The Courier

Dear Parents

Welcome to this week’s newsletter.

This Wednesday, the whole school met on the playground for our annual Remembrance Service. The children read beautifully and Alyssa’s rendition of the Last Post was the best I can remember. It was poignant to note that this was the first time we had met together as a whole school since last March, which gave the occasion extra meaning for us all. I had started the week with an assembly considering the service and sacrifice of our NHS during the Covid crisis and asked the children to think about this as we reflected on the service and sacrifice of past generations.

The success of the service inspired thoughts about how we could repeat something similar on a Christmas theme. Thanks to Mrs Olner’s suggestion on this, we are looking at doing an advent celebration on the playground early in December where we can gather and light the lights on the Christmas tree with some carols and cookies. I am sure it is something staff and children will be able to enjoy together.

I have had to cancel a number of my own appointments this week because of the lockdown which has given me the chance to spend extra time working as a ‘Super TA’ elsewhere in the school. I have enjoyed time reading with Reception and Year 3 as well as working in Year 4. The plan is to keep this going over the next few weeks and it is great for me to spend more time with the children in their classrooms. Every cloud has a silver lining.

You will have received some books for home learning this week as part of our contingency planning for children who need to self-isolate. Don’t panic, this isn’t due to any insider knowledge but simple a precaution to make us as well prepared as we can be. We have also had lovely new branded exercise books in use this term and this is chance to put some older stock to good use.

This weekend is a special celebration for a number of families at Crescent as it marks the festival of Diwali. We lit divas in assembly this morning and told the story of Rama and Sita, ably narrated by two of our Year 6 girls. If you are celebrating this weekend, I hope you have a wonderful time in spite of all the current restrictions.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Joe Thackway
Headmaster

At the end of this week we say goodbye to our Afterschool Manager, Mrs Diana Gregory. Diana has been with us for just over a year and brought a lovely fresh approach to the way we run this important part of our provision. I know she is well loved by the children who attend and they will miss her, I am quite sure. Mrs Gregory is looking forward to spending more time with her husband and family in their new house as they plan to relocate.

The recruitment of her successor has been ongoing over the last few weeks and I am now delighted to be able to announce that we have appointed Ms Beverley Hunte. Beverley is very well qualified for the post as she has the added advantage of being a fully qualified teacher with many years of experience. She impressed us all at her interview and during the last week where she has been working alongside the current team with a view to taking the reins from next Monday.