Headmaster's Message
Dear Parents
The last weeks and days before Christmas are some of the busiest in the school calendar. As you know, the snowbomb that hit the region on Sunday meant we had to close the school on Monday. That in itself might sound relatively straightforward but for us here it has meant rearranging different events and timings to squeeze in all of the rehearsals, performances, Christmas lunches, theatre trips, festive assemblies that we had planned.
The last weeks and days before Christmas are some of the busiest in the school calendar. As you know, the snowbomb that hit the region on Sunday meant we had to close the school on Monday. That in itself might sound relatively straightforward but for us here it has meant rearranging different events and timings to squeeze in all of the rehearsals, performances, Christmas lunches, theatre trips, festive assemblies that we had planned.
Of course, for you as families the closure also meant your plans and arrangements needed last minute changes and I appreciate this is not always easy to do. The decision making process is never particularly easy as well with competing demands, although the overriding consideration is of course safety. Thankfully, we are now back to normal and personally I would prefer no more snow days for another 5 (10?) years or so!
Just quickly looking back to last Friday I would like to say how impressed I was with the school Christmas bazaar. Lots of hard work went into making this evening go so well and for all the fun the children had but the impact on teaching and learning in the school was minimal. For me, that is what is known as a win-win! Enormous thanks are due to the FoC team for this and I have heard that we raised lots of money and I am sure you will be hearing more of that from the committee in the FoC section of this newlsetter.
I am sure the children will all have their highlights for the last week but for me it has to be watching the two nativity performances to parents on Wednesday and Friday. Our Estates team made the hall look very atmospheric with the clever lighting arrangements and our staff did a great a job preparing the children for their parts. In the end though it was the children who really shone through with their enthusiasm and confidence and it was great to feel the buzz of excitement and appreciation from all of the parents and families who attended.
This will be our last full Courier of the term, although we will be putting a shortened version out next week with some of the last minute news and awards that came too late for today's edition. In the meantime I wish you all lots of happy Christmas shopping (I have still got so much to do I am starting to quietly panic) and very best wishes for the holiday season that is now not too far away.
Just quickly looking back to last Friday I would like to say how impressed I was with the school Christmas bazaar. Lots of hard work went into making this evening go so well and for all the fun the children had but the impact on teaching and learning in the school was minimal. For me, that is what is known as a win-win! Enormous thanks are due to the FoC team for this and I have heard that we raised lots of money and I am sure you will be hearing more of that from the committee in the FoC section of this newlsetter.
I am sure the children will all have their highlights for the last week but for me it has to be watching the two nativity performances to parents on Wednesday and Friday. Our Estates team made the hall look very atmospheric with the clever lighting arrangements and our staff did a great a job preparing the children for their parts. In the end though it was the children who really shone through with their enthusiasm and confidence and it was great to feel the buzz of excitement and appreciation from all of the parents and families who attended.
This will be our last full Courier of the term, although we will be putting a shortened version out next week with some of the last minute news and awards that came too late for today's edition. In the meantime I wish you all lots of happy Christmas shopping (I have still got so much to do I am starting to quietly panic) and very best wishes for the holiday season that is now not too far away.
Joe Thackway
Headmaster
Headmaster
