Thank You !

As we come to the end of school in 2020, I thought it would be appropriate to pass on my thanks for all the help and support the school has received throughout such a difficult year.

The Staff – Teaching & Non-Teaching

Firstly to the staff…they have been amazing.  I have been so proud of each and every one of them.  Keeping the school open for the children of Key Workers during the Lockdown, and working so hard to help the children catch up in the months since the Summer.  I’m sure you’ve noticed that staff absence has been VERY low as always.  This has also ensured that the class bubbles have not had strings of outside teachers coming in…with the increased Covid risks that brings.

What you mightn’t know is that on the very few occasions that teachers have been off…it has been virtually impossible…and in some cases, completely impossible to get substitute teachers to cover classes.  In other words...thanks to the staff’s resilience, we haven’t had to send whole classes home because we couldn’t get staff to cover absences…which at times was a real possibility!

The classroom assistants, lunchtime supervisors and cleaners too, have all gone above and beyond to help keep the school clean and functioning so well.

I know it’s rarely a good idea to single out staff members for thanks…but I am sure no one will mind me particularly mentioning Mrs Irvine and Trevor.

When Mrs Rock retired, the vital role of Secretary needed to be filled immediately, and Mrs Irvine stepped in and has been in the office since March until now, with hardly a day off, even during the summer, to keep the admin of the school running smoothly.

 And Trevor !  It’s not too hard to write the procedures to keep the school Covid Secure, BUT it’s a very different matter to put them into practice.   It’s been Trevor’s job to do what he always does, but also to make the one-way system a reality, spray hands, constantly fill water jugs, clean the church hall, regularly ‘fog’ the toilets and staffroom, as well as putting up trees and being our sound engineer for all the class singing.  No wonder he lost his Christmas List, that the PTA and children had to help him find!

Parents

I want to thank the parents too !  School has been a very different place this year, and I want to thank you for your patience and understanding.

We obviously haven’t been able to have our usual ‘Open Door’ for the last 9 months. Procedures have been very tight and I readily accept that we…and I, haven’t always got things right!

But as Covid has stalked and circled the school, creeping ever closer, it has been the parents informing us immediately of cases, that’s helped us keep it out…so far!

From the feedback I’ve received, it’s clear that our parents know that we are trying our best to keep the children safe, and have shown great tolerance throughout…and I thank you for that !

Children

Finally, I wanted to thank the children.  Their fortitude has been a credit to both them and their families.  Their smiles and enthusiasm have kept us going through this tough year, and I have been so proud of them through this most uncertain of times in their young lives !

In many ways I am looking forward to closing the door on 2020 and looking forward to a more hopeful and safe 2021…but I’ll never forget how true adversity has brought the whole school family of the Central closer than ever before…

Thank You !