Dear Parents and Caregivers

We promised to give you more information about the appointment of our new Headteacher.

We spent Thursday and Friday of the first week of term holding interviews. All the Governors and senior staff were involved. The candidates were given a series of tasks and interview panels, so that we all have a very clear idea of the most suitable person to lead Elmhurst from September.

I would like to thank all the candidates who came for the interview. They gave us a difficult task because they were all so good. I would also like to thank Tracy and Mike for all their help in making sure the interviews were Covid safe in every way; the senior staff, and indeed all the staff in school, for being so helpful and positive, and having everything prepared.

Very special thanks to Sycamore Class who helped with the actual interviews by preparing and asking questions, and listening so carefully to the answers. They were a credit to us and so helpful with our final decision. And, as usual, all the children were brilliant! Every child who came into contact with an adult was smiley, polite and helpful, matching the sunshine of the two days!

And so to our new Headteacher. Her name is Miss Fiona Airey and she is currently a head in a school in Kent. I know that she wants to begin to get to know the school community over the next term before she takes up her appointment in September so I am sure you will be hearing from her.

More exciting times ahead!

With very best wishes,

Claire Axten and Andy Shepherd
Co-chairs of Governors

Website posts you may have missed:

Gardening – week 12

News items and updates

Attendance at Elmhurst – w/c 26th April 2021

Whole school – 96.3%

Year 3 – 96.2%

Year 4 – 95.6%

Year 5 – 99.2%- Fantastic work, year 5!

Year 6 – 94.1%

Reading at Elmhurst

We expect all children to read at least four times a week to an adult. Congratulations to Yew and Pine class who both achieved 100% in their reading target last week. Well done! Who will join them next week?

Number day at Elmhurst

On Friday 14th May, we are taking part in Number Day, which is an annual event organised by the NSPCC. 

We will be spending the morning doing exciting maths activities across the school and everybody is asked to come to school dressed in something that has a number on. You can start thinking of creative ways to display numbers on your jumpers or even find items of clothing that already have numbers on!

In return for the non-school uniform, we would like a small donation, which will be sent to the NSPCC. I will be taking lots of pictures throughout the morning, so look at the newsletter in a few weeks’ time.

Ms Prichard

Year 4 and Dragon’s den

Congratulations to our Year 4 winners of Dragons Den 2021!

Each entrepreneur created an invention idea and videoed themselves promoting it, using a range of persuasive techniques.

The ‘Dragons’ judged their inventions as follows:

“Most creative product design and best overall idea – Felicity. We also liked the business-like pitch and realistic pricing.
Strongest presentation – Ada. We also think this idea would be the most fun to use.
Best product name – Emily. It was a confident pitch for an expensive product.
Most environmental awareness – Ella. We liked the long-term benefit for our planet.”

Well done to you all! 

WAP after half term

In line with the easing of lockdown regulations and staff availability, we will be extending the opening of the after-school provision until 5.30 pm after half term. There will be a slight cost increase – if you remember we dropped the prices to accommodate the reduced service.

The revised prices are as follows:

Part hourly session from 3- 4:30 pm £4.50
Full session 3-5:30 pm £7.50

Collection after 4.30 and before 5.30, will be charged at the full session price.

Parents are still asked to provide their own snack at this point.

Unfortunately, we are not, as yet, able to increase numbers significantly and open WAP up to everyone but we do have some limited capacity for a few more children. We are able to increase provision for years 3/4 to 15 due to the size of the room and to 10 for years 5/6. Hopefully, with the improved weather, we will be able to get the children outside as much as possible!

Please contact Abbie Laffan directly to discuss any possible bookings if needed. Bookings for after half term will be open from next Friday.

Abbie can be contacted via email: Alaffan@ejsch.co.uk or via the office phone number between 10 – 12.30 am on Monday mornings or 12.30- 3 pm on Friday afternoons.

Just a reminder: All bookings for WAP need to be made by the Friday lunchtime of the week before. With the increase in numbers, you may miss out if you don’t book in time!

School lunches after half term

From June 7th we will open up school lunches to the whole school. Unfortunately, due to the guidance currently in force in schools, we cannot increase the numbers using the school hall where hot lunches are served.

Therefore, we will continue to offer hot lunches to children receiving free school meals and will offer a packed lunch for anyone else who wishes to have a school lunch. These can then be taken to classrooms to preserve bubbles. Children who are receiving free school meals will only be able to opt for the hot meal at this point.

If you wish to order a school lunch you can do so on ParentPay and the cost will be £2.60 per meal. All bookings will open from Monday 10th May for the week beginning 7th June. You can block book for the term.

And finally...

Work from the week:

In a change to the gallery work, we will now be including examples of work in the weekly newsletter. Here are some of the things we have being doing at Elmhurst this week.