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As predicted, the ‘novelty factor’ of Remote Learning showed signs of wearing off in my house this week as my children regarded me with a look that roughly translated into, “we appreciate you trying to be our teacher but our real ones are better thank you very much!”. It reminded me of the annual ‘slump’ that occurs after the first few weeks of a new academic year when the ‘excitement’ of being in a new class often loses some of its shine and reality dawns that school is sometimes hard work. Thankfully, I have lived through enough new academic years to know this is a natural down curve for some that soon recovers with a little reassurance and encouragement. Perhaps some of you may be able to recall your child appearing less joyful about school a few weeks into their new classes last September after a positive start and perhaps worried that they were finding the work too hard? But will hopefully also recall this phase passing as they settled more deeply into the new routines and expectations. I know this current period of supporting your child’s remote learning is challenging for many parents and pretty exhausting so think it timely to remind you that you are all doing an amazing job. This also includes those of you who may be worrying that your child might not be completing all tasks or that you feel your child has not completed them to the best of their ability this time. I also remind you that when school properly and fully resumes no child this year will be as ‘ready’ as they normally would be to move on to their next year group and that all teachers will be modifying curriculums and expectations to accommodate that; we will meet them where they are rather than where they might have been. Please be reassured that this is what we are trained to do for different children anyhow; it is as close to a superpower as a teacher can get. Your own superpower needs to be ensuring your child looks back on this time and remember the positives it has brought (extra family time, time to play, discovering new interests) as this is far more important. I saw a meme recently that made me smile which referred to children returning to school and declaring, “that’s not how Mummy/Daddy taught me to do it!” and judging by the creativity, energy and joy many of you are investing in your child’s lessons you could prove a hard act to follow!

This week’s news of the possibility of most of the Pre-Prep returning after half-term is currently high on my agenda as we consider how best to facilitate this under very strict measures and guidance. The priority has to be ensuring the physical and mental health of children, parents and staff and so your patience is appreciated while we give this the detailed consideration it inevitably needs.

Year 5 pupil, Matilda, created this fantastic toothpaste video.

Year 7 pupil, Henry, has built a bridge which can support 397 times its own weight - no mean feat!

All entries to Mr Stannett by next Friday please.

Hi my name is Hayden and I am living in HK at the moment and learning remotely. I think remote learning has some advantages, but it also has some disadvantages too.

The advantage is even though I am in HK and I can’t go back to the UK at the moment, I can still catch up with my work in class so I won’t be a student that forgets everything when I go back to school and it will be easier for me to do work when I go back.

Another advantage of remote learning is even though I can’t go back to the UK at the moment, I can still see my friends through the video chat with the teachers and I can still talk to them, I hope to see them in school soon.

The disadvantage of remote learning is the time difference, in HK the time is 7 hours ahead of the UK, so it’s quite hard for me to go to some lessons that start at 10am.

Another disadvantage is when it is the lesson time and for some reason I can’t do the video chat, I will miss the lesson and I might not be able to catch up with my work in school.

Anyway, I am really looking forward to going back to school and seeing my friends.

Dear Friends,

I hope you are all keeping well. I have been keeping myself busy and joining in some of the remote learning activities with our key worker children. If you’ve read my pupdates over the last couple of weeks you will know that I’ve handed in two drama assignments to Mrs Keirle. (She was rather pleased and awarded me some merits) I’ve heard on the grapevine that you get a treat at the end of each term if you earn lots of merits. Well, Mr Watson said mine will be a packet of milky bones if I work hard.
With that in mind I decided that I would write a poem. My inspiration arose from a particularly beautiful walk that Matron took me on this week. We came across the most beautiful field of bluebells so when I returned to school I got out my specially adapted keyboard overlay (for fluffy paws), sat next to my friend Alfie in the ICT room and composed my poem. This is how it goes:

Sniffity sniff,
Woofety woof,
Bluebells smell like
Grandma’s snuff!

I submitted my work to Mrs Stuckes. Obviously she was very impressed but said that I needed to be a little more descriptive and think about some poetic techniques. I’m particularly good at alliteration so after a little editing and redrafting I eventually I came up with this masterpiece:

Bluish bluebells,
Wafting in the breezy breeze,
Up a tree a squishy squirrel,
Collecting nutty nuts.
Squirrely squirrel makes noses twitch,

Legs shuddery,
Lickety lips,
Squirrely smell,
Sniffity sniff,
Can’t resist,
Woofety woof,
A little chase,
Squirrel gone,
Matron frowns.

I haven’t yet had my feedback for my improved version. Do you think I’ll get a HMC?

Before I go there’s one more important matter. I overheard snippets of a conversation that Mrs Masters was having with some children. I didn’t catch it all but I heard the words: birthday, Snoops, email, surprise, videos, cake and cards. Are you all up to something? If you are please make it big or tasty or squeaky or creative or crunchy! I’m very excited.....just in case!

That’s all from me folks. Have a great weekend.

Snoops x

It is crucial that we keep spirits high over this difficult period. Physical and mental health are so important, so look out for tweets which will give you all some ideas. Keep exercising, keep eating well and look after each other.