Open Water Dangers

As the hotter days approach, please communicate to your children the dangers of swimming in local rivers and other bodies of open water. Sadly we have seen children and adults lose their life in recent years in local rivers, some of which have been strong swimmers.

There are a number of dangers to consider, below is just a few:

• The shock of cold water can make swimming difficult and increase the difficulty in getting out of the water  
• Lack of safety equipment and increased difficulty for rescue ? The height of the fall or jump if tombstoning  
• The depth of the water – this changes and is unpredictable
• Underwater objects and hazards may not be visible
• Obstacles or other people in the water
• Strong currents can rapidly sweep people away
• Uneven banks and river beds
• Water quality, e.g. toxic algal blooms and industrial/agricultural pollution

The best advice is to stick to swimming areas with trained lifesaving staff present, such as local authority swimming pools.

For more information, please have a look at the Royal Life Saving Society website:
https://www.rlss.org.uk/pages/category/open-water-safety-tips

Communications

Sent Home

• Whole school - Open Water letter
• Individual pupils - Borough Sports invitation Paper copy
• Individual pupils - Punctuality letters
• Year 1, Year2, and SRP - Littlehampton beach trip reminder
• Year 5 - Walton Firs payment reminder letter
• Year 5 - Hampton Court Palace trip letter
• Year 5 - Kew Archives Trip Letter

The Reading Corner

Welcome to our weekly section of the newsletter all about reading. Every week, we will share a question (or two) with you about the book your child is reading in school. Please use these questions to help you find out a little more about what your child has been reading in school and continue to develop their love of reading.

Wonder - From our visit to the fire station today, how many pieces of equipment can you name on the fire truck and what are they used for? 

Peake - Which of these riddle poems by James Carter did you prefer: BEwARe (the one about the bear) or What can it be? (the one about the bee)? Explain why. 

Weir - Have you ever lost something or someone like Star? How did you feel?

Thunberg - Did you like or dislike the poem 'Dancer' by Karl Nova? Why? 

Darwin - How has Edward Tulane changed since the beginning of the book?

Attenborough - Who is your favourite character in Journey to Jo’burg and why?

Parks - 'One Chance Dance' by Efua Traore - Why did Jomi's mother leave him and go to Lagos?

Stars of the Week!

All the stars will be announced at Monday's celebration assembly and appear in next Friday's newsletter.

Attendance

Overall, school attendance this week was 96.3%. Our target is 97%.

Well done to Peake Class for the highest attendance of 99% this week. 

Let's do our best for next week!