Friday 24th January 2025
Dear Families,
Thank you all for your continued support and enthusiasm this week—it’s always a joy to see the energy and positivity within our school community. I must begin by apologising for my lack of presence at the school gates this week. It has been an exceptionally busy few days, but I will be back next week to greet you, chat about all things Chilton, or simply say hello.
You may have noticed that Chilton has undergone something of a facelift this week. If you enter via the main gate, you will have seen the construction of a brand-new Trim Trail in the KS1 playground. Although it isn’t quite complete as I write this, I know the children are eagerly anticipating its grand opening, having watched its progress with excitement.
I cannot hide my passion for play, adventure, and ensuring our children are happy. This Trim Trail will play a key role in our new Thrive Play offer. Starting next week, children will be able to "free-flow" from Year 6 to Year 1 during their playtimes, giving almost every child access to this fantastic equipment. Alongside the Trim Trail, they’ll continue enjoy Forest School, tennis courts, drawing, Lego, small world play, hula hoops, table tennis, cornhole, basketball, den building, and mud kitchens.
I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: I want our children to wake up in the morning excited to come to school—not just for their learning, but for the joy, adventure, and opportunities we provide every day. And rest assured, there are even more exciting plans in the pipeline... watch this space!
Speaking of facelifts, there are more improvements we’d love to make to our school environment. Since Christmas, one of our parents has kindly offered their time to help us with painting and tidying parts of the school grounds. This thoughtful gesture has sparked an idea: how many of you might also be willing to contribute to a Chilton Community Project?
As the days get longer and the weather (hopefully) improves, we would love to form a team of volunteers to help paint fences and tidy up a few areas, ensuring they look their best for your children. If you’re interested in joining this effort, please let me know. Once I have an idea of numbers, I’ll organise a community opportunity for us to come together and make a real difference to our school.
Finally, I’d like to say thank you once again for a wonderful week. Your support and engagement mean the world to us, and we can’t wait to see you all next week.
Wishing you a restful weekend,
Mr McAuley