Dear Parents
As we come to the end of another school year, it will certainly be one we will all remember. Thank you for the kind good wishes and letters of appreciation we have received this week. It is very much appreciated.
The qualities we have seen in our children and staff are fittingly aligned with the Holmwood values of resilience, resourcefulness, responsibility, reasoning and reflection. An enormous amount of care, courtesy and consideration was also required to manage the online learning experience of the final term and I am thrilled to hear from parents time and time again that the programme in place for Holmwood House children surpassed anything else experienced in the local area. This reflects our approach to your children’s education under normal circumstances and the dedication and resolve of the staff have been outstanding for which I thank them enormously.
You will not be surprised, therefore, to know that I am encouraging the staff to take a proper break this summer; to step away from screens and to embark upon some real rest and recuperation. To that end, they will not be reading or responding to emails from parents and I would ask that you direct any queries you may have to office@holmwood.house which will be manned throughout the summer. I am also available on headmaster@holmwood.house and there is an emergency number you can call just in case you require urgent attention (01206 645044).
Whilst some staff will be working on the summer holiday courses, this is entirely voluntary on their part and I am hugely grateful to them for agreeing to do this. We are delighted to be opening our doors to Year 5 pupils from outside of Holmwood House for our maths and English camp over the summer. Children who do not attend Holmwood are welcome to join Mrs Gupta and Miss Larkin for 11+ or catch up sessions, which will take place the week commencing 10 August. Please do let friends and family who may be interested know. Further details can be found here.
Plans for September are beginning to be put together and I will share these with you in detail over the summer break. We envisage as ‘normal’ a school as possible in September with all pupils returning. There will likely be some broad zoning and ongoing hygiene and distancing measures will be in place to protect the pupils and staff as far as possible. We envisage that specialist teaching will be able to take place and as full a range of activities as possible is being planned. I will keep you informed.
We are all looking forward to a restful summer and look forward to seeing you all in September.
With best wishes
Alexander Mitchell
Headmaster
