Latest News from the Head

Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• Head's Welcome 2022

  Fri 02 Sep 2022 Mr Needham

  I am delighted to be starting as the new Head of School and cannot wait to meet the children on Monday morning.

   

  Throughout this week, you will find me on various gates welcoming children as they return to school. I will also be aiming to be around at the end of the day, when I hope to have a little more time to speak with parents and begin to get to know you all better. Please do come and say hello!

   

  I am sure yourselves and the children have mixed feelings about returning to school. I must confide that I have these feelings too! These include a mixture of nervousness and excitement. 

   

  Something that has helped put my mind at ease is meeting and working with the staff at Rushy during the inset days last week. Adults have been busily preparing for the new term to ensure the school is a welcoming, vibrant and inspiring learning environment. 

   

  In creating my first assembly to share with children this week, I stumbled upon the below quote from Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie:

   

  The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease for ever to be able to do it

   

  I think this is the perfect thought to begin our new school year with. I am looking forward to working with you on our journey towards supporting the children to reach their full potential.

   

  Yours,

   

  Mr Needham

  

• End of term

  Fri 22 Jul 2022 Ms Bretherick

  I want to thank you for your support this year.  It has been a challenging year, covid has still had an impact and of course, the unnaturally hot weather this week has also presented us with different challenges.  Your support and understanding of the measures we have had to put in place has been much appreciated.  Despite these challenges we have had a very good year.  The children’s learning and the progress they have made has been excellent. 

  I am very grateful for the commitment of all the staff in school for making this a year where we began to get back to pre-covid times.  All the children have been able to enjoy some amazing trips and workshops as well as a range of after school clubs.  The music and sport opportunities for all the pupils have been incredible.  So much has gone on, both in school and out, throughout the year!

  Sadly, at the end of the year it is often a time where we say goodbye to some staff members and to our Year 6 - we wish them all well.

   

  As you know, I too shall be leaving Rushy Meadow.  I definitely have mixed emotions as I say goodbye.  I have loved working at Rushy Meadow.  The pupils are amazing, the staff are so supportive and committed to doing their very best.  I have enjoyed getting to know you as parents and carers, and building strong relationships with you and your children over the years.  Coming to work these past five years has been a pleasure.  Your kind words to me over the past few weeks mean a lot to me – thank you.

  I have no doubt that Mr Needham will be welcomed by you all in September and that he will make sure this wonderful school continues to thrive and flourish.

  I wish you all an enjoyable summer break. I hope you get the chance to spend time with family and friends.

   

  Best wishes

  Ms Bretherick

  

• Platinum Jubilee

  Thu 26 May 2022 Ms Bretherick

  This past week all the pupils have been gathering objects to go into our Platinum Jubilee time capsule.  We have included a whole range of things inside the capsule: photos, written accounts of what it is like to be a pupil at Rushy Meadow in 2022, coins, a covid test and mask, just to name a few things!  The children have been very excited to be part of making history.  The capsule is buried just outside the main office  and we will mark this by a plaque on the wall.  The plan is to open the capsule in May 2047! 

  I hope you all have a lovely half term break - hopefully the sun will shine! We look forward to seeing the children back at school on Tuesday 7th June.

   

  Best wishes

  Ms Bretherick

  

• Welcome to the summer term

  Fri 29 Apr 2022

  Welcome to the start of the summer term.  The pupils have returned to school and straight away have been enthusiastic in their learning.

  Houses of Parliament trip

  This week we took the Pupil Parliament to visit the Houses of Parliament.   The group were very well behaved, but not only that, they were interested by everything they saw that day.  They asked some pertinent questions and showed off their knowledge by being able to answer questions that our tour guide asked them.

   

  It was a pleasure to be in their company that day.  They did Rushy Meadow proud!

   

  Parent/Carer survey

  Thank you to everyone who responded [the survey is now closed].  We had 122 responses.  I will be sending out more information but what I can say is that they were overwhelmingly positive.  Every question had over 90% of parents and carers saying they agreed, or strongly agreed, with everything we are doing.  This is so reassuring to know.  

   

  Best wishes

  Ms Bretherick

  

• It's the end of term!

  Fri 01 Apr 2022 Ms Bretherick

  I do hope you have signed up to take part in the PTA Easter Treasure trail.  It will be great fun for all your family and friends.  We look forward to hearing how you get on and see if you can work out the Easter joke!  Thank you to our wonderful new PTA for organising this event!

   

  It’s the time of year when we ask you to complete our parent and carer survey.  Your views really do matter to us.  Please see the link we sent in our Easter newsletter.  We will share the responses early next term.  Thank you

   

   

  Finally, once again I want to thank you for your support this term.  Your children have been brilliant learners!  We wish you an enjoyable Easter break and look forward to welcoming the children back to school on

  Tuesday 19^thApril.

  Best wishes

  Ms Bretherick

  

• Red Nose Day

  Fri 18 Mar 2022

  Today is Comic Relief day.  It has been great to see so many children arriving with all sorts of different red noses.  Make sure you check your child's blog page and our Twitter pages to see photos from the day.

   

  They have definitely put a smile on all our faces.

   

  Best wishes

  Ms Bretherick

  

• Come and be Nosy

  Fri 04 Mar 2022 Ms Bretherick

  I know it isn't officially spring time yet but the fact that there are daffodils in bloom is always a sign that spring is on it's way.

   

  I hope that the splashes of yellow lift your spirits and brighten your day.

   

  Next Friday, the 11th March, we invite you into school to be nosy and find out how we support pupil wellbeing.  We hope you will be able to join us from 9.00 to 9.45.

   

  Best wishes

  Ms Bretherick

  

• Friendship

  Mon 17 Jan 2022

  Today my school assembly was on the theme of friendship.  We thought about how how lucky we are to have friends, and how lonely life could be without them. 

   

  The children were asked to think about the qualities that make a good friend. 

   

  I shared with them the following poem about the perfect friend:

   

  F  is for faithful, they’re loyal to the end.

  R is for reliable, they’re true and don’t pretend.

  I  is for the interest in sharing thoughts with you.

  E is for enjoyment, whatever you might do.

  N  is for neighbourly, they’re kind in every way.

  D  is for dependable on every single day.

  S  is for that special friend you know is always there

   

  Finally, I posed some questions for the children to think about:

  How good are they at being a good friend?

  What could they do to be a better friend today?

  Could they make a new friend today?

   

  Best wishes

  Ms Bretherick

   

   

  

• POSTPONED - 'Come and be Nosy' You are all invited! - POSTPONED

  Sun 16 Jan 2022 Ms Bretherick

  Unfortunately this event has been POSTPONED

   

  Come and meet our school Wellbeing Team

  and our partners in

  The Sutton Schools Wellbeing Service

  on

  Friday 21st January 9am – 10am

  • Find out how we support wellbeing through learning and play.

  • Find out how we support pupils who need extra support if they are feeling worried

  • Find out how we support families

   

  Enjoy a cup of tea or coffee too.

  We look forward to seeing you!

   

  Best wishes

  Ms Bretherick

  

• The start of a new year - what's your hobby?

  Wed 05 Jan 2022 Ms Bretherick

  Happy New Year! 

   

  Did you know that January is National Hobby Month?

   

  This is the perfect time of year to pick up a new hobby, or get back into an old one that you haven’t thought about in a while! 

   

  Think about what you really love to do.

  What are you curious about? 

  What are you passionate about?

  Football, knitting, drawing, gardening, reading....the possibilities are endless!

   

  Maybe you can start the new year by starting a new hobby.

  Finding a good hobby and taking  part in it is sure to make you happy, and maybe even healthy.

   

  Best wishes

  Ms Bretherick