The Courier

Dear Parents

As we approach the final week at the half term the staff have been working hard to keep the children motivated and on task for the final push towards the break. Last Friday, Ms Forth sent me a text with an interesting statistical summary of Seesaw provision during the term to date. This showed that there had been 51,732 pieces of individual feedback from teachers to pupils in the four weeks of term up to that point. That comes out on average near to 13,000 a week. The only good response I could think of to Ms Forth’s text was ‘Wow!’

Next week in school we will be focusing on the important area of digital citizenship. This will begin with an assembly led by our new Head of Digital Learning, Mr Adkins, on Monday morning. The central idea behind this week is to raise awareness of our responsibilities towards others when we are operating online. Being a good citizen is one of the three fundamental ideas in our School Promise and being a digital citizen requires many of the same skills and qualities; tolerance, honesty, responsibility and staying safe.

Of course, whilst online activities for children and young people can be fun and fascinating, there are always potential dangers and this will also form an important part of the messages that we give to the children during the week. We will also be providing a workshop next Tuesday for parents to attend online that covers all of these ideas, plus advice on what you can sensibly do at home to make your child’s online experience positive and enjoyable. You will find more information about this elsewhere in today's newsletter.

It was lovely to have lots of children sending me in examples of themselves taking part in last weekend’s Big Garden Birdwatch. You should be able to find a picture of me somewhere in the Courier today looking very wrapped up but still completely freezing as I did my hour in the garden. With another cold snap forecast for the early part of next week I hope the children are still thinking of how they can help the birds and please do keep sending in any pictures that you have. I have been putting together a display for the children’s return of all the bird drawings that they did for our recent competition and my only problem is we do not have a display board big enough. They may well run down the whole of the main corridor.

I hope you all enjoy a relaxing weekend with your children.

Joe Thackway
Headmaster