I cannot quite believe that we have reached the end of this academic year. It has been a year like no other; it has been 18 months, like no other. None of us know what lies ahead, all I do know is that each one of us will continue to ‘react’ however we each choose to do so.
I would like to thank all our wonderful children. They have all coped with the changes of this year with real resilience. I know it has not been easy. I know that some of our children have found the rollercoaster of this year more challenging than others. I know that for some this time will leave more lasting scars than others. Each one of our children has managed as well as they can and that, is good enough.
A special well done to our Year 6 children who have sadly missed their final week with us due to needing to isolate. They have not let this get them down, they have worked all week, remotely making videos etc. all in preparation for their Leavers’ Assembly- it was beautiful and emotional and funny- so many smiles were created just watching. Thank you, Year 6 and good luck, to each one of you!
Thank you to you, our parents. You have supported our school during its most difficult days. Again, I know that this has not been easy, and for some families the toll of this period of time has had significant effects. Every family supported their child/children as far as they could. Remote learning was something we didn’t think we would have to return to this year and then we did. Thank you for helping your child/children to access this provision. I know that this time in particular, was challenging for many, as you juggled work, or managed on furlough, or had to entrust your children to us while you remained out at work throughout this time. Your feedback was so valuable after this time; so many positives, thank you. It was wonderful to welcome everyone back and although things remain restricted at present, we have found different ways to try and stay connected to you; School Cloud and Google Classroom- who’d have thought, 2 years ago?
Thank you to the PTA. You have been incredible this year. I want to say a special thank you to Jane Trollope. Jane, you are a force of nature. You ooze positivity and energy, and I am not sure how anyone is going to follow that; I have no doubt they will but your shoes are big ones to fill. Your commitment and complete dedication to organise and raise funds for our children has been phenomenal. You will be missed very much. Thank you Jane.
Thank you to all the staff, to every single adult who work within our school. Staff absence has been negligible, and their dedication and commitment to do their very best to ensure all our children make progress has never failed. They have risen to every challenge and met it head on. It has been an exhausting year, I know that, and I am so grateful to each and every one of my team, for everything they have done. I know you will join me in wishing them a wonderful summer holiday; a time to rest and recharge and spend time with their families and friends.
Thank you to my governing board. Each governor is a volunteer and as such, get no financial gain from doing this role, they do it because they genuinely care for our school and our community. The governors have been behind the scenes every step of the way this year. They have attended more meetings than in ‘normal’ times and have supported guide the school through to this last day. They have been a personal support to me, and I want to thank my Chair, Alex Kumar, especially. Your experience, knowledge and humour have been a necessity for me. Thank you.
Finally, I want to say goodbye again. Goodbye to Mr Vernon and Mrs de Winton. We had a ‘garden party’ last Friday where many staff who have worked at Topsham School in past years returned to celebrate with all of us and thank two amazing teachers for all they have done for our school. We are going to miss them both so much. It is with sadness we say ‘goodbye’ too to Mr and Mrs Yeo. They have cared for and cleaned our school for many, many years and have been an incredible team. They have decided to retire and have time to spend together and with their many grandchildren. We all wish them well.
As for me, I will be spending time, switching off for a while and spending time with my own family- they haven’t seen much of me and when they have, they haven’t really seen ‘all’ of me. It will be good to see friends too and do the ‘simple’ things like go for walks and picnics and swim in the sea. It has been an interesting year and I will be spending some time reflecting on the last 18 months and my experience of it. I want to thank all the parents who have emailed me or sent me cards with some very personal and thoughtful messages- they are so appreciated, thank you.
I will of course be spending time preparing for September and beyond; this work has already begun, schools are like machines, they don’t ever really stop. Next year will be a good one…….. I’m sure 😊
Have a wonderful Summer Holiday. Keep safe, be kind to each other, hug each other; really hug each other, I don’t think there is anything in the world that is better than a real hug.
See you in September
Mrs Pipe
I would like to thank all our wonderful children. They have all coped with the changes of this year with real resilience. I know it has not been easy. I know that some of our children have found the rollercoaster of this year more challenging than others. I know that for some this time will leave more lasting scars than others. Each one of our children has managed as well as they can and that, is good enough.
A special well done to our Year 6 children who have sadly missed their final week with us due to needing to isolate. They have not let this get them down, they have worked all week, remotely making videos etc. all in preparation for their Leavers’ Assembly- it was beautiful and emotional and funny- so many smiles were created just watching. Thank you, Year 6 and good luck, to each one of you!
Thank you to you, our parents. You have supported our school during its most difficult days. Again, I know that this has not been easy, and for some families the toll of this period of time has had significant effects. Every family supported their child/children as far as they could. Remote learning was something we didn’t think we would have to return to this year and then we did. Thank you for helping your child/children to access this provision. I know that this time in particular, was challenging for many, as you juggled work, or managed on furlough, or had to entrust your children to us while you remained out at work throughout this time. Your feedback was so valuable after this time; so many positives, thank you. It was wonderful to welcome everyone back and although things remain restricted at present, we have found different ways to try and stay connected to you; School Cloud and Google Classroom- who’d have thought, 2 years ago?
Thank you to the PTA. You have been incredible this year. I want to say a special thank you to Jane Trollope. Jane, you are a force of nature. You ooze positivity and energy, and I am not sure how anyone is going to follow that; I have no doubt they will but your shoes are big ones to fill. Your commitment and complete dedication to organise and raise funds for our children has been phenomenal. You will be missed very much. Thank you Jane.
Thank you to all the staff, to every single adult who work within our school. Staff absence has been negligible, and their dedication and commitment to do their very best to ensure all our children make progress has never failed. They have risen to every challenge and met it head on. It has been an exhausting year, I know that, and I am so grateful to each and every one of my team, for everything they have done. I know you will join me in wishing them a wonderful summer holiday; a time to rest and recharge and spend time with their families and friends.
Thank you to my governing board. Each governor is a volunteer and as such, get no financial gain from doing this role, they do it because they genuinely care for our school and our community. The governors have been behind the scenes every step of the way this year. They have attended more meetings than in ‘normal’ times and have supported guide the school through to this last day. They have been a personal support to me, and I want to thank my Chair, Alex Kumar, especially. Your experience, knowledge and humour have been a necessity for me. Thank you.
Finally, I want to say goodbye again. Goodbye to Mr Vernon and Mrs de Winton. We had a ‘garden party’ last Friday where many staff who have worked at Topsham School in past years returned to celebrate with all of us and thank two amazing teachers for all they have done for our school. We are going to miss them both so much. It is with sadness we say ‘goodbye’ too to Mr and Mrs Yeo. They have cared for and cleaned our school for many, many years and have been an incredible team. They have decided to retire and have time to spend together and with their many grandchildren. We all wish them well.
As for me, I will be spending time, switching off for a while and spending time with my own family- they haven’t seen much of me and when they have, they haven’t really seen ‘all’ of me. It will be good to see friends too and do the ‘simple’ things like go for walks and picnics and swim in the sea. It has been an interesting year and I will be spending some time reflecting on the last 18 months and my experience of it. I want to thank all the parents who have emailed me or sent me cards with some very personal and thoughtful messages- they are so appreciated, thank you.
I will of course be spending time preparing for September and beyond; this work has already begun, schools are like machines, they don’t ever really stop. Next year will be a good one…….. I’m sure 😊
Have a wonderful Summer Holiday. Keep safe, be kind to each other, hug each other; really hug each other, I don’t think there is anything in the world that is better than a real hug.
See you in September
Mrs Pipe