March 24th 2020
What a week we’ve all had. I am not sure even the script writers of the new James Bond film could have come up with the current global storyline. Clearly, many are or will be in a desperate situation with some extremely worrying times ahead. However, I wanted to use this weekly opportunity to reflect on a few positives.
I held a whole school staff meeting yesterday and I would like parents to know of the heartfelt thanks that I and the Governors have offered to all of the staff at Moulsford. The whole team has pulled together in a quite remarkable way. Domestic, Grounds, Medical, Administrative, Boarding and Academic staff have all been exceptional in their can-do attitude to ensuring that we have offered your boys the best possible week in extraordinary circumstances. This includes all the planning and pulling together of resources that have been necessary to ensure we continue providing an outstanding ‘remote’ education for your sons, both next week and for as long as it takes in the Summer term.
Thank you too to parents for all the many encouraging messages we have received. In so many ways, the challenges presented by this crisis are only just beginning, and we take great comfort and courage from knowing that we have your support.
We feel so fortunate to have such a strong school community. We know that our strength will allow us to broaden our support to the wider community and we thank all those who have volunteered, both staff and parents, for the local effort including through the Easter break. As numbers of key worker children requiring support become clearer, we will respond to those offers. We are also considering many other ways in which we hope to be able to help the local community, and support the overall national effort to beat this awful virus.
I extend special appreciation to my Deputy Heads, Tiffany Squire and Jim Hamilton-Smith, who have been outstanding throughout this deepening crisis. Tiffany has calmly and enthusiastically embraced all the challenges that remote learning present. An enormous thank you also to Angela Heslop, the School’s Matron, who must have had the busiest fortnight of her life and has been such a reassuring presence for boys, staff and parents.
Next week will be a real test of the online operations, and we do ask for everyone’s patience while we resolve inevitable teething problems that will undoubtedly accompany Home Learning. We will be asking for boys’ and parents’ feedback at the end of the week, and encourage you to respond fully and honestly, so that we can build positively on our offer for the Summer term.
I wish everyone well for what lies ahead.
