The INSET days for the next academic year are:

 

• Tuesday 2nd September 2014
• Friday 24th October 2014
• Friday 13th February 2015
• Tuesday 5th May 2015
• Friday 26th June 2015

Updated at 9.00 a.m.

We are planning on going ahead as planned but it will be dependent on the weather.  If the weather this morning is too wet Lower school will go out with upper school this afternoon.

 

Times are as follows (at the moment)

 

9.30 - 10.30 - Year 3

11.00 - 12.00 - Year 4

1.15 - 2.15 Year 5 and Language Unit

2.05 - 3.00 - Year 6

 

If you are coming up to watch please meet the classes on the school field.

We are seeking a person who fits the following description

 

• Currently has a child or children in our school
• Has an open and enquiring mind
• Shows a willingness to listen and make informed judgements
• Is able to work well with others
• Is interested in education generally and our school in particular
• Has a desire to play a part in improving our school
• Is willing to give about 20 hours per term to attend meetings and training

 

If you match the above description, you could be the very person to become a parent governor.  Everyone has something to offer and we want people from as many backgrounds and interests as possible.  If you are interested please contact the school office for further information.

Scarlet fever is a bacterial illness that causes a distinctive pink-red rash. It is uncommon in the UK nowadays and is usually mild.

 

The characteristic symptom of scarlet fever is a widespread, fine pink-red rash that feels like sandpaper to touch. It may start in one area, but soon spreads to many parts of the body, such as the ears, neck and chest. The rash may be itchy.

Other symptoms include a high temperature, a flushed face and a red, swollen tongue.

 

Symptoms of scarlet fever usually develop two to five days after infection, although you will be contagious before showing signs of the illness.

Read more about the symptoms of scarlet fever on the NHS Choices website: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Scarlet-fever/Pages/Introduction.aspx

 

Scarlet fever is also known as scarlatina, although this often refers to a milder form of the disease.

It usually follows a sore throat or a skin infection (impetigo) caused by particular strains of streptococcus bacteria.

 

When to seek medical advice

See your GP as soon as possible if you suspect you or your child has scarlet fever.

Your GP can usually diagnose scarlet fever by looking at the characteristic rash and other symptoms, although a sample of saliva will need to be taken from the back of the throat (throat swab) and tested in a laboratory to confirm the diagnosis.

There's no evidence that catching scarlet fever when pregnant will put your baby at risk. However, heavily pregnant women should tell healthcare staff if they have been in contact with someone who has scarlet fever.

 

How it spreads

Scarlet fever is extremely contagious and can be caught by:

• breathing in bacteria in airborne droplets from an infected person's coughs and sneezes
• touching the skin of a person with a streptococcal skin infection
• sharing contaminated towels, baths, clothes or bed linen

It can also be caught from carriers - people who have the bacteria in their throat or on their skin but do not show any symptoms.

 

Who is affected

Anybody can catch scarlet fever, but it usually affects children aged two to eight years old. As it is so contagious, scarlet fever is likely to affect someone in close contact with a person with a sore throat or skin infection caused by streptococcus bacteria. It may also affect someone who lives in a crowded environment, such as day care.

Between 2,000 and 4,000 cases of scarlet fever are diagnosed each year in England.

You will only develop the symptoms of scarlet fever if you're susceptible to toxins produced by the streptococcus bacteria. Most children over 10 will have developed immunity to the toxins from streptococcal bacteria.

It is possible to catch scarlet fever more than once, although this is rare.

 

How it is treated

Scarlet fever used to be a very serious disease, but most cases today are mild. This is because scarlet fever can easily be treated with antibiotic tablets. These must be taken for 10 days, even though most people recover after four to five days.

With proper treatment, further problems are very unlikely. However, there is a small risk of the infection spreading to other parts of the body, such as the ear, sinuses and lungs.

Read more about treating scarlet fever and the complications of scarlet fever on the NHS Choices website..

 

Preventing it from spreading

If your child has scarlet fever, do not let them go to school and keep them away from other people until they have been on a course of antibiotics for at least 24 hours.

All tissues and cloths that someone with scarlet fever has coughed or sneezed into should be washed or disposed of immediately. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water if you have touched any of these.

Avoid sharing contaminated eating utensils, cups and glasses, clothes, baths, bed linen or towels.

 

 

South View Junior School will be open as usual on Wednesday 26th March

 

Flooding – important public health advice for parents

 

As flood warnings and alerts remain in place across the south of England, parents are asked to remain extra vigilant and take the following precautions to ensure families remain safe and healthy through half term and over the next few weeks.

 

• Do not let children play in floodwater and take care if you or your family must go into flood water as there could be hidden dangers like sharp objects, raised manhole covers and pollution.

 

• Wash your hands regularly, and ensure your children do the same as flood water potentially contains harmful bacteria which can lead to infection. If clean water is not available use hand sanitising gel or wet wipes.

 

• If you have been flooded, or live near a river in flood remember that accidents happen in fast flowing floodwater so avoid walking or driving in or near floodwater. Avoid costal areas if possible.

 

• It’s important when cleaning up after a flood to never use outdoor petrol or diesel generators indoors even in the event of a power cut. The exhaust fumes may contain carbon monoxide which can kill in a confined space such as a home. Carbon monoxide poisoning can be fatal.

 

• After being flooded, do not turn on gas or electrics until they have been checked by a qualified technician.

 

• Avoid eating food that has touched flood water and clean all work surfaces before and after preparing food.

 

If you have a health concern, advice can be obtained from the NHS Choices website  www.nhs.uk , by calling NHS 111 or from your local Pharmacy or GP. 

 

The situation is rapidly changing, so please refer to the latest information on flooding and public health advice on the County Council’s website www.hants.gov.uk and via Public Health England www.gov.uk/government/organisations/public-health-england.

 

This includes answers to some frequently asked health questions about flooding

 

 

Read all about our recent Christmas Craft workshops on the Basingstoke Gazette website.

http://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/news/10894757.Schoolchildren_create_Christmas_craft_items/?ref=var_0

 The school library will be open every day after school from Monday 2nd December to Friday 6th December, 3.20 p.m. - 4.00 p.m. to welcome parents and their children for a Christmas Story Time.

 

This will be an opportunity to come along and look at our selection of Christmas books and to listen to some stories and poems read by our librarian, Mrs White.

Our annual cake sale will be held on Tuesday 26th November.  Children will be bringing home a paper plate on Friday 22nd for donations of cakes and biscuits for the sale.

 

We will also be holding a non-school uniform day in exchange for tombola items on Friday 22nd November.  Please send any tombola items to the Food Technology room on Friday morning.

 EMERGENCY PROCEDURE FOR ADVERSE WEATHER/SNOW

 

As winter is here, I feel it is important to remind everyone of the procedure should we be unable to open due to adverse weather such as heavy snow. 

If you feel the weather conditions are unsuitable to travel in and are unsure as to whether school is open, please note the following steps will be taken as soon as possible:

• A message will be placed on the front page of our school web site if school is closed – www.southview-   jun.hants.sch.uk  and Hantsweb.
• A text message will be sent to the mobile phone number you provided via the SchoolComms text message service.
• A message will be tweeted via our school Twitter account @SouthViewJr
• Local radio stations will be notified of our closure and issue bulletins.

 

If the weather conditions appear to deteriorate during the day when the children are in school, and we require you to pick up your child as early as possible we will notify you through the above communications.  Remember your own safety and be assured that any child would always remain with a member of staff.  If you cannot pick up your child we must have your permission before your children leaves with another parent.  If your child travels by taxi, please ring the school office to ascertain whether you need to collect your child or if the taxi is running.

 

If you have not yet returned your form giving us permission to contact you via text messaging, or have changed your mobile number since signing up, please contact the office as soon as possible so we can check your details or add you to the system.  Due to data protection we are unable to send text messages without your permission.

We will endeavour to clear the school site in both icy and snowy conditions, however please appreciate that some gates and pathways will not be opened until they have been gritted and made as safe as possible.  The main gate will be the priority entrance to be cleared and gritted.

 

Please keep this information somewhere safe.  I sincerely hope it will not be necessary to implement this procedure, but feel it is very important to be fully aware of exactly what will happen should the weather deteriorate.