Headmaster's Welcome
Dear Parents
We have experienced some beautiful weather this week and I hope that you have been able to enjoy some of it. As it is half term next week, there will not be any lessons and school will be closed to enable us to prepare the classrooms and outside areas ready for the planned re-opening of our Nursery, Reception, J1 and J6 classes on 1 June. Thank you for being patient with the number of emails sent and requests for responses to questionnaires. This has been necessary in order to put plans in place.
I realise that those families whose children are returning to school on 1 June may be anxious and have questions and I have tried to address as many aspects regarding the return in a letter that is currently being composed. In follow-up to last week’s letters, I will be circulating further information to each group who will be returning. This correspondence should provide comprehensive details on our plans to return in June, including logistics and measures put in place to do our best to ensure the safety of our pupils and staff members.
Children continue to impress their teachers with home learning and I am delighted to see the variety of work and photographs submitted this week. It is not possible to publish everything but we all enjoy seeing your efforts. I am also very appreciative of the wonderful help and support that parents are giving their children, including ensuring that they stick to routine and show responsibility in meeting expectations.
As you will see from the Junior 6 section, our staff and pupils have ensured that they had fun with a French theme this week as they should have been in France. There are some super photographs and these certainly raised a smile. Although we couldn't travel to France, the year group came together online. I am pleased to confirm that our J6 'leavers hoodies', which I hoped you would have worn to France, will be delivered before the end of term. Thank you to Mrs Paphitis for co-ordinating this.
I am aware that some children are continuing with their music lessons, with the peri teachers, remotely. It has been confirmed that this will continue until further notice and I thank those teachers for their efforts ensuring that children can still access their lessons.
Congratulations to all of our Stars of the Week: Lincoln, Thomas, Beatrice, Jessie, Sara, Amy, Penny, the whole of Junior 3Z, Rhomun, Mya, Anabel, Francesca, Nancy and Henry. Well done to all of you! We also congratulate our Junior Da Vinci’s, our Mathletes of the Week and those who received their Headmaster’s Awards: Alexander, William, Ralph, Sam and the Cowlishaw family. House point results this week are: are Jupiter 567, Venus 519, Mars 485 and Saturn 458. Well done Jupiter!
I will hold a Team's meeting to discuss the Junior 5 transition to secondary schools during the first week of June and I will confirm this date as soon as I am able.
Thank you to my staff for their outstanding efforts over an unforgettable half term (and Easter holiday for some). They deserve a good rest, amongst the planning and preparation for next half term. Thank you to so many families for your many emails of support and thanks. It is reassuring that, despite our current situation, you appreciate that we are doing all we can to continue to help your children make the best progress possible under the circumstances. The children are certainly gaining in confidence and ability to progress within current constraints. You can be so proud of them too. I sincerely hope that you and your family have a relaxing break during half term.
God bless,
Rob Duigan
