A New Term to Treasure

4th September 2020

So here we are back for an autumn term that has caused mixed feelings of delight and trepidation with parents anxiously scanning the news contrasted with feelings of utter joy experienced by the children delighted to be back, blissfully free of adult concern for the ongoing pandemic.

Our job is to balance the children’s safety which is our paramount concern, with the very real job of educating and providing that education with the traditional St Christopher’s blend of excitement and motivation. It takes time and energy to prepare a comprehensive risk assessment during these impossible times that still allows for the irresistible activities that generate the amazing work produced by our young children. So many of our calendar events have been postponed due to strict government guidelines but we have applied the same levels of time and energy to be creative and to reinstate activities and events in a safe and adjusted manner to offer the opportunities whilst reflecting the restrictions.

Accordingly the term began with a flourish. Because of the reduced opportunities for transition experiences last term it was fundamental to spend the first two days of the new term getting to know our children in a relaxed and positive way. Accordingly we introduced work and play revolving around a circus theme. We transformed our marquee into a Big Top and the children arrived on their first day back to a circus entertainer accompanied by circus music. As they came into school they were enchanted by the juggling tricks and, following registration and introductions, we all headed out for an entertaining circus performance. Just watching the delight on the faces of the children (and staff) filled me with joy.

The circus themed activities ensure that, wherever you go in the school, there are pages being enthusiastically written about the children’s choice of role ‘If I was part of a circus I would be…’ or in maths ticket prices and audience numbers added up. In PE we have seen significant ball skills and balance, in Music songs from The Greatest Showman and in Nursery lion tamers and acrobatic tricks are just part of the fun.

The children are back and the school is full of love, light and laughter.  As I explained to the children yesterday, some things will be different but ‘different’ can be good and we are all determined to ensure that this will still be a term to treasure.

Annie Thackray