Primary Newsletter

26 August 2016

Dear Parents,

We have enjoyed a very calm start to the new academic year in Early Years and Primary, with both new and returning students settling quickly into classes and beginning their lessons. I have been particularly impressed with our youngest students in Early Years and we have seen very few tears during these first few days of school. Even our students coming to school for the very first time have been superstars and have settled into their new environment quickly, making some new friends along the way. We are very much looking forward to welcoming our youngest students, Pre-Nursery 1, on Monday. They came to school yesterday for their own special orientation, meeting their teachers and Teaching Assistants, as well as each other. Parents of Early Years students will know that this year we facilitated a staggered start approach to the start of school and this has had a great impact on reducing any anxieties the children may have had, as we have gradually introduced the children into school day by day. We have also facilitated a half day programme for our Pre-Nursery and Nursery students, so they too can become familiar with school routines after such a long summer holiday.

In our Primary school it seems hard to believe that we have only been back at school for one week. I have already seen student’s work go onto displays, pieces of writing in books and science experiments too! I think all our students were definitely ready to come back to school and the learning challenges that a new year will bring. This was something that Mr Scrymgeour and I talked about with the students in our assembly yesterday. We reflected on the recent Olympic Games and how everyone who had participated had trained, practised, shown determination and commitment to be the very best athletes in the world. We compared this with our Primary students who themselves last year had risen to the challenge of new topics and a new curriculum. With ongoing practice, consistent effort and a willingness to succeed, our students made fabulous progress last year, and whilst the summer was a time to recuperate (as the Olympic athletes are probably doing now), it is time for our students to begin their learning journey once more.

I know our teachers are excited about the year ahead and the prospect of everything that can be achieved and over the next few weeks they will be working with their students to help them realise their ambitions for the year. We will also be working with you to help you understand more about our curriculum and assessment and the ways in which we deliver our teaching and support the learning of our students. To that end we will be hosting our Meet and Greet event on Wednesday 7^th September for all Early Years and Primary parents. In addition to this we will also begin our monthly coffee mornings and workshops where you can find out about particular areas of the curriculum, how we teach particular subjects and how you can help your child at home. More information will go home about the upcoming coffee mornings in the near future.

Finally, a quick update on communication in the Early Years and Primary school. All class teachers have now set up their Class Dojo accounts and you should all have received a letter about how to join your child’s class account. Today the teachers will be sending home a message via Class Dojo so please look out for this. Also, our wonderful secretary, Ms. Belinda Lai, is now at home on leave until her baby arrives. Therefore, if you need to contact the Primary school at all, please contact Ms. Emily Chen (em-chen@naispudong.com) who will be taking over Belinda’s administrative tasks while she is on leave. You can of course also email myself and Mr Scrymgeour should you have any queries.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.

Mrs. Lisa Passante

Head of Primary