The Courier

Dear Parents and Friends of the School

After the second week of term, it feels like the school has returned to its pattern of hard work inside the classroom and endeavour outside. Children and staff are now fully back in the routines of school life, and this gives a reassuring and familiar feel to our days. It is always satisfying at this time of the year to see the new children bedding in so smoothly and finding their feet in their new environment. Hopefully it doesn’t seem as scary as it did two weeks ago, and they have all experienced the warmth and kindness of our community. Very well done to all of them.

Sport was back on the schedule for the week as well and there are lots of fixtures to read about later on in this newsletter. I am pleased to report that every single child in Year 3 to 6 has represented the school in the week gone by. Win, lose or draw, the children get great pleasure and pride from wearing their school badge and working alongside their teammates toward a common goal. If we want the children to be happy and productive in the classroom, they need to be healthy and rounded away from it.

I mentioned in the welcome evening at the end of last term the new learner profile that we are rolling out over the course of this academic year. The first steps were taken along this route in today’s assembly when I announced the first word we will be looking at, which is ‘engaged’. I will spend some time with the Year 6 class later next week to look at this word in a bit more depth and explore what it means for them. You can expect further feedback on this new initiative as we move through the year. This is the first of 10 words that we hope will give the children an understanding of what it takes to be a fulfilled and active learner.

Finally, I’d like to give my very best wishes to those children in Year 6 who are taking the 11+ grammar school exam this weekend. You have done lots of preparation children, remember this is a marathon not a sprint, and you have prepared as well as anybody who will be taking the paper with you this weekend (better in most cases). Everyone here at school will be thinking of you; go in with confidence and do the best you can.

I hope everyone enjoys at least some time away from school and work at the weekend and I look forward to seeing you all next week.

Joe Thackway
Headmaster

In our prayers this morning, the whole school thought about the recent disasters in Libya and Morocco. We shared our prayers and best wishes to all of those affected in these areas and we hope that somehow those who are suffering can find the strength and resolve to rebuild their lives in the months ahead.