Dear parents and carers
It is lovely to close this week with Mrs Van Straaten appointed as Headteacher for September. We are all delighted by this news. You, of course, had letters earlier this week linked to the appointment. I do think this kind and thoughtful parent comment captures the mood. ‘Absolutely delighted at hearing this! She has been a great asset to the school over the years and truly deserves this! I was so worried when I heard that Ms Walsh was retiring. Having someone completely new to the school is not only daunting for the children but also for the parents. Not knowing their values and beliefs and what system they would put in place at the school. Such reassuring news this is!
Year 6 Commission and contemplation space (Mrs Hutchinson / Jenson) – I am sharing my commission to our Year 6 pupils. This supports the Year 6 ideas already generated by the team and adds to them - Mr Smith, Miss Jones, Mrs Whyle and Mrs Bayley, along with myself, are the project team getting this lovely initiative off the ground (with support from Mr Hopkins and Maton-Collingbourne when needed). This celebrates Mrs Hutchinson and Jenson but also leaves a beautiful colourful legacy for the future.
Dear Year 6
I have been speaking to both your teachers, Mr Smith and Miss Jones, as well as Mrs Whyle and Mrs Bayley, as we have been thinking about your Year 6 Perfect Planet unit.
I would really like to give you a commission for your Year 6 Perfect Planet topic as part of Learning 4 Life.
I am commissioning you to find a new name for the space we call Julie’s Garden. I particularly would like you to come up with an all-encompassing name – that fits the ‘now’ and the ‘ future’ for this space. I wondered if you could ‘play’ with words like contemplation / peace / joy. Maybe, you could introduce a multi-language element that represents all our school communities. You decide - I’m interested in your ideas.
The purpose of the space when we first developed it was to celebrate the memory of a much-loved member of our staff team, which is why it is known as ‘Julie’s Garden’. Sadly, this year, you have experienced a loss and therefore we want to incorporate Jenson’s memory into this space too. My commission is for it to have a brand-new name. The space is and will be a garden and we are planning a phased approach to developing the raised beds using railway sleepers.
Thank you to the mathematicians who measured the planned raised beds; you have a follow-up task to calculate the volume of compost needed to fill them. It will take time to build them; nothing happens instantly. In the meanwhile, there is a lot of planting activity planned, as well as time to give thought to artistic motifs that will decorate the garden (just an idea but both Julie and Jenson begin with the letter ‘J’). We are aiming for an opening event as we close the term. Hopefully, many of the plants you will plant will be flowering. The ultimate intent for the space is to be a place to feel joy. It will be multisensory with beautiful things to see; wonderful smells; interesting safe plants to touch; buzzing happy insects to hear and the rustle of leaves and grasses and maybe even some safe edible plants to taste. Closing the summer as you leave (and so do I as I retire), you will have improved the space and left a lovely legacy for our next Year 6's to further develop and a space for all to feel a sense of joy.
