The Courier

Dear Parents

We started the week in school by focusing on our new school promise, which is to work hard and try our best. Allied with the message of kindness that we focused on in the first three weeks, this combination really encapsulates everything we ask of the children. As adults we are more aware than ever of the unusual circumstances we find ourselves in, but for now at least, the children are adapting to the new circumstances as if it had been ever thus.

Today in school the children had the chance to meet up with their new learning mentors. This is an initiative that we have brought in this year as part of our emphasis on building self-regulation for the children. They have all had a 10 minute meeting with their new mentors, agreeing targets for the year that they can take full personal responsibility for. As you would expect from the Crescent children, they have embraced this idea with great enthusiasm and in many ways that in itself is a success. The new mentors do not in any way take the place of the form or subject teacher, but are simply a focal point for the pupils and allow them to go through the process of identifying their own targets and taking personal responsibility for them. They will meet again in January to monitor progress and discuss changes that the children might like to make at that stage.

Last week we staged the Junior da Vinci information session for parents, talking about how this reward scheme works in the school. If you were unable to attend on the evening you will find a link elsewhere in today's Courier. Next week we look forward to the next in the series of September parental events with the phonics and early reading information meeting for Reception parents. I do hope parents in this year group find this session useful.

Last weekend I took my own daughter to her new university halls of residents in Sheffield. I must say, she has got quite lucky with the quality of her room. With all of the restrictions it will be a freshers’ week unlike any other and her lectures will be a mixture of online and small group sessions. We are all learning to adapt as best we can but at the same time keeping the wheels in motion. On that note, many thanks to everyone for their response to our request to wear face coverings at drop-off and pick-up times. Your support is much appreciated.

Enjoy your weekends everyone. 

I am delighted to announce the appointment of Mrs Louise Symons as our new part time Year 5 teaching assistant. Mrs Symons will cover for the excellent Mrs Collie, who has recently gone on maternity leave. In addition to her duties in Year 5, Mrs Symons will also be assisting with reading in Key Stage 1.

By way of background, Mrs Symons is a fully qualified teacher with 15 years experience in local schools, including a spell as head teacher at Northlands Primary School in Rugby. We are really pleased to have such a high calibre addition to our team and we wish Mrs Symons all the best in her new role.