The Week Ahead 3 September 2021

Dear parents

Time rarely stands still in schools and this week has been no exception. As I go into my eighth year with the school, I cannot remember a busier, more purposeful start to a new year. The classrooms, outdoor areas and corridors have been buzzing with young people and their teachers, working in partnership for a first-class education. I can sense this atmosphere during prep and ASA times, with pupils already at home in the new library space and our Nest learning zones. I have even noticed it in my own class, a year 7 group tackling history as a discrete subject for the first time with the sort of exuberance that only 11-year-olds seem capable of.

Time is precious in schools. Idiomatic English encourages us never to let the grass grow under our feet by being proactive and taking action. Education is a precious resource, and each day in school is an opportunity for children to grow in their thinking, develop their social and interpersonal skills, and experience new ideas about the world around them. These school days, all too fleeting in the context of a full lifetime, are there to be lived to the full and good schools recognise the importance of high levels of pupil engagement from day one of the year.

Our children have been with us for a week and a half and we have welcomed many new students across our Early Years setting. For many, it is the first time they have spent time away from family and they are now learning to build relationships with new children and adults. Already many of the children wave to their family at the school gate and walk into school with the support of a staff member. For some, it is a little harder to wave goodbye. We know that every child is a unique individual. They all develop at their own pace and gain confidence and independence when they are ready. What I have seen is a group of children who love music and songs, who like to share books with the staff team, who are enjoying outdoor learning and messy play opportunities. Any tears quickly stop as they begin to explore the learning opportunities with the support of our skilled staff.

For all the parents who have found it difficult to say goodbye in the morning, or don't know why their child is crying whilst others are not, or even if you are one of those parents who have cried at the school gate, I just want to tell you it will all be okay. Your children are so special to us, and we know that you make a difficult decision when you trust us with your most precious thing. Trust us as educators and carers to always do what is right for your child. Keep communicating with us and together we will develop exceptional children who are independent and creative learners.

For all the children who have returned to a new year group, we welcome you back to our fantastic new learning environment inside and outside. You all have such a great learning space to explore and learn from. The Reggio Emilia approach to teaching and learning explains how a learning environment that is welcoming, aesthetically pleasing, culturally representative, embraces nature and is filled with purposeful materials is an environment that allows children to thrive. We believe we have achieved this in the Nest. We thought very carefully about the value of our indoor and outdoor learning spaces and how we wanted them to enhance and develop learning for all our children. The children are showing us every day how they can be independent when they access the outdoor spaces, how they can lead and innovate their learning and how they have embraced all opportunities to learn in ways indoor spaces simply cannot offer.

Once we are able to welcome you into the Nest to explore the facilities and show you how your children access the learning opportunities, I am certain you will be as excited as the staff team are.

Thank you for providing spare clothes and boots so the children are well equipped and have no need to worry if they get damp or messy - they can change and be ready to get on with their learning!

The Nest staff team thanks you for your ongoing support and look forward to being able to show you around very soon.

Positive Community Week
Theme: Identity and Tolerance

At Wellington College International Tianjin, we encourage and promote pupil leadership. One of the first initiatives each year is the Student Council-led Positive Community Week. It is a critical week because it lays the foundation for the rest of the academic year. It empowers our student leaders in designing and implementing a whole-school project that stretches from the youngest to the oldest pupil. This year's theme is 'identity and tolerance'. The Student Council committees for Values, Events, and Junior School Liaison have arranged daily activities and an assembly presentation. They will promote collaboration, inclusivity and fun while also exploring the deeper issues and debates around identity and tolerance that are so crucial to understand and nurture as we strive for global citizenship in our ever-changing world.

Be sure to check in with your sons and daughters next week and explore their feelings and attitudes towards identity and tolerance.