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• Carols Around the Tree

  Fri 18 Dec 2020
  The children and staff enjoyed the Oakwood tradition of Carols Around the Tree yesterday afternoon.  Each Key Stage had a song to sing and we were accompanied by the Year 6 band.  The knitted Nativity figures have been at Oakwood for over 20 years!  

  

• Wellbeing Wednesday - Tips for the Festive Period

  Wed 16 Dec 2020

  Wellbeing Wednesday 16^th December 2020

  Tips and Activities for the Festive Period

   

  This festive period will be like no other so it is important to prioritise your own wellbeing.  Here are a few ideas that you may wish to try with your family or on your own.  Some of these ideas may work for you, but not others.  Try not to put pressure on yourself!

   

  • Enjoy nature. If you can’t get outside into nature, there are things you can do to bring it into your home. For example, you could watch a nature documentary about winter. Or you could find a live stream from a zoo's website of some penguins or polar bears.

   

  • Get active. You could take a walk to see if there are any Christmas lights or window displays in your local area.  There are lots of beautiful advent windows on display around St Albans at the moment.

   

  • Connect with people. You could try writing down your reflections on this year and sending it as a letter to people in your life, and ask others to do the same. This is sometimes known as a 'round robin' letter. You could send it out with Christmas cards, or share it over email.

   

  • Learn something new. Try to learn a new recipe or craft, or teach yourself about another religious holiday.

   

  • Find purpose and community. You may be able to support a local charity or Covid mutual aid group with a Christmas project.

   

   

  The Mind Charity also have some lovely ideas and activities, follow the link below:

  https://www.bathmind.org.uk/advice-and-support/wellbeing-activities/christmas/

   

  Wishing you and your family a safe and happy festive period.

• Reporting a Positive COVID Case Over Christmas

  Wed 16 Dec 2020
  Please see our COVID section for guidance on how to tell us if your child tests positive after the end of term.

• Happy Hanukkah

  Thu 10 Dec 2020
  Many people are looking forward to Christmas at this time of year and at Oakwood we also recognise the diverse range of faiths and beliefs within our community. Today, we celebrated the start of Hanukkah by carrying out a range of activities in various classes. Here are some of the photos.  I hope your child can tell you what they learned. Happy Hanukkah to all of our Jewish community!

  

• Wellbeing Wednesday - A useful checklist!

  Wed 09 Dec 2020

  Wellbeing Wednesday 9^th December 2020

  Super Wellbeing Checklist!

   

  How many of these can you tick off this week?

   

  • Think about a WOW moment

   

  • Connect with friends (staying Covid safe of course!)

   

  • Eat well

   

  • Stay hydrated

   

  • Have 30 minutes me time

   

  • List 3 positives

   

  • Take 5 outside

   

  • Go device free before bed

   

• Christmas comes to Oakwood!

  Tue 08 Dec 2020
  We are extremely grateful to the PTA who have kindly donated a tree for all of us to enjoy.  We hope the whole school community gains some joy and pleasure from it each day, particularly at drop off and pick up time. The children are practising carols which we will be singing in the playground, near the tree, next week.

  

• Wellbeing Wednesday - The Importance of Being Calm

  Wed 02 Dec 2020

  Wellbeing Wednesday – The importance of being calm

   

  We can all sometimes struggle to regulate emotions. This can be particularly challenging when out of routine or at home for long periods of time.  This week, why not take some time to focus on being calm?

  Staying calm allows us to think logically and make decisions accordingly.  A sense of calm offers us strength and resilience amid the chaos of life.

   

  Here are some helpful, actionable tips that can be tried to help us feel a sense of calm:

   

  Breathe: One of the most calming breathing exercises we can do is to breathe in for a count of 5 and then breathe out for a count of 6.   Repeating this a few times can really help to regulate breathing and help us to feel a lot calmer.

   

  Listen to music:  Music can have a profound effect on both the emotions and the body.  It can quiet our mind and relax our muscles, making us feel soothed and calm while releasing the stress of the day. 

   

  Get some fresh air:  Being outside, particularly in nature, helps to boost mood and improves our ability to focus.  When we focus on the things around us, it can help us to feel calmer.

   

  Take a break from technology:  Staying away from technology for the hour before we go to sleep can help to calm the mind and helps us to get a better quality of sleep.

   

  Sleep:  Sleep plays a vital role in good health and well-being throughout our life. Getting enough quality sleep at the right times can help protect our mental health, physical health, quality of life, and safety. The way we feel while we’re awake depends in part on what happens while we’re sleeping. 

   

  I wish you all a calm week ahead.