Newsletter 18th February

Well! What a strange and unexpected end to the half term.
I hope that all of you have weathered the storm so to speak. I know that most of Chagford lost power and that, at the time of writing, that hasn't been put right yet. I also understand that mobile service was lost for a long time too. I have been thinking of you throughout the day and sending all the love and strength I can muster - I hope some of it got through. I spent the day hunkered down in Crediton myself where the weather never seemed to become too severe but I'm more than glad that I didn't have to drive today and that we didn't ask you to - we love our narrow, windy lanes but one or two trees falling could have wreaked havoc.
Thanks to everyone for their patience and flexibility in dealing with this unprecedented situation. 

With so much of the town being without electricity and mobile service I know that online learning was probably not possible for the majority of families. I also understand it will not have felt like the very topmost point on the days agenda! Still, it was lovely to see some of the children who did check in on Google Classroom to meet with their teachers and to have a go at the learning tasks which had been posted. Some children who couldn't get online had a go at some of the tasks we sent home on paper. This terrific poem from Lulu was one of those - I won't judge the two writing competitions until after half term so if you fancy making a half term project of either a poem inspired by the wind or a comforting letter to a younger child do feel free to. There are two twenty pound book tokens on offer.

 World Book Day - Thursday March 10th
We are being a little eccentric this year and having our own World Book Day on a different day to the 'official' one. A team from The Bookery in Crediton will be visiting the school on Thursday March 10th to share some brilliant books and help us get excited about all that lovely reading. They have handpicked a set of really great books they think that our children will really enjoy and they will be running a 'pop up shop' to let every child have the chance to buy a book. In addition to this, a very generous member of the school community has offered to buy 'one of each' so that children who are not able to bring some money to buy a book will know that the books which have been shared are available to read in school.

On that day we will have a whole day of bookish activities to enjoy - we will let you know a little more very soon bit one thing you might enjoy doing over half term is making a 'Story Jar'. Get any old jar, wash it out then pop things into it to give us clues to a favourite book or story. If you like you can make an intricate diorama or, if you prefer, it could be a collection of objects. DO use your imagination and remember, non-fiction books, poetry books, graphic novels and all manner of books are good books too and shouldn't be made to feel left out! You can see some examples from another school below - pretty sure we can do better!

A Midsummer Night's Dream
I think enough people know about this project now that I can't keep it under wraps any more.
On Midsummer Night - Friday 24th June - Chagford Primary School will be putting on its own, absolutely unique production of Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. We want every single one of our children to be in the show which will take place outdoors in the amphitheatre. As well as pupils from the school there will be a host of community members taking part to supply music, puppetry and other roles. We have contracted a professional theatre director to help us create this piece of theatre and ticket sales alone won't be enough to pay her a reasonable fee for her work so local musicians Amye Farrell & Rupert Egerton-Smith have very kindly offered to play a concert at ST Michaels to raise funds. This concert will be at the church on May 21st, do book the date in your diaries.
We are SO excited for this project - it will be the event of the season. We hope to absolutely pack the amphitheatre and to create an evening of such magic that none of us ever forgets it. After the pandemic years when projects like this weren't able to happen we want this to be a big, glorious, healing celebration of love, nature and our community.

Have a wonderful half term break everyone - I hope the electricity is back on very soon. Do let me know if there is anything I can do to help - I mean that most sincerely. 

​Ed