The excitement of a new school year is upon us, and this week it has been wonderful to re-connect with all colleagues and welcome some new faces to the team.
As part of our socially distanced whole school meeting on Wednesday, we thought about what we are most looking forward to this year. For many of us, it is embracing the ‘normality’ of school life, being in our grounds, and enjoying the small, funny and wonderful moments spent with the children supporting their growth, development, learning and happiness.
Security and stability are fundamental this year more than ever, and we look forward to working with you all to provide the very best for our mini (and not so mini!) Michaelians. Training in ‘bubble protocol’, school logistics, cleaning, safeguarding, first aid and lifeguarding has been attended and we are ready to kick off the year with what looks set to be a warm and sunny week. Hooray!
This newsletter will update you on final information for the start of the new school year as well as introducing our new members of staff. The logistics of the school day have been adapted in order to maximise safety whilst still providing the best, most exciting opportunities for the children to experience what St Michael’s can offer, both inside and outside of the classroom. We know that teamwork will continue to be an essential skill required by all and that listening, adjusting and adapting will be necessary as we find the rhythm in the new systems. Your feedback, questions and comments are always welcome.
Further updates on school systems and protocols can be found in the Pre-Prep and Prep parent handbooks which are ready to be sent home with your eldest child on Monday, so look out for that.
Each September we launch our school development plan which provides a framework and focus for our progression over the year ahead. This year we have three aims:
- Review what we have learnt from Covid-19 school closure and consider changes to further improve what we do
- Focus on equality and the understanding of diversity in the curriculum throughout the school
- Focus on well-being through promoting healthy strategies for mind and body with children, staff and parents
We look forward to sharing details of our developments in relation to these strands over the course of the academic year. An essential part of looking ahead and planning for the future requires reflection on what has previously worked well and what could have been even better. As part of our annual reflection, I invite you to read the Head’s Review of 2019-2020 which has been published on the school website today.
Here’s to the new year and the many opportunities that it brings. I look forward to seeing the children next week and hope that they feel refreshed and ready to go!
Have a fantastic weekend.
Mary Bridges