Dear Chagford Families,
 
Staffing news
Mrs Robertson has slipped a disc in her neck! I know you will join me in wishing her a very speedy recovery. We hope to see her soon, but not before she is well enough.
Today we say farewell to Miss Fell, our fabulous student teacher who has been working in Hawthorn Class for the last four months. She has been a valuable hard working member of our team and we will miss her. We wish her all the very best in her carer ahead.  
We look forward to welcoming Mrs Lawson, our new office administrator on Monday. Please give her a cheery Chagford welcome! Miss Bryant and I will be in the office supporting her as she gets to know us and our systems.
 
A message for video makers in our community
Calling people with filming, sound and video editing skills. Lisa Rowe has a great idea for a collaborative covid compliant project. If you are able to lend a sanitised hand, we would really appreciate it. For more details, please contact Lisa at [email protected]
 
 Plastic Free Thursday
We are all aware of the damage single use plastic is causing to our environment. At Chagford CE School we would like to become a fully plastic free school. We appreciate this is a massive change to the way we live our lives so want to take small proactive steps.
To start, we ask you to support a Plastic Free Thursday. On these days, we encourage families who bring in packed lunch and break time snacks to consider foods which are not pre-packaged. I appreciate this is something many of our families already do every day, but we would like to encourage all to try this. This would mean exchanging crisps, bars and yoghurts for homemade food, fruit and veg in reusable containers, such as Tupperware.
We will start with Thursdays, but we intend to increase this as we get used to this way of shopping and preparing food.
Car park reminder
Please can I remind all parents that the carpark is for staff, and for parents dropping off and collecting children with specific needs. There have been a number of times when some of our children have not been able to make a smooth start to the day due to congestion.  If you are unable to walk to school or use the bus service, and need to use a car, please do not use the school car park.  I’m sorry to nag, but this has been a very uncomfortable issue.
 
Red Nose Day
Happy Red Nose Day all! Today in school, children have been learning about the work Comic Relief do in the UK and in Africa.  They have also been telling lots of jokes!
My favourite so far is from Emily Bibbins:
Knock, Knock.
Who’s there?
Repeat.
Repeat who?
Who. Who. Who. Who. Who.
 
We decided not to collect money in school this time, but if you wish to donate, or find out more about Comic Relief and the work they do, please see https://donation.comicrelief.com
There will be Red Nose Day entertainment on BBC1 from 7pm this evening.
 
With very best wishes,
 
Tara Penny
  
Head of School

Dear Chagford Families,
 
It has been so lovely to have the children back in school. We really have missed them!
We will continue our strong focus on positive mental health, friendships and inclusion over the following days and weeks to help everyone readjust to the formalities and social need of being part of school and class communities.  
I am delighted to announce that we have recruited an office administrator! As you know, we have not had someone in post since Philippa Jackson left in December.
Her name is Elaine Lawson and she really impressed us all in her interview. She has experience working in a school setting and brings a wealth of other skills too. She has a great bubbly personality which shone through, even when having an interview on line!
She met many of the staff on Thursday when she came in with her paperwork. We are hoping she will be able to start Monday 22nd March.
I am so incredibly grateful to Debbie Bryant who has stepped in and supported us while doing her own job too.
It was great to see the children and staff join in the fun of dressing up in onesies, fancy dress and book themed costumes today. I quite enjoyed wearing my bee onesie, but felt I had to wear my proper clothes when I meet up with colleagues on a Team meeting this afternoon!
Do have a look at the class blogs to see what your children have been up to this week.
Happy Mother’s day to all of the women who play a nurturing roles in the Chagford Children’s lives. You are very much appreciated.
With very best wishes,
 
Tara Penny
Head of School