An icy start!

What a fabulous first week back! 

It’s always such a joy to see the school buzzing with excitement and anticipation after a holiday and this week has been no exception. The children have been brilliant and I’ve loved seeing them diving back into their learning and spending time with their friends – especially during our very special and uniquely Arden ‘Family Lunch’. 

One of my personal highlights this week was watching our amazing Year 6 children during their heart dissection lesson with Hi-Impact, who provide enrichment days across the school. The children were so inquisitive and engaged – they really got stuck in (and were far braver than I would have been at their age!). Hearing one of them say that the lesson was so fascinating it inspired them to become a surgeon when they’re older was one of those magical teaching moments that takes your breath away. It’s why we do what we do. 

Despite the chilly weather earlier in the week, the Arden spirit has been in full swing! A huge thank you to all our parents for your patience and understanding as we made some temporary adjustments to the gates in the morning to ensure everyone’s safety. I hope opening the doors earlier helped – I know how treacherous the roads and pathways were outside the school and it was our intention to limit traffic as much as possible in such icy conditions. Inside, the school has been lovely and warm - and we’re proud to have remained open for all children to continue their learning. Keeping their education and wellbeing as our top priority will always be at the heart of what we do. 

Today, we also launched our new whole-school Celebration Assembly on Friday mornings – what a fantastic way to end the week and bring everyone together! It was such a privilege to see the hall full of smiling faces as we celebrated the children’s achievements. I’m really looking forward to seeing how this weekly event grows into a highlight of our school calendar. 

In my office, there are a couple of exciting new additions that I’ve been delighted to share with the children. We now have a special display board to proudly showcase work that children bring to me. I can’t wait to see it fill up with their wonderful efforts! We’ve also introduced the ‘Proud Book’, where children can write their names when they share their work or achievements with me. George had the honour of being the very first name in the book this week – and, of course, I had to take a photo to mark the occasion! Seeing the children’s pride as they show me their work or tell me about their accomplishments is always the highlight of my day. Their enthusiasm and joy are infectious, and it’s a constant reminder of why we do what we do. 

As always, if there’s any support we can offer, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our Food Pantry remains open, and we’re more than happy to signpost families to any help they may need. 

Thank you all for making this first week back such a success. I hope you have a lovely weekend! 

Best wishes, 

Mrs Dunn 
Acting Headteacher