Headmaster's Message
Dear Parents
We have all enjoyed a week of sunshine and distinctly spring-like weather. The crocuses on the village green in Bilton at this time of year make a spectacular display, that I have shared with the children in my assembly this morning. With the daffodils and snowdrops also in full bloom it should make for a good family walk this weekend.
I have written to you earlier today with full details regarding our return to school arrangements for Monday 8 March. I hope this provides all of the information that you need at this stage and everyone here is excited but cautious about the return to school. It will be wonderful to see all of the children and I'm sure they also are excited to come back. At the same time, I will be stressing to staff and children the necessity to remain vigilant and keep safe. We will be keeping strictly to the year group bubbles and hand washing arrangements we had in place last term, and remind parents of the importance of observing all of our control measures, including not bringing children with symptoms to school and isolating all other siblings if symptoms do occur.
When we do return to school, our focus will be on re-establishing school routines and getting down to some good old-fashioned hard work in the classrooms. We have refined our home learning skills enormously over the last 12 months but nothing can quite replace the in-school experience and the care and expertise of a professional teacher and the support team.
Ensuring that children are where they need to be with their learning will continue to be our absolute priority, not only in the next 3 and 1/2 weeks but over the next 12 months. I believe that the home learning provision for Crescent children has been outstanding. Crescent children have had the fortunate combination of access to technology, genuinely interactive learning and the backing of supportive families. Over the coming months, we will put in place a measured and patient approach to build strong foundations for future learning, to lock-in success and to grow children’s confidence. We do not want them to worry about ‘being behind’ – they are not, and we have every reason to be optimistic as we return. I know you will want to work with us on this important strategy, as you have done throughout the lockdown.
It was lovely to see so many children taking part in the ‘wrong uniform’ event today. This was clearly eagerly welcomed by the children and a great new idea from the FoC. I also hope to see plenty of yellow being worn during the lessons on Monday by the children in St David’s House. We also have World Book Day to enjoy next Thursday (not Friday as previously advertised) so there is plenty to look forward to as spring approaches.
I hope you are all able to enjoy some of that spring sunshine at some point this weekend.
Joe Thackway
Headmaster