Staffing Updates
It has been a long time coming, but at long last Rachel Smith, our class 3 teacher, will be returning from maternity leave after the Easter holidays. Rachel is returning to school as a full time class teacher, and will return to teaching class 3. Rachel will return the week before we break up for Easter as part of her handover, before resuming her teaching commitment after the holidays. It will be great to have Rachel back, but before she returns I want to thank Anne Fothergill and Karen Barclay for doing such a stunning job while Rachel has been away - twice! Karen and Anne willingly covered Rachel's 1st maternity..... the 2nd maternity, whilst it came as a bit of a shock to them, I must say, was covered equally enthusiastically. Karen and Anne are tremendous team players, and will continue to work with Rachel after the Easter break. Indeed, Anne is in the class Tuesday and Thursday mornings to ease Rachel back in.
As we welcome Rachel back to school, we actually begin to say a fond farewell to Miss Darlington who will sadly be leaving us at Easter for pastures new. Louise has secured a new position at Ince CE Primary School in Wigan. We wish Louise all the best in her new position, and thank her most earnestly for her dedication to St George's over the last 12 years. Louise is a great teacher, and a massive character. She will be missed by many. All the best Louise, and I'll see you at the DW!
After Easter, reception class will continue to be taught by Siobhan Horder, Jill Hession, Carol Fairhurst. In addition, Karen Barclay, who return to school working mornings only as a class teacher will join the reception team in the mornings and our AHT, Nicola Cook will work with reception in the afternoons. This will provide a seamless transition and consistency for our youngest pupils as they continue to work adults who are familiar to them for the remainder of the year.
Congratulations are in order for Georgina Berry and her partner James as they prepare to welcome a new addition to the family. Georgina is due to have her baby in August and is aiming to work with her year 6 class until the end of the year.
Our school CBT therapist, Emma Rixon, has informed us today that sadly she is unable to carry on working with school and has left with immediate effect, accordingly, it is regrettable, that the parents meetings that have just been organised won't be going ahead. As part of our whole school mental health action plan, we were planning to change mental health providers at the start of next term. We were hoping that Emma would stay with us until the change over, but, alas, that isn't to be. Michelle, one of our AHT's, is a qualified and practising Thrive Programme Coach and has her own business which has previously always been separate to her role in school and outside of school hours. More information will follow in the coming weeks about how Michelle will support individual children and their families as part of her role in school and how we will use The Thrive Programme resources to develop a whole school approach to mental health. In a nutshell, The Thrive Programme is an exciting and empowering education programme that teaches adults and young people how to take control of their mental health and learn to make the best of their life. https://www.thriveprogramme.org/childrens-problems/. Whilst this link takes you to The Thrive Programme website, Michelle will be tailoring the programme to meet the needs of our children at school, and of course, the support that Michelle gives the dis in school will be free of charge to yourselves. It is worth noting at this point that despite the immense benefits of the Thrive Programme due to a potential conflict of interest Michelle is unable to work with families outside of school hours. She can of course, should you wish, sign post to other coaches.
If your child has been working with Emma Rixon, Michelle will be in touch in the coming days about the way forward.
And in minor staffing news, Andy will complete his final week working full time at Mossy Lea, before returning to his role as Head of both schools from Monday 7th March. Due to the changes that are pending at St George's, the way we will cover at Mossy will also change, as we have reduced SLT capacity. Next week at Mossy a supply teacher will join the team, team teaching with Andy, before he hands over at the end of the week. It will be nice to have him back.
