And just like that, we are midway through the Hilary Term, and, rather alarmingly, halfway through the school year. The month of February signals that we have reached a significant milestone in the academic calendar and this is the ideal moment in time for us all to pause and take stock.
It’s a chance to reflect not only upon all that we have achieved so far but to appreciate the challenges we have faced and overcome. This half-term break is also an excellent opportunity to consider what comes next and to set some goals for the remainder of the year.
Thank you to everyone who took part in November’s Parent Pastoral Surveys for School and Nursery. Feedback in any form is an extremely valuable resource and we are equally keen to know what we do well and to reflect upon what we could do better moving forward.
In the Prep School, the following strengths were highlighted:
- Responsiveness to pupils’ views and feedback
- Focus on developing children’s friendship skills and positive relationships
- Improved effectiveness in communicating school priorities
Areas that could be improved:
- Provision of extra curricular activities
- Continued improvements to parent communication
In Nursery, the following strengths were highlighted:
- The staff team
- Pastoral care and safeguarding
- Children’s enjoyment of learning
- Day-to-day communication with parents
Areas that could be improved:
- Sharing of information around future developments
- Enhanced communication with new parents
- Continued improvements to site security
The Edenhurst Growth Mindset is something that is instilled into our pupils from an early age. Whether in or out of the classroom, at home or away, they are actively encouraged to adopt and embrace six fundamental traits: open mindedness, resilience, perseverance, risk-taking, courage and curiosity. Our extra curricular programme is specifically designed to inspire pupils to have a go and try something new. After all, what’s the worst that can happen? This half-term, pupils have taken part in a vast array of clubs and activities including chess, dance, drama, football, African drumming, Judo, skiing, Lego, origami, coding (run by our Prep 6 I.T. Champion), meditation, Sudoku and the exceedingly popular nursery experience.
Without a doubt, the strong sense of community and belonging is what makes Edenhurst such a unique and special place. We actively encourage people to come and visit us and recently welcomed members of the Port Vale F.C. Foundation Valiant Dance Crew, a representative from Stoke City F.C., Mrs Helen Wilkinson, Headmistress at Abbotsholme School and Sam Holgate from Dougie Mac who kindly came to talk to us during our weekly whole school assemblies.
Fortified by hot drinks and a selection of home baked goodies, friends and family braved the cold weather to come and support the Inter-House sport event. Alongside the more traditional sports of netball and football, the occasion featured several games of rather competitive tchoukball. Cheered on by the spectators, Bridgewater, Moorcroft and Wedgwood fought valiantly against each other, with Bridgewater eventually being crowned the overall winner.
We were also delighted to invite parents into school to dine with us. The Friday Lunch Club joined us to celebrate Chinese New Year and our Prep 6 parents were treated to a delicious breakfast, prepared by their children, to mark the launch of the EPIC CLASS 2024 Award. The Award, which is unique to Edenhurst, encompasses activities related to Enterprise, Physical, Ingenuity, Community, CREST (the British Science Association’s scheme for STEM project work), Life Skills, Adventure and Skills for Success. The associated tasks provide our pupils with some ‘real life’ experiences which result in them developing skills that will benefit their futures and to achieve recognition for their efforts.
Likewise, Edenhurst pupils have been out and about in the wider community. In sport, they have taken part in the U11 Indoor Athletics at Newcastle Community High School, the U11 Football Utilita Cup 2024 and the School Games Football League. Pupils collaborated in a Music Day at Denstone College, entered the Maths Challenge at Cheltenham College and immersed themselves in hands-on learning about all things Egyptian at the Silk Museum in Macclesfield.
Upon reflection, we have managed to cram a plethora of meaningful and memorable experiences into five, short weeks….and I haven’t even touched upon the launch of the tuck shop, Prep auditions for the summer show, practising for the Spring Concert, the Form 1 and 2 play rehearsals, the pancake race OR the school disco!
With this in mind, I wish the Edenhurst community a happy, safe and well-deserved half-term break. I am already looking forward to welcoming everyone back to school on Monday 19th February. I really cannot wait to see what the next five weeks have in store for us!
Mrs Emma Mousley
Categories: School Blogs
