Newsletter 26th March 2021

Dear Chagford Families,
 
As you are all aware from the communications this week, Ed Finch will be joining Chagford C of E Primary as the new Principal after Easter.  I will be going to North Tawton to take up the role of Principal there.
I am very sad to leave. I have really enjoyed my time here despite the obvious challenges of covid and the relatively short time I have had to really get stuck in to the rhythms and traditions of the school. However, I am not going far and am still a leader in the Three Hares.  I will save my final words for next week!

I am confident in passing on the baton to Mr Finch.  He has been in school this week to meet pupils and staff and has been at the front of the school in the mornings welcoming the pupils and taking the chance to meet parents and carers. He said, “I’ve been really moved by the welcome I’ve been given by the school community. There has been real kindness and generosity in the way I’ve been treated by all the people I’ve met at Chagford Primary – I am very grateful.” He also met parents and governors on Teams on Wednesday evening.
Mr Finch is passionate about storytelling, music, performance and outdoor education. He has worked in Ethiopia, Poland and lots of other places but recently has taught for many years in East Oxford. He says, “moving to Devon was a big, big decision for me and my son Douglas. He’s starting to settle in and find his feet at Okehampton College. We moved here in January, just in time for lockdown, so we’ve been taking the chance to get to know the moor and to walk and swim. We are so lucky to be living in such a beautiful place and we look forward to becoming a real part of the community”. 
Mr Finch will continue his role as Trust Champion alongside the role of Principal. He says, “The role of Principal will come first, front and centre. My trust champion role – organising events, creating networks and working on curriculum – will benefit every child and young person in the Trust but I intend to put my heart and soul into Chagford Primary. My priority will be to listen the staff, the pupils and the community around the school and, as restrictions allow, to start opening up opportunities to get the community back into the school and the school back into the community.” 
I will be continuing to work with Mr Finch over the weeks and months ahead to support him in this new role. We will also be working together with Mrs Marvin, the Principal of South Tawton, as a Three Hares Team.
 
Trust Leadership
As we said in the parent meeting on Wednesday evening, the Trust leaders have been working hard over the past term defining our ethos, vision and values. We have put together a short video so you get a feel for the direction we are heading in. More details will be shared as we settle in to our new roles after Easter.
Please don’t judge the lockdown hair!  Trust Video
 
Staffing news
This week we have welcomed Mrs Palmer each day. She has been working in our kitchen on Fridays and now is also supervising lunch playtime Monday to Thursday with Mrs Hutchings.
Mrs Robertson came back to work yesterday, but clearly over exerted  herself and is at home today in pain. She needs to be fully well for driving and teaching so we hope to see her on Monday, but not unless she is ready.
 
 Plastic Free Thursday
Thank you for supporting our first Plastic Free Thursday. This is something we will all get used to and better at with some time (I was spotted eating crisps at break time yesterday!)
We have had a fantastic team of self-volunteered Eco Warriors collecting plastic rubbish at break times and filling buckets. It’s impressive and sad how much they have picked up this week.
 
Kindness
I am really impressed by how much the children have embraced our kindness theme this term. Classes have been focussed on planning, recognising and celebrating random act of kindness. Next week we look to the story of Easter to think more deeply about selflessness.
 
I hope the weather is good this weekend and we can all get out and enjoy the spring sunshine.
 
With very best wishes,
Tara Penny
Head of School