There have been a few cases of head lice in Reception, Year 1, and Year 4. An email has been sent on Parent Mail and the advice leaflet is also attached overleaf (page 4). Thank you.

It is Children's Mental Health Week this week and the children have been doing lots of great work around their mental wellbeing.

Children have been learning about mindfulness, including different breathing exercises to help them feel relaxed and calm.

Year 1 classes had a virtual visit from Amelia Earhart yesterday. She came to us via zoom to tell us all about her life and her achievements which made her the most famous female pilot of the twentieth century. The children had the opportunity to ask her questions about her life and her record breaking achievements. They children absolutely loved it!

Please note that dogs are not allowed on the school premises.

Next week Reception will remain in their own bubble up to and including Friday 18th February. A letter has been sent via Parent Mail so please ensure you read this carefully. Reception will be provided grab bags daily and will eat in their own class. If you wish for your child to bring in their own packed lunch instead then please email the school: office@marlandhill.rochdale.sch.uk. Thank you.

A reminder that next Friday 18th Feb we break up for the half term holidays and return to school on Monday 28th February.

There has been a recent outbreak of head lice and we would like to remind you how to detect and treat these insects.

School Nurses do not check for head lice. This practice was phased out in the early 1980’s! Young people and their parents/carers are encouraged to check their hair and treat appropriately.

Detection

Adult lice are usually pale in colour, the same size as a sesame seed and live very close to the scalp. They have six legs and walk from one person to another when there is head to head contact.

Eggs are cream/brown in colour and the size of a sugar grain.

Nits are empty cases, white in colour and stick to the hair.

Head lice do not cause any serious health problems. But if left untreated the lice will cause the scalp to itch and the lice may be passed on to other people.

Head lice infection is present if an actual living, moving louse is found.

Treatment

Twice weekly combing with a nit comb will help to prevent infestation developing

Comb your hair in the normal way every day and follow the wet combing method twice a week

Wash hair and leave wet, but not dripping

Massage a generous amount of conditioner into the hair

Comb hair to get rid of any tangles

Use a nit comb to comb through the hair in sections

Comb from the roots, ensuring that the comb touches the scalp to the hair ends

Any lice found should be removed after each stroke of the comb by wiping the comb on a clean tissue

Finish combing hair and rinse

Dry hair in the normal way

It is important to repeat the wet combing method twice a week, as head lice are able to breed once they are a week old. Head lice can live for 40 days and will lay up to 8 eggs per night.

If you require any further advice please go to www.nhs.uk/conditions/head-lice

A polite reminder that meal patterns are set per half term and cannot be swapped or changed during the term. Thank you for your support.

A polite reminder that children must be wearing the correct PE kit on the day of their lesson, plain white t-shirt, plain black/navy jumper or hoodie and black/navy bottoms/shorts. Also appropriate footwear, trainers or pumps, are essential to ensure your child can access their lessons. 

Please can parents ensure that jewellery is removed or covered up and long hair must be tied back for P.E.

We have seen a big improvement this year in P.E. kit so we would like to thank you for your continued support.

In Reception we have been learning about Chinese New Year and the ways in which it is celebrated. This year it is the year of the Tiger and we have also enjoyed learning about Tigers. The children made some beautiful lanterns and practiced their cutting skills to make the incisions. They have also enjoyed constructing Chinese dragons and practiced some Chinese letters.