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Every week the Bulletin newsletter is sent home from the School Office highlighting important forthcoming dates and events, along with a round-up by Mr Richards of the week gone by. Read below recent messages from the Head's desk and previous word's from former Head Mrs Heywood.
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As we reach the end of week two in school it feels like life within the Claires Court world is normal again. Pupils are working hard in their lessons, teachers are busy ensuring lessons are rigorous, thought provoking and fun and parents have settled into the ups and downs of raising teenagers.
Whilst we all felt like the world was turned upside down in March, this week has felt like the world has been tipped right way up again. The students have adapted exceptionally well to minor inconveniences that Covid forced upon us and, as I watch the pulse of the school day, it makes me exceptionally proud to be in charge of such an impressive group of young people. I have also been delighted with the way staff have adapted to the new measures; they have been relentless in their efforts to ensure lessons are always great, whilst the bubble zones have quadrupled their step counts. Finally, it has been a pleasure to get to know more of you this summer in our head to head drop in meetings. It is easy to see why the pupils are such a pleasure to teach, as they have clearly been brought up well. Great parents, outstanding pupils combined with quality teachers is the perfect recipe for the best schools. This is an exceptional school that produces well rounded students with excellent results and I only hope I can continue to improve our offer to you and your children.
Dear Parents and Guardians
To close our final bulletin of the academic year, your children’s Headteacher has shared many words of wisdom, some lovely memories, and even the odd video! Please take some time to read them, and to also reflect on your child's final report of the year.
Dear Parents and Guardians
A shorter set of words from me this week, despite my beloved Liverpool FC winning the Premier League title (had to mention this somewhere!).
Dear Parents and Guardians
Another week comes to a close, but one where we have welcomed our Junior pupils back for the last three weeks of term. Both pupils and staff have happy stories to tell and wide smiles... as I am sure many parents do too!
Dear Parents and Guardians
It has been a bit of an unusual week.
Strange weather, an eerie return to premier league football, mysterious technology U-turns on track and trace analysis, curious rumblings from sports governing bodies referencing coaching strategies at grass roots level for children, and confusion emanating from the Department for Education….. Year 8 can come back to school if they are in a prep/middle school, but not if they are in a senior school? I understand the reasons why, Year 8 being the equivalent to Year 6 in these schools in that it is their final year, but it does not make it any easier for our parents who are in their second term as teachers trying to balance their child's curriculum content, their own work, and teenagers who want to see their friends.
Dear Parents and Guardians
I start this week's newsletter with the headline news that Mrs Margaret Heywood, Head of Senior Girls has announced her retirement at the end of this summer term. Known as Maggie in school and the wider professional and sporting community, Maggie joined Claires Court back in 1984. During her incredible career with us, she has led the PE department with great distinction, served as Deputy Head Pastoral under Paul Bevis and stepped up to headship in 2017. Her husband Peter and she chose Claires Court for their children, and both Jessica and Lara have returned as employees in recent years. As these two daughters are currently on maternity leave, and Maggie has her grandson Fox and family living with her during #lockdown as well, she has chosen now to adjust her priorities accordingly. The Principals will plan formal thanks and presentations later in the year, when we are all ‘back-in’; in the meantime, Mrs Heywood wishes everyone to treat school as ‘business as usual’, and as you can read below, Senior Girls has a very good deal going on, including of course reopening for business on Monday for Year 10.
The Principals are delighted to announce that her Deputy, Steve Richards has been appointed as her successor, already a well known face to the girls as their Deputy Head Operations.
Dear Parents and Guardians
What a wonderful feeling it has been to welcome some pupils and parents back into school. I have been lucky enough to be based at Junior Boys this week where around 100 boys and girls from Reception, Year 1 and Year 6, and children of our Key Worker parents have been enjoying the ‘actual’ school rather than the ‘virtual’ school. Moonlighting in my other role as a Junior Boys car park attendant, it has been a privilege to be part of the process of safely bringing our boys and girls into school.
Dear Parents and Guardians
Crikey, it's been hot. But I am not moaning, long may the sunshine continue into June.
While we are set to open our school gates on Monday 1 June for pupils in Reception, Year 1 and Year 6, along with children of key workers, we have also been working on our plans to reintegrate our Year 10 pupils and Year 12 students back to school at a date yet to be confirmed in June. These examination groups have crucial academic responsibilities and we want to ensure we are providing them with every opportunity to excel.
Dear Parents and Guardians
I hope you have had a safe and healthy week as we move slowly towards the ‘half term’ break next Friday.
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Dear Parents and Guardians
It is a big weekend coming up!
Everyone is waiting to see what Boris Johnson says on Sunday evening when he announces his plans for the next set of proposals to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. Whatever direction the government chooses, we at Claires Court are ready with strategies to continue distance learning where appropriate and to open the School for our families as soon as we are allowed to do so.
Dear Parents and guardians
I hope you are well and a huge thank you to all of you who have contacted me this week with feedback on your experiences of becoming a temporary support teacher while juggling so many other plates at the same time. Feedback is how we can continue to improve and develop our academic and wellbeing programme. We are sharing a short questionnaire which we ask you to complete here - we value your opinions and this will help us in our thinking to deliver the best educational experience possible.
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1 College Avenue, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 6AW
