The Courier

Dear Parents

It has been a week of hard work and endeavour here in school. The children are now fully settled back into their routines and there has been a quiet hum of learning going on in the classrooms throughout the week. It has been very much our plan to bring the children back in and quietly re-establish all of the learning habits that they were used to. They play such an important part in enabling the children to progress steadily and with confidence over time.

In our assembly this morning we talked about tomorrow’s spring equinox and the important marker this is in the earth’s journey around the Sun. We also learnt that the equinox marks the festival of Nowruz, the Persian New Year, which will be celebrated tomorrow in many parts of the world. There some lovely pictures of this elsewhere in today’s newsletter. Happy new year to any families who are celebrating this weekend.

With so many signs of spring all around us this was a fitting assembly and I hope the children will be inspired to look out for all of blossoming nature around them as the season unfolds. I know some children are already looking out for the arrival of the first swallows and swifts, but this will be a few weeks yet.

Intruder alarm practice

During the Christmas break, a new intruder alarm system was installed in the school. This means we now have call points (separate from the fire alarm points) in every teaching room that allow staff to raise the alarm in the case of a potentially dangerous intruder being on the school site. There is also a new and distinct intruder siren sound. In the unlikely event of an intruder scenario occurring, we will ask children to hide in their classrooms with their teachers until the alarm is silenced.

We will be doing a practice drill for this in school next week. I will start the week with an assembly demonstrating to the children what the new sound alarm will sound like and explaining what to do if they hear it. This will take place in an assembly with their form teachers present. Form teachers will then answer any questions the children have and reassure children that it is for their own safety and nothing to worry about. I will send a message to all parents following the alarm to let you know it has occurred.

It is possible that some children will feel anxious about this, which we fully understand. If your child has a particular concern please do contact your form teacher who will be happy to speak to your child individually and hopefully allay any fears.

Have a great weekend.

Joe Thackway
Headmaster