The end of the half term is here and it is time for everybody to have a week away from the screens and some rest. Remote learning is not easy and I would like to thank you all for engaging with it so positively. Thank you to every child and parent for demonstrating the Avanti values in all that you do and working hard to keep up with the high expectations. It’s really important to remember to look after yourselves, those around you and do what you can but no more. 

Remote Learning Support and Critical Worker Bookings

I have dropped into a number of the live sessions to see how everybody is getting on and the engagement is really encouraging. I am genuinely very proud of our children and to work alongside the staff at Krishna Avanti Primary School. 

A reminder to all that we have a number of Vodafone SIM cards and BT codes to help those children at home with WIFI issues. If you need any support then use the remote learning support form (link below).

Parent Questionnaire Updates 

The Parent Questionnaire  link is still there if you have not yet submitted a response. is still available. So far we have had 99 submissions. If you haven’t completed it, please do. We also have the external 360 Reviews which allow you to focus on specific areas. I hope this is useful. 

Comment/Query: Teachers do not always acknowledge work completed by our child when working remotely. Children spend time and put effort in completing tasks, yet sometimes there is no feedback provided.

Response: I would always expect feedback to be given on any work completed by child. The most effective in an ideal form of feedback is that verbal feedback directly to the child letting them know what is great and what can be worked on; ‘Next Steps’. We have been learning together the most effective way to feedback on work that has been submitted and in this new way of working, it does take time. If there are pieces of work there have been handed in on time yet no feedback given, please let us know – but we will need to know specifically which work it is. We are here working in partnership with you so please do.

Comment/Query: Very happy with the school as this is reflected when my daughter leaves and comes home from school. Very happy child, thank you for your support.

Response:  We want the children to be happy and enjoy coming to school. Happy and motivated children, learn better. Thank you for taking the time to give the positive feedback. 

Comment/Query: The school has dealt very well under the constant pressures and changes. I do feel that homeschooling is as effective as it can be however as a full time working parent I do struggle to monitor how well my child is doing on a frequent basis. It would be very helpful if at all possible for the class teacher to give some feedback on a weekly/fortnightly basis on how well my child is doing and where they can see signs of struggle. It would help parents focus on those areas and I think as working parents it means we don’t feel overwhelmed with the amount of help they may need. Can focus on a small area. I will ask my child to show me what they’ve done. I’m shown a few times and other times they’ve already submitted it. If this is possible then I am sure many parents who struggle to sit down with their children for lengthy amounts of time will greatly appreciate the feedback. Doesn’t have to be detailed just brief that we can follow. Thank you

Response:  we are currently exploring and trialling a four point grade system on effort for a day’s work. We are being careful with this, appreciating how supporting children at home can be overwhelming and quite difficult when parents are also trying to work from home as well – we do not want the system to put unnecessary pressure on families in an already difficult situation. We do think the children are doing very well but will definitely aim to communicate how well your children are doing by the comments. Be proud of what you are doing and how you are helping and please do not put any pressure on yourselves. 

International Childhood Cancer Day – 15th February 2021 

On Monday it is International Childhood Cancer Day. If you would like to find out more, we hope the following links help. 

https://internationalchildhoodcancerday.org/

https://www.childhoodcancerinternational.org/my-name-is-antonia/

https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/use-finnstory.html

Tech Challenge

This week’s Tech Challenge is to record the reading of a book. We would like to update our website to include a variety of children, staff and other willing volunteers, reading a story. This is all part of our continuous drive to develop a love of reading so that our children improve their vocabulary and develop an understanding of texts. The  challenge is how you can record yourself so that the sound is right and the video shared. Recorded videos may be of the pages of the book being turned as they are read, or the reader sitting comfortably and telling the story. 

The Krishna Avanti Podcast and Focus on… 

Our latest podcast can now be accessed via the website by clicking here. 

Our 21st Focus on… quiz is over, having had 152 players. You can see the podium by clicking here. Well done Niya, a regular on the podium. Well done to Shayla for third and Her for fourth. I think ‘hhhhhh’ should be congratulated too. 

The 22nd quiz is now ready for you to play. Why not test yourself and see if you can make the podium? If you want to revise first, the questions all come from our daily Tweets which can be found at https://avanti.org.uk/kapsleicester/focus-on/. 

Thank you all for your continued support. I hope you have an enjoyable and safe half term break and manage to spend some quality time with your family. 

Take care and stay safe. 

Mr Kite

Principal