phonic Screening Check Presentation to Parents

  Fri 11 Mar 2022

  This important presentation will be run by our Year 1 teachers on Tuesday 22nd March at 3.30pm via Zoom. Log in information will be sent out on the day.

   

• PARENT/TEACHER CONSULTATIONS

  Fri 04 Mar 2022

  These will take place in school the week of March 14th. Please book your place in the usual way either by emailing the office or signing the form outside the classroom to choose your slot.  Thank you all.

  If you would prefer to have your consultation via Zoom, please speak to your child’s class teacher or call the school office to arrange.

   

  Nursery

  • Wednesday 16th March 8.30am – 11.30am 
  • Wednesday 16th March 12.30pm – 3.30pm
  • Wednesday 16th March 4.00pm – 5.30pm 
  • Thursday 17th March 12.30pm – 3.30pm

   

  Reception

  • Tuesday 15th March 3.40pm – 5.20pm
  • Wednesday 16th March 3.40pm – 5.20pm
  • Thursday 17th March 3.40pm - 5.20pm
     

  Year 1

  • Tuesday 15th March 3.30pm – 6.00pm
  • Wednesday 16th March 3.30pm – 6.00pm
     

  Year 2

  • Wednesday 16th March - 3:30pm - 6:00pm
  • Thursday 17th March - 1:40pm - 5:00pm

• Changes to School Gateway app and bookings for wrap around care

  Thu 24 Feb 2022

  Please kindly read the very important information below regarding some changes which are happening in the school office over the next few weeks.  This information has also been sent out as a separate letter to all parents and carers.

   

  We currently use a database called SIMs which holds all the data we need for the children. This system then links to School Comms which allows us to send communications to you, and for you to book our wrap around care clubs, pay for milk and so on.

   

  We shall be switching to a new system called Arbor on Monday 21st March 2022.  In order for these changes to be made there will need to be a period of time where we close School Gateway for club bookings.

   

  Therefore School Gateway will not be available from Friday 18th March (end of school day), and will reopen on Friday 1st April 2022.  We kindly request that if you need a booking for any of our clubs within that date range that you book them as soon as possible.  A reminder email will be sent nearer the time.

   

  We will not be able to make any ad-hoc booking requests; however, if you have an emergency always speak to the school office and we can advise of how we can help.

   

  For a period of time, when you log on to the school gateway app you may see our school name listed twice, this will revert back to only showing once on 1st April.

   

  It will show on school gateway that we have to cancel any future bookings made from 1st April to the end of the school year, and these will show as a credit in your account.  Please don’t be alarmed: we will transfer the balance for you, and re-instate any sessions you had previously booked.

   

  We are hoping that there will not be any teething issues, but we do ask you to be patient with us if any arise.  Thank you for your understanding.

   

• World Thinking Day - 22nd February 2022

  Fri 11 Feb 2022

  Members of our school who are part of our district Guide or Scout units are encouraged to wear their scouting or guiding uniforms to school on 22nd February.

   

  Each year on 22nd February, members of the Guide and Scout movements all over the world celebrate World Thinking Day. It’s a day when they think of each other and give thanks and appreciation for the international friendships.

   

  22nd February was chosen as the date for Thinking Day because it was the mutual birthday of Lord Baden-Powell, founder of the Scout movement, and his wife Olave who served as World Chief Guide. One of the traditions of Thinking Day is that members of the Guiding and Scouting movement wear their uniforms to school to show others that they are part of the movement.

• COVID outbreak rules

  Fri 04 Feb 2022

  As many of you are aware, the school is currently experiencing ‘COVID outbreaks’ in several classes.   An outbreak is defined as 10% of pupils in any given class (i.e. 3 children in a class of 30).  Many of our classes have fewer than 30 children, so the number might be even smaller. 

   

  Given how transmissible Omicron is, three children testing positive can happen very quickly.  Fellow head teachers in Stevenage are reporting over 30% of staff and pupils off across the entire school!   

   

  Unfortunately, once there is an ‘outbreak’, a school is required to report it and are then given instructions by Public Health England, which they have no choice but to follow.  Three classes in the school are currently in this situation.  I can only apologise for the significant inconvenience involved as part of the process involves closing the classes into ‘bubbles’ again.  And this means the closed bubble can’t attend After School, Breakfast or any other clubs where they are mixing with other children. 

   

  For these three classes, the situation happened quite abruptly and I can only apologise for this.  Until contacted by the authorities, I had had no idea that the measures required would be so significant.  I'm desperately sorry for the inconvenience and I do absolutely appreciate how terribly disappointing this is and how incredibly difficult it is for parents. 

   

  I wanted to write this letter to the whole school so that just in case other classes follow suit (as will likely be the case), everyone has a bit of preparation and planning time. 

   

  Additional requirements are as follows: 

  1. Outbreak classes eat lunch in their classrooms. 
  2. These classes are given a designated area or time for play. 
  3. The range of symptoms must be broadened to include fatigue, runny nose, headaches, aches, feelings of sickness etc. so apologies but if a child in an ‘outbreak class’ exhibits any of these symptoms, please do not send them to school.  
  4.  We will also have to request that children who start to exhibit these symptoms during the school day are collected early from school and lateral flow tested at home or stay at home until their symptoms stop. 
  5. It is recommended that children and adults in each class do LFT testing daily for 7 days. 
  6. It is recommended that when a sibling has tested positive, all children remain at home. 
  7. For two weeks after the inception of the outbreak, children in these classes cannot attend clubs including Breakfast and After School Club or any other club where they mix with other children in the school. 

   

  Please note that that the fact that an individual child in a class has already had COVID, or has tested negative that morning will not alter the overall rules for the bubble.   

   

  The virus is passing very rapidly amongst children and inside the outbreak class children could have touched other children who might have COVID and could be transmitting the virus elsewhere in the school by carrying it on their person, on their clothing or on resources they're carrying.... 

   

   I am so terribly sorry for the inconvenience involved.  Public Health England are clearly worried about schools having to close entire classes and return to online teaching for a time.  This would be just dreadful for everyone and I know we all want to work together to make sure that this is avoided.  Usually measures such as those outlined above are sufficient to halt transmission –and half-term will help.   

   

  We all hope so much to prevent this outcome which is the last thing that anyone wants for our children.   I feel we're letting people down but it's the most terribly difficult situation;  lots of my staff are ill as well and we just have to work together to try to ride out the current wave of the pandemic as safely as we can. 

   

  Thank you for your understanding.  Throughout the entire pandemic, we have worked together courageously and supportively to overcome every obstacle in our way – and I know we will continue to do so. 

• Volunteer positions available

  Fri 28 Jan 2022

  Please speak to Mrs Mendel or email her on head@gilesinfants.herts.sch.uk if you are interested in doing some volunteer work in our lovely school.

• Census Day - Thursday 20th January 2022 - School Dinner Menu change

  Fri 14 Jan 2022

  Thursday 20th January is Census Day so we will swap Thursday and Friday dinners that week. 

   

  This means that on Thursday 20th January, children will be offered:

   

  • Red Option:  Fish Fillet Fingers
  • Green Option:  Cheese and Tomato Pizza
  • White Option:  Jacket Potato
  • Yellow Option:  Egg Baguette
     

  On Friday 21st January, children will be offered:
   

  • Red Option:  Chicken Pie
  • Green Option:  Sticky Vegetarian Sausages
  • White Option:  Jacket Potato
  • Yellow Option:  Ham Baguette

• Applications for Nursery, Reception and Year 3 places starting in September 2022

  Fri 17 Dec 2021

  Nursery school places for September 2022 

   

  If you are a prospective parent, we have a number of tours scheduled, please click on the following link:  https://www.gilesnurseryandinfants.co.uk/prospective-parent-tours/

  Please kindly share this message with parents, friends and family where they have a child due to start Nursery in September 2022.  Applications opened on 1st November 2021, and places are offered on a first-come, first served basis.

   

  Reception School Place – September 2022

   

  An important email was sent to our current Nursery families regarding making an application for starting in Reception September 2022.  The applications opened on 1st November 2021, and the deadline date is 15th January 2022.  If you need any assistance to making your application, please speak to the school office who will be happy to help.  If you are a prospective parent, we have a number of tours scheduled, please following the following link:  https://www.gilesnurseryandinfants.co.uk/prospective-parent-tours/

   

  Year 3 Junior School Place – September 2022

   

  An important email was sent to our current Year 2 families regarding making an application for starting Year 3 at a new junior school for September 2022.  The applications opened on 1st November 2021, and the deadline date is 15th January 2022.  If you need any assistance to making your application, please speak to the school office who will be happy to help.