May 25th 2021: “Edie”

Well this month’s blog finds us all shivering and damp in total contrast to the same time last year. 

I do have some exciting news in the arrival of “Edie” who will be our well-being puppy (and later, dog!”)  I decided to call her Edie (after St Edmund!) if the puppy was a boy but we have the female version in our sweet little Edie. She is currently only 10 weeks old and lives with me but when she has completed her therapy training ( yes, even dogs do exams at St Edmund’s!) she will be part of the community.

In a time of increased anxiety after all that lockdown has thrown at us, Edie will be available for puppy care (year 7 and 8), walks and visits to the library, the sixth form and the pastoral team. Our young people who wish to join the puppy club will be able to develop their nurturing skills and benefit from the joy of this little bundle of fur! Students who need a little support with their emotional and mental health, can choose to spend some time with Edie to increase a sense of well-being. It is certainly helping me! I haven’t stopped smiling since she has arrived.

So our year 11 and 13 students left last week. We had lots of laughter and a few tears and I felt so privileged to be able to share their last Mass and their last assembly with them. The year 7 pictures of our year 11 leavers and the “most likely to…” certificates had us all in stitches! They have all inspired me so much with their resilience to all that has happened. They were aspirational, worked hard, made no excuses and really made me so proud to work at St Edmund’s. I can’t wait to see what they all do next. 

A glimmer of sunshine has just fallen upon the peace garden and I think we are all praying for the return of last year’s sunshine for our half-term break. If not, it will be more wet and soggy mornings with Edie in the garden for me! Happy half term everyone

Maggie x 

March 31st: DAFFODILS

If you have been “dropping off” at St Edmund’s in the last few weeks, you will have noticed the beautiful daffodils “tossing their heads in sprightly dance” (Wordsworth, not me!). 

I love daffodils. 

They are the most joyous of spring flowers and their resilience to the strangest of weathers and the absolute certainty that they will reflower each year,  gives me great sustenance.  

In fact, these flowers before the chapel are a good metaphor for our community right now – individually we may be delicate but together we are strong and joyous. We are back together, supporting each other, thankful that, this year, we have been able to celebrate the Easter liturgy as a community.  

Over the last month staff and students have been very busy. Two weeks of intensive lateral flow testing on site has now turned into home testing kits distributed to all staff and students. 

As I walk the corridors I see high engagement in lessons as teachers and students work hard to ensure any learning gaps caused by lockdown have been addressed.

Finally, our young people continue to serve those who need our help with huge boxes of Easter Eggs being delivered to local charities.  

The sun is shining today although Mrs Letheren tells me to expect snow next week!  Last-minute and unexpected change has become a daily part of post COVID schools but we are thriving thanks to our wonderful students, families and staff. 

I wish you all a happy and Holy Easter and hope you are able to enjoy a few extra freedoms as we move closer to lockdown. Please tune in for our final Easter liturgy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlgMUjcQl3Q) and join us as we reflect on the true meaning of this blessed time.

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