It seemed really appropriate that we started our final half term ‘Service with a Smile,’ that we focused on saying thank you and looking at our ‘everyday heroes’ who are currently serving our communities during the pandemic. It is so important to often stop in our tracks and just reflect on what this period of time at home has brought us. Over the next few weeks I will be asking the children to reflect on this time and to think about the positives that have come from it.

This year has been one big adventure, and even more so during these last 10 weeks. Adventures improve our communication, resilience, problem solving and we take more risks. I really hope that all of these skills have been developing and that the children will take these with them through their life.

Each week, I am trying to create virtual experiences of the things that you may be missing from your final term at Our Ladys. You are a wonderfully talented class and at the end of this week, you should have been sharing your talents with each other at Water Parks. I am really proud that I can share your talents, not only with our class mates, but with our whole school community. For those children who didn’t manage to send me anything, you are all talented. Listen carefully…your voice is there for all to hear!

Another heartfelt thank you for all of your efforts this week. If you are anything like me, you will have had a little sadness in your heart this week as I feel this was the first big thing that the children would not experience this year. I was determined to try and get something out of SATs week and give the children a smile along the way.

This week, I have seen such a WONDERful amount of home learning and it is clear that you are all really enjoying our book Wonder. I have made a little movie of all of the work that I have received this week - watch out for our documentary scientists at the beginning

Romeo, O Romeo, where for art thou Romeo! I have loved this unit of work and hearing and seeing the children’s engagement in it. Shakespearean language is complex and often takes time to unpick. The children have all listened and responded to this wonderful tragedy (do you like my oxymoron), and as a result, they have created some fantastic work.

I have been absolutely blown away by the enthusiasm and the quality of work from the children this week. When I set the geography task to plan a holiday to a coastal resort, I did not realise how absorbed the children would be. Thank you for being so enthusiastic children and as a family.

Here we are, the end of Week 3 of home learning and getting ready for another 3 weeks. As we heard from the government this week, we know that we won’t be returning to school in the near future - but I still have lots of hope that we will be back before the Summer holidays start. I look forward to seeing you all again.

I don’t know about you, but this has felt like a long two weeks - saying that, you are always going above and beyond to make sure that the children’s learning is at the forefront of everything you do at home. I totally understand that under these circumstances it is tricky and the children are having to really become independent with their learning, a little sooner than we anticipated.

What a glorious week to be at home completing home learning. In extraordinary circumstances, the weather is certainly providing us with lots of hope and a smile. Thank you all so much for engaging as much as you have with learning - I have loved receiving photographs of you all working and playing and one or two videos

I am sitting here, writing this blog, with a huge smile on my face. This week has been challenging to say the least. We have laughed, cried, been frustrated but more importantly, we have continued to live our lives and to enjoy every moment of it. There is no doubt that we are all sad about what has happened. I have watched the children be the most wonderful, compassionate, caring and humble group of children this year, who have led our school with such respect.