Year 5 and 6 students from our local primary schools had ‘the best day ever’ at the recent Science Stretch and Challenge day. Dissecting a heart, investigating light waves and finding out why some chemicals go ‘pop’, were all experiments that the children undertook during the day. This is becoming a regular feature and the primary students are really engaging with the very difficult science concepts. As ever, our staff are also learning from the primary teachers, enabling us to make transition from Yr 6, even more seamless.
My thanks to all the parents who have completed our Parent Voice survey over the last week. Every year we make sure that parents have a clear method of communication, regarding any specific concerns they might have. I will publish the full results in a week or so, but there are some very helpful suggestions so far. I have canvassed opinion on a range of issues including mobile phones, school meals, academisation and school refurbishment. This week I have sent our revised ‘bids’ for refurbishment to the Local Authority and am keeping my fingers crossed that The Wensleydale School, finally gets to the ‘top of the list’. Plans to overhaul the food offer are already underway and there will be a parent meeting in the summer term outlining our thoughts about academisation.
This week I also met with Adam Alderson, a former student who has undergone a major life review following an ‘out of the blue’ rare cancer diagnosis and surgery. He is well and a very inspirational man who has agreed to come and give some assemblies to our students, about his journey and how a positive mental attitude has helped him overcome a multiple organ transplant. He is well known on Facebook, as the person behind Yorkshire Yaks and we look forward to welcoming him back to school in April.
The weather continues to play havoc with school life. On Tuesday, the Senior team and I shovelled snow and gritted paths, in order to support the caretaker to open the site. Sadly on Wednesday the weather was too severe and we were forced to close, as only 5 staff members were able to make it in to school.
Very sadly, I attended the funeral of Tara Skippen last week. Tara was the Assistant Cook at school for over 10 years and a highly respected member of our community. This was demonstrated at her funeral, which was so well attended it was standing room only at St Matthews. She will be sorely missed and our thoughts are with her family through this difficult time.
