Making memories

It's with relief that the last few weeks have started to feel like the 'good old days'.

We've started to see the return of more clubs and activities, trips and visitors.

We've seen Morris dancing, Movema dancing, coding club, choir all start up this half term to add to the keyboard and brass clubs. We've all shared in the excitement with Y2 as they've watched the egg filled incubator with anticipation and greeted hatchlings into the world. Nursery are soon heading off to the farm; the theatre for Reception class; Y1 to Manchester and whilst Y3 have been to Liverpool and Y2 have been to the World of Glass - all complementing their curriculum offer. We've welcomed into school Levi Tafari to share his poetry and inspire our children in workshops and Linzi Prescott to share with us the story of the sporting icon Steve Prescott and the legacy he's left for St Helens.

It was a great step forward for us to hold an event at school with all of the juniors mixing freely together. It was well worth the wait. World Book Day combined with our usual Harry Potter Book Night became a World Book Night! The children enjoyed a show from Gauntlet Birds, being introduced to some real life creatures from Harry Potter books; a bug experience with Dylan's reptiles - for close encounters with spiders, bull frogs, snakes and tortoises from Charlotte's Web; Harry Potter and the Creepy Crawly Calypso. The children made flower garlands in A Midsummer Night's experience; kites and parachutes to go flying with the Fantastic Flying books of Morris Lessmore; potions like The Worst Witch and explored what it was like to put their 'Finger in the Jelly, Nelly' in a sensory experience. Certainly popular was our Quidditch experience and a chance to search the school for book related clues - solve the quiz to win a prize. No one missed a visit to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory's chocolate fountain or sweet emporium!

We were pleased to offer parent support classes through our links with the ADHD foundation and also additional classes with Mrs Myatt focused specifically on helping with anxiety. This week we have started some of our Parents' Evenings. We were delighted to welcome parents back on site and share with them the work the children have been doing this year. Our Y6 children acted as marshals for the event and were superb at ensuring the evening ran smoothly. Garswood has always been a school that has worked closely with families and COVID has posed so many challenges that we are glad to be coming through.

We know COVID is still very active in the community and we are still navigating through staff and pupil absences. However, the freedom to open our doors once again, gives hope for a positive future filled with opportunities to make memories.

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