Headteacher Message

For those that remember Mr Paugh, he always found it curious that people may wish each other Happy New Year long after midnight on 31st December! I suppose there is a 'cut off' at some point, but I wish you all the very best for 2022.

The first newsletter of the shortest term of the year and I am pleased to be able to report we have seen an improvement in Covid related absence in the first two weeks of the term. An update was circulated last Friday and there is nothing further to add this week except a reminder to continue to use lateral flow tests weekly and these tests are now permitted to start your isolation instead of a follow up PCR test. At the end of the term we were seeing high numbers of staff and pupil absence due to Covid 19. Our current attendance is 94.68% but 491 sessions (close to 250 days!) are due to Covid absence. If you exclude those our attendance is around 96.5%. The isolation period for confirmed cases is reducing to 5 days. Amazing to think that this was 14, then 10, then 7 and now 5. A reflection of learning to live with the virus I suppose.

We are making some changes to the school calendar as a result of current climate. For example, Class North America are due to have a class assembly soon but as we are currently running virtual Collective Worship / assembly we would prefer to move the event to a time when we can welcome visitors into school. Please look out for an updated copy on the website. 

I enjoyed working with our Bronze Ambassadors in the past two weeks as they completed their virtual training, courtesy of the Chelmsford Schools Sports Partnership.

Our lifelong Value for this half-term is Perseverance. In Collective Worship we shared the story of Moses and Exodus. Many of our ASPIRE certificates are given out for Perseverance - we have so many hardworking pupils.

We have been asked to promote 'Community Worship' this Sunday - 16 January at 10am in Ford End Church. This is an informal Family Worship with a local focus for Ford End and Great Waltham families. All are welcome. 

Class North America, as part of their extreme Earth topic, are learning about the Roman town of Pompeii. I visited in 2009, so I will try to find some photos to share with the class. An amazing experience to visit the excavated town and Mt Vesuvius.

Rafaelo B has moved to another local school this term and he popped back for a visit today, to say goodbye to his classmates - something we could not do before Christmas. We wish him all the best and no doubt will see him for a sports fixture in the future. Good luck Raffy. 

Once again, thanks for the gifts given to staff members at Christmas time - they are very much appreciated.

Have a good weekend. 

Mr Burden