Dear Parents,
This has been a particularly happy week, as we have had a number of children from all year-groups return to school for the first time in several months. Yesterday and today our missing Year 2 children came back and it has lifted our spirits to see them. The logistics of fitting everyone in can only be compared to a game of chess, where every move has a knock-on effect. Staff have worked around the clock to put everything in place, but the sight of children's beaming faces as they chatted happily to teachers and friends, made the effort worthwhile. Astonishingly the children have taken the lack of rugs, book corners and soft surfaces in their stride. Their focus has been on one another and they can't stop smiling, which has been infectious; a positive infection that we welcome. The Year 2 children were determined to eat outside yesterday despite the intense downpours; even the watery conditions did nothing to dampen their spirits.
My mission is to open the school (both sites) fully in September, although the way in which we do this will depend on social distancing guidelines. I suspect these will be eased by September and that will change everything. I want to see all of our children at school together for a full five day week, so am exploring ways of creating additional classroom space to make it possible. Thank you for understanding that the restricted opening this term has not been a matter of choice for us.
It is at this time of year that we announce staff departures and fortunately this year there is only one. Kerry Byrne, our Year 1 teacher, has decided she cannot continue her daily commute from Hertfordshire and is sadly leaving us. She has worked tirelessly and cheerfully through an unsettled time and we will be very sorry to say goodbye. We look forward to welcoming her replacement, Rick Jolley, onto the staff. He first visited the school a year ago and has been waiting for a vacancy at The Children's House. Matthew Miller toyed with the idea of retiring but is instead changing role slightly and will focus on music next year. His music lessons are superb and he has inspired a love of music throughout the school. His Seesaw lessons have been fabulous.
School has been enjoyable even in the most unpredictable weather, so next week should be a joy with clear sunny days. We can finally use our gazebos to provide shade rather than shelter from the pelting rain. Enjoy the weekend.
Warm regards,
Kate