Dear <<Salutation>>

I hope you are all well. Firstly, many thanks indeed for your continued support for our boys Remote Learning, and thank you to those who have filled out the parent survey so far. We really appreciate the very positive comments, and the suggestions for areas to improve. We have had just over 240 responses to date, and would value even more. If you haven’t already responded there is still time to do so over the weekend (see the link below). I will feed back on this properly (with any resultant changes in our provision) next week.

Secondly, further to the Prime Minister’s announcement on Sunday, the Government have since published advice and guidance on the wider reopening of schools, beginning on 1st June (and updated this yesterday). You may know that we are already open to key workers’ children and already have a small contingent each day. However, the Government has asked Schools to prepare for wider opening of Schools, if the conditions are right, starting with Reception, Year 1 and Year 6, as well as a “face to face support” for Y10 and Y12. Their aim is for all children to go back to school as soon as scientific advice allows, but with all primary age by the end of the Summer Term. For us, then, that means that we are preparing for the eventuality that Y6 come back to school on 1st June, followed by Y3-5 a few weeks later. 

This is so children get back to education and wider society can go back to work. Preparations for this are understandably complex, as many of you will know from your own workplaces, and we are trying to consider every angle; everything we do will pay heed to the joint issues of social distancing and hygiene. 
 
As the Head Master says (in the attached letter) we have gathered advice from a wide network, not only the Harpur Trust, but also IAPS (Independent Association of Prep Schools), HMC (Headmasters’ Conference), BSA (Boarding Schools Association) and overseas via our links with Danish and Finnish Schools (including one Head who has been recently interviewed by ITV). Primary School children have been back at school for the last five weeks in Denmark, and the Finns go back this week.

We will continue to plan over the weekend, and all of next week, and will communicate further when we are further along with this process.

You will see also, in Mr Hodgson’s letter, a notice about trips. This will affect the Y4 Grafham Water trip, the Y8 Bushcraft trip, and the Morzine trip in July which are all cancelled. We are really sorry about this as we know that the boys were looking forward to these trips. However, such is the time we are in. Your trip leader will be in contact in due course about full refunds.

Finally, thank you for sending in your sons’ Challenge 100 videos, pictures and ideas. Absolutely inspiring!

I hope you enjoy the weekend.
 

Thank you to all those parents who have already completed the survey sent on Monday. For any parents who have not yet returned the survey and who would like to do so, the form can be accessed here. We would value as many responses as possible. 
 
PE and Games Lessons - boys must record their activity
We would be really grateful if you could remind your sons that when they have completed their PE and Games lessons they need to record their activity by submitting it on Google Classroom. They should upload a picture or video (or at least comment on the exercises and their ability to do them).  If this has not not yet been done please start now; there is no need to back date and this must be done at least once a week. Thank you to those boys who already do so! 
 
Bedford School Weekly Music Competition and Concert every Sunday at 5.00pm
All boys are invited to enter the weekly music competition by uploading a video of themselves playing a piece on their instrument to this google drive folder or by email to Mr Groom, agroom@bedfordschool.org.uk). Please be aware that to access the google drive folder your son must be signed in to his account. In case of difficulty sending the video, please get in touch with Mr Groom directly.

Every entry receives a merit and the winners go into the weekly concert which is broadcast live on the Bedford School Facebook Page every Sunday at 5.00pm. Please tune in to support our fantastic and talented boys! 

The link to the concerts is also being sent to 26 local care homes to enable residents and staff to listen. Boys from the Prep and Upper School were visiting some of these care homes before lockdown. here is a link for donations to the local elderly befriending charity Friends for Life, who are actively involved in our local care homes. Donations are very welcome as charities have lost huge potential for fundraising at this time. 
 
(Please note, you do not need a Facebook account to be able to view the video. It will ask you to sign in but if you click ‘not now’ you can continue viewing.)
 
House Competition
We are delighted to announce a new opportunity for boys to get involved in competing for their House. Boys are invited to enter the House ‘Funny Photo’ Competition.

The photos should be taken by the boys themselves and their best one should be submitted to their Housemaster by email. (Feel free to add a caption to increase comedic value.) The photos will be judged independently, the winner(s) will be announced and there will be an overall House Competition winner. If we receive sufficient entries we may run separate year group competitions as well. The House with the most entrants will also be rewarded with additional House points. House points won will all contribute to this year’s main House Competition.

Closing date is to be announced (but will be after the half term break).
  
Bedtime Stories
The Chaplain has been gathering bedtime stories read by members of staff; the first of these are read by Mr Silk, The Boy who Fell Out of the Sky, and Mr Loader, The Church Mice and the Ring. We hope you enjoy sharing them.

Thought for the Day
To access the Thoughts for the Day for the week gone by, including one by our own Head Boy, please click here.