Cefn Lea
What a brilliant Sports Afternoon we all had on Tuesday. Well done to all the children for all trying their best – whether they came first, in the middle or last they all embodied the spirit of this week’s assembly message which was:
“Victory is having done your best. If you have done your best you’ve won” (Billy Bowerman).
Thank you too for coming to support them in such huge numbers! My thanks to Miss Robertshaw and Mrs Schnacke for all their hard work organising it – they even timed it superbly to finish just before the rain started!
I hope those of you that were able to come on Wednesday enjoyed meeting, alongside Miss Dodd, the new Executive Headteacher, Mrs Pether.
As I am sure you can imagine, as our new Head of School from September, Miss Dodd has been very busy indeed over these past few weeks working with myself, Mrs Pether and other members of the Trust to make sure both she and the school are ready to hit the ground running in September.
An absolutely vital piece of the many cogs that have had to revolve to ensure this could take place has been Mrs Waring and I would like to thank her for all her hard work over the past few weeks.
You may have noticed that recently on a number of occasions (more than you would usually expect) Mrs Waring has been taking Acorn Class – and this is due to the extra work Miss Dodd has had to do in preparation for her new role.
It is so reassuring as a senior leader to have that talent amongst the staff. Mrs Waring has over 20 years of experience in working with children at our school – and beyond that she (as does Mrs Schnacke) also holds the HLTA (“Higher Level Teaching Assistant”) qualification and role in school -which amount to the same responsibilities and skills that a cover supervisor would have in a High School.
On days when she has not been able to be with her class, Miss Dodd has continued to set the day’s work which is then delivered expertly by Mrs Waring – with the proviso that of course if, through her expertise, she feels the children need something extra or different for that particular moment she has the talents to be flexible – a vital tool for any teacher!
Mrs Waring would read “Heptonstall” right through her if she were to be cut in half – and her hard work, dedication and commitment to your children over these past few weeks have only gone to prove that even more.
I am sure you are, like me, very grateful.
It is a great feeling to know that when I leave this school in a few weeks I am leaving such wonderful staff to continue the ethos of the school.
Next week our Oak Class go on their residential visit to Wales accompanied by myself and Miss Robertshaw.
They have a jam packed week. So you can think of us, here are the brief highlights:
MONDAY – Shropshire Falconry
TUESDAY – Centre for Alternative Technology/King Arthurs Labyrinth/Archery
WEDNESSDAY – Borth Butterfly Centre/ Borth Beach/Hill climb
THURSDAY – Red Ridge Outdoor Centre all day doing zip-wire, climbing. artificial caving and kayaking followed by swimming in the evening
FRIDAY – Fish and chip lunch in Welshpool on the way home!
It is a trip I have been involved with, in the two schools I have been Head at, for 25 years. I can’t wait to take this brilliant group of 10 children on what will also be my last ever visit.
Please note that the Centre we stay at is “Middle of Nowhere, Wales”. Therefore neither I nor Miss Robertshaw will have easy access to Dojo or emails next week. If you need to contact school about any issue next week then please Dojo Miss Dodd or email her on:
Megan.Dodd@heptonstallschool.co.uk
There also won’t be a weekly Friday Dojo next Friday from me!
The children in school are also going to have fun next week as on Tuesday some artists from this year’s Happy Valley Parade are coming into school to work with the children on an art project.
A reminder too that Moana tickets go on sale to all classes from Monday.
I hope you all have a lovely weekend. Fingers crossed for good weather both this weekend – and for all of next week.