Our boys and staff room returned full of excitement about the holidays, the festive season and the giving and receiving of presents. It is therefore perhaps a prudent time to thank all of you again who gave so generously to our Reverse Advent OneCan Trust Appeal and to the All Saints Church Collections which raised £677.32  Further super news was shared by Miss Barrow who announced her engagement and a very romantic proposal. 

I would like to welcome Miss Annabelle Samios as our cover Year 1H form teacher and Mr Spencer Voakes as the LSA for Year 4. I am sure we will get to know them quickly and that they will add much to our community. Mr Andy Hiles will also be joining us from 27 January to build upon the outstanding Music department crafted by Mr Rowan. There are also five new excited young faces who have joined the school and I look forward to us all helping with their development and settling in.

A new year always gives us a chance to try out new ideas, one being the use of a bespoke PSHE scheme which was the stimulus for some excellent inset and recommendations from our brilliant Pastoral Review. A few new events to highlight in our calendar this term are the Reports Parents’ Evening. I would hope the optional nature of this evening and the very positive, clear and nurturing reports that I read before sending them home will minimise the queues at teacher tables! The other new initiative is the inclusion of the Year 4 production with support from Year 3. I am sure these 'Merrymen' will rise to the challenge of ‘Hoodwinked’. Information about these and other events will be forthcoming. We always endeavour to communicate our news efficiently and I would ask you to read our emails and letters. We will be making an effort to minimise blazer post. Another new display is our Art Gallery at the entrance to Reception and Year One.

Posts on the sports pitches are being changed as I type and I know we all are looking forward to a healthily competitive term of soccer  - my goodness even Reading are unbeaten in 7! Shin pads are compulsory for every football session. Fitness, fun and well being are all positive results of our incredible games and activities programme of 52 extra-curricular clubs. Swimming is one of these and I do hope the older boys participating in the Swimarathon this weekend receive both intrinsic and extrinsic rewards aplenty. 

Achieving new year resolutions is always very rewarding and a popular topic but they are really only worth making if they are attainable. Three quarters of the Richards household has ventured into Veganuary! One of them started well, but is easily distracted and certainly could do better… any trusted truly tasty recipes will be gratefully received.

Have a wonderful weekend.