Dear ALS Community,
We are now hitting around the mid-way mark of our first half-term in the ‘new normal’. Whilst we continue to keep measures and protocols high to lower risk from Covid-19, it’s pretty clear that the children have found the return to school to be one where they feel happy, safe and confident. For new joiners to the school, I hope their introduction to life at Arnold Lodge has been wonderful.
Today, I have had the privilege of interviewing seven of our Senior Prefects for the role of Head Prefect. I planned on making a decision today but the reality is that I can’t and have had to delay until Monday so I have time to think it through. The calibre of applicants was outstanding and listening to young people speak about their ambitions for the future, their passion for Arnold Lodge and how proud they are of their school left me feeling quite emotional. There was a running theme from the interviews today of children wanting to be Head Prefect not for the glory or title but for the opportunity to give back to a school that, in their view, has given them so much and for a chance to be a role model for younger children.
To the magnificent seven that interviewed today, regardless of who is appointed on Monday, your school is deeply proud of you. Well done.
This week, our mantra comes from Dedicas: Be ready to put in the work that isn’t seen. This is a simple but effective mantra for us to consider as a school community.
To succeed you have to put in the graft at times when it doesn’t seem like you’ll be rewarded for it but it’s this effort - extra study when there isn’t a test, an extra training session for your sport on your own - that makes all the difference. The most successful people put in the work. It’s as simple as that.
Please see attached an NHS letter regarding testing. In addition, I would encourage all adults within the ALS Community to download and use the new Track and Trace app. A guide introducing the new app can be found here. The more we can do as a community to keep each other safe from Coronavirus, the better. In addition to this, I would encourage any parents who would feel safer wearing a mask on pick up and drop off to do so. For pupils, masks are still not compulsory (other than for bus journeys) but I would encourage pupils to wear a mask in Senior for lesson changeover should they wish to.
I’d like to make a controversial suggestion to the school community (and one I absolutely cannot enforce!). For October half-term, I would like to encourage as many as possible within the ALS community to use the time for a ‘circuit break’. I know this has been suggested elsewhere but we can’t control what will happen from Government and I want us to consider whether we can take action as a collective. I understand you’ll have commitments and plenty going on but, if we as a whole community can be conscious of our interactions and where we go, we will limit the chance of Covid-19 coming to the school after the half-term. I know this won’t work for everyone and I won’t press the issue but if we can all make the effort to be conscious, we can support the children’s learning for the second half-term.
In the Senior, we have some happy/sad news as Miss Bridges will be relocating to Ireland. For those who know Miss Bridges, you’ll know that it was always her plan to work in England for a few years before heading home to where her family and heart really rests.
Having been with ALS for some time now, Miss Bridges has worked hard for ALS and in the best interests for the pupils. As she’s given so much to the school, I couldn’t, in good conscience, stand in the way of Miss Bridges heading home. I know you will join me in wishing the very best for Miss Bridges for the future. We have been able to secure Mr John Vincent to replace Miss Bridges for after October half-term though Mr Vincent will be in school from Monday for a two week handover. Mr Vincent is a qualified English teacher with a 1st class degree in English and I know he will be an asset to our English team.
Best wishes,
David Preston
Headteacher
