February 25th 2021; “Normal”

So we are all busy at St Edmund’s planning for the reopening of our school on March 8th. Setting up a mass testing centre in the Sports Hall is something I did not ever expect would be part of my working life and I thank God every day for the amazing staff I work with,  who simply apply themselves to whatever needs to be done. This is such a St Edmund’s trait.  

(By the way,  thank you all for such wonderful responses to our home working resource pack programme. Our staff delivered a pack to every child at St Edmund’s and I could not be more proud of this community spirit.)

So. We are all looking forward to some sort of normal returning and I’m sure you are too. But what is “normal” anyway? Conforming to the usual? Returning to the pre-COVID times?

Well yes and no!

We are so looking forward to face to face teaching (even if it will be behind masks for a while longer) We strongly advise all pupils to take part in the COVID LFT testing at school and as soon as the first tests are completed, we will be back to class!  

We all miss the social contact with our students and each other and we will make sure there is plenty of time for them to catch up with us and each other, to socialise, to get outside in the sunshine.

I am also very aware, however,  that there are some things that will not return to normal for everyone at the same time. Some will have become happy working from home, some will have struggled. We are ready to support everyone, each in their own time. 

Therefore,  once more, a big “shout out” to all of our home schoolers. Whatever your level of skill and knowledge of your child’s education, I bet it has increased ten-fold over the last 12 months! We are so excited to see them all and have absolute confidence that they will be back on track very soon. 

I notice the sun is shining today….. Time for my daily exercise

God Bless