What a gloriously sunny week it has been! We have all enjoyed getting back into after school activities and opening up a greater range of opportunities for the children again.
The new measures for schools have made us re-think the way that we operate many parts of the day, and one of the great discoveries has been our outdoor lunch. Enjoying the space, fresh air and beautiful views whilst we eat lunch has been a very positive outcome of the new systems. We hope that we can continue this during the warmer months. It looks like rain may be on the cards next week, so we will be testing out our alternative pick up on Monday after school. Thank you for your perseverance and patience as we continue to try new things.
At the end of last week, our Year 7 pupils enjoyed their welcome BBQ evening and, although we were unable to camp this year, there was still lots to be enjoyed. Watching the sunset from the top of the Warren was a highlight and set the tone for an exciting new era for our latest senior cohort. Here’s to them and all that lies ahead.
Now we have settled into the full flow of the term it has been interesting to see the children back in their usual routines in class. In two weeks time we will carry out the assessments that were postponed in the Trinity Term, and next week I will talk to the children about how we can best approach this time. It is important to me that the children don’t fear these moments: tests, assessments, exams. These moments are opportunities to find out more about where they are, what they can do and how we can continue working together to support their learning. As Arthur Ashe said, “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”
Next week we will round up our series of Welcome Evenings which have been better attended than ever thanks to the ease of joining online. Thank you to the Parent Reps for gathering a brilliant range of questions, enabling us to cover topics that are important to you. I am really looking forward to working with the Reps this year to maintain positive and constructive lines of communication. We have the challenge of not being able to run social events face to face. Still, I think it’s an ideal time to create a well-structured forum through the Parent Reps, as well as thinking creatively about how we can continue to keep the St Michael’s community together.
I hope you all have a lovely, restful weekend ahead and I look forward to seeing you bright and early on Monday morning.
Mary Bridges