The Courier

Dear Parents

We have had a taste of winter this week that has made my early morning vigils on the gate rather more bracing than usual but, as I go to press, we seem to have avoided the worst stuff, at least for now. It is really noticeable at this time of year how rapidly the day lengths increase and whilst we have plenty of winter left it is now 40 days since the shortest day of the year back in December. Already there are some lovely displays of snowdrops out in the local countryside. I am planning a family walk for this Sunday and it promises to be a cold and clear day, perhaps with a scattering of snow, which will be ideal.

This week we have enjoyed a new addition to the calendar, with the LAMDA showcase presentations to parents on Thursday and Friday. It is so important that children get the opportunity to speak and read in public as they grow up. Little but often is normally the best combination and events like these are really helpful in building confidence and belief. As children grow older, life skills like these can open up a range of opportunities. Well done to those who took part and I am confident that by doing this they will have an excellent chance of performing even better in their LAMDA exams next Tuesday.

Unfortunately, we have had more fixture cancellations this week, some of which will mean we will get some congestion as we try to rearrange them. This definitely applies next Wednesday, when the rearranged IAPS hockey will now take place on the same day as the ISA cross country. With all of the preparation and high hopes of the children going into these events, we really don’t want to cancel and with a little creativity we have managed to find a way to staff and transport both these teams so we wish them well next week.

With Easter this year falling three weeks later than in 2018, this is a longer than usual spring term and some of the children and staff have been struggling with the usual spectrum of seasonal coughs and colds. With two weeks to go before half term, my best advice to the children is to try and pace yourselves and make sure you are getting the rest and down time that you need.

Have a great weekend.

Joe Thackway

For a two or three week period this year we will be focusing on one of the sayings in the new School Promise. We will talk about this in assembly and in form period. It would be great if you could discuss this with your children at home and support the messages we are emphasising in school.

This week’s promise is in the category of Good Friends. In our Promise Assembly the children learnt about the life of St Kevin of Glendalough and his love of animals. The story of St Kevin and the blackbird was a lovely example of the qualities of gentleness that we are promoting.

‘We are gentle and caring’