Mrs Kirby's Weekly Words

Every week the Bulletin newsletter is sent home from the School Office highlighting important forthcoming dates and events, along with a round-up by Mrs Kirby of the week gone by. Read below recent messages from the Head's desk.

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Archive

Mrs Kirby's Words Week 2
Published 18/09/20, by Nicola Robinson
From Mrs Ainsley:

"We have had a world of purple this week as this has been our focus colour. There has been purple rice, purple beans and lots of mixing of colours to create purple.

Outside, the children have been enjoying the sunshine. We have been into the pond area to see what might be lurking in the pond or creepy crawlies which are living in our ‘bug hotel’. We discovered lots of seeds from the lilies which the children attempted to count, there were so many!

Next week our focus will be:
- The story of ‘The Tiger who came to Tea’
- Orange
- The number two
- The letter ‘t’
Have a lovely weekend enjoying the sunshine."
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Mrs Kirby's Words Week 1
Published 11/09/20, by Nicola Robinson
From Mrs Ainsley

"What a wonderful first week the children have had. Despite some of the children not being here for over six months, they have come back full of confidence, happiness and an eagerness to explore. We have also had lots of new children start with us and they have all settled well into their new classes.

I would like to thank all the parents for adapting so well to the new drop off and pick up routine. It has run like clockwork, so thank you."

Reminders:
- Please remember that lunches and snacks must be nut and kiwi free
- If you send in grapes, please cut into quarters as they are a choking hazard if kept whole.
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Mr Spanswick's Words Summer 11
Published 10/07/20, by Nicola Robinson
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.

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Mr Spanswick's Words Summer 10
Published 03/07/20, by Nicola Robinson
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!).

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Mr Spanswick's Words Summer 9
Published 26/06/20, by Nicola Robinson
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!

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Mr Spanswick's Words Summer 8
Published 19/06/20, by Nicola Robinson
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.

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Mr Spanswick's Words Summer 7
Published 12/06/20, by Nicola Robinson
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.

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Mr Spanswick's Words Summer 6
Published 05/06/20, by Nicola Robinson
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.

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Mr Spanswick's Words Summer 5
Published 22/05/20, by Nicola Robinson
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.

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Mr Spanswick's Words Summer 4
Published 15/05/20, by Nicola Robinson
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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Mr Spanswick's Words Summer 3
Published 07/05/20, by Nicola Robinson
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.

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Mr Spanswick's Words Summer 2
Published 01/05/20, by Nicola Robinson
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.

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