Junior School Campuses' Smooth (and Sporty!) Full Reopening

The British School in The Netherlands (BSN) junior school students have had two weeks of being back on campus altogether. The safe and positive environment has been made possible through the care, creativity, and collaboration of school leaders, teachers, support staff, and parents.  

Smooth learning transition: in-classroom, remote and back again

Our headteachers attribute the continuous flow of learning - no matter whether it took place remotely, in the classroom, or as a combination of the two - to the close collaboration and communication between teachers and parents. The time spent on careful planning for the return paid off in the smooth transition to the final stage of the summer term’s curriculum. 

Sue Aspinall, Headteacher Junior School Vlaskamp (JSV),

It is evident that our students have benefited from the time they have spent learning with their parents and guardians at home. We thank all our parents and guardians again for all the effort and time they have put into supporting the Remote Learning programme.

Remote Learning led to many new experiences for Junior School Vlaskamp (JSV) Foundation Stage 1 and 2 students (and their families!).

'New normal',  same smiles 

Even with the strangeness of strict rules controlling the hygiene and movement of adults, the campuses are happy and welcoming places to be, with students and staff both relishing each other’s uninterrupted company.

Chris Wathern, Headteacher Junior School Diamanthorst (JSD),

Going around the classrooms and outdoor learning areas, it is such a pleasure to see our students and staff settle so quickly after so many months of not seeing each other. I can’t express just how joyous it is seeing everyone again.

Junior School Diamanthorst (JSD) Year 6 students are so happy to be rehearsing their year-end production, High School Musical, all together.

Sports Week: always better together

Thanks to the agility and creativity of our staff, students and staff at Junior School Leidschenveen have been able to participate in a cross-campus Sports Week that was arranged and put to action only one week after the campus fully re-opening. An amazing feat that encapsulates the joy of being back together in-person! Even though parents and families cannot participate as they usually would, they are still joining in the energy of Sports Week with the creative use of activity tracking apps.

Karren van Zoest, Headteacher Junior School Leidschenveen (JSL),

It has been a joy to see all our students back together and embracing Sports Week with so much enthusiasm and obvious enjoyment. With some creativity and positive thinking we have still been able to capture the community spirit of Sports Day, with parents and staff all joining in to challenge each other in an interactive competition tracked on Strava. Ingenious and inclusive!

Junior School Leidschenveen foundation stage students enjoyed being back together with all their classmates during ‘Sports Week’

What will the 2020/21 school year look like?

The Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced on Wednesday night (24 June 2020) that the RIVM (Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment) has advised that primary and secondary schools may fully re-open after the summer holiday.

The BSN Headteachers will work together to ensure there is a smooth and safe return to school at the beginning of the new academic year. Details of how this will be carried out will be communicated with parents in the next weeks and kept under review throughout the summer holidays. As always, the health and safety of our students, staff and parents will remain the priority as we carefully return to normal schooling and full operation