It feels almost as if school life at least, is approaching near normal excepting of course the drop off and pick up arrangements, split play and social distancing (as much as practicable).

I am pleased to report to you that the children have been wonderful and really enjoying being back with friends and classmates.

From tomorrow, however, due to the builders needing to access the new lift site, the three Reception classes, RW, RM/S and RS will be accessible only through the front entrance, alongside Windsor Grove via the path on the inside of the fencing.  I will be there in the morning to guide these children into class. The front gates will remain closed throughout the school day, accessible via childproof latch. This is to ensure that children exiting the classroom during the day do not wander through the exit gate on their way to the courtyard. We have a plan in place to ensure that children needing to go to the toilet, for example, are escorted and other than that the whole class will move together with their teacher. This change will be in place for about a fortnight, (this message has been sent to all affected families via SeeSaw).

At the School Board meeting on Monday evening I presented a plan to provide comprehensive external assessment data to parents in Years 2-6 bearing in mind that in 2020, there will be no NAPLAN assessment due to COVID-19. In Week 5 all children in Years 2-6 will sit a ‘Progressive Achievement Test’ and whilst we have done this for the past three years, this year we will print a parent friendly report to be presented at our next Three Way Conversations, scheduled for early next term. Prior to this you will also receive your child’s Semester One Report. My aim is to reassure parents that, despite the disruption of COVID-19, we have a plan for each child to ensure that s/he is not left behind; that each child continues to thrive.

For Reception and Year 1 parents, they will receive assessment information relating to the Initial Lit program which will give information about children's knowledge, skills and learning growth over the 6 months leading to their Three Way Conversations.

If, in July, we are still under same restrictions, we will conduct a virtual Three Way Conversation with you using Microsoft Teams. We will be able to use your child’s school account so that you can access a meeting from home. Let’s pray that we are in apposition to hold our Three Way Conversations face to face.

We are excited about the progress of the Nature Play space. Tomorrow I will meet with the Student Leaders to discuss plans for introducing children to the space ‘gently’ so that all of the areas have time to establish. I look forward to discussing next week the ‘butterfly’ garden with the Year 1’s as this was a big part of their STEM inquiry in 2019.

I will keep you posted on these developments!