Head’s Blog – Distance Learning Diary

Friday 12 February 2021 | By Samantha Hockney

A rather unusual – but no less enjoyable – half term draws to a close.

As we approach a week away from school without the usual distractions a half term holiday would bring, it is a great time to reflect on the last six weeks – and what an unusual six weeks it has been.

With just a day’s notice to close the school to all but key worker children, I must start my introduction with enormous thanks to the Teesside High School staff team, who have adapted to the numerous enforced changes since Christmas.

We all had a taste of ‘working from home’ last week when the school suffered what we hoped would be a small gas leak. I must say, after just one day I had a renewed respect for parents juggling their usual day-to-day jobs and home learning! Your support has been unwavering this half term and for this, I am so grateful.

Repair work to fix the faulty pipework at the front of school continues. The site team has worked so hard, day and night in often freezing conditions, to get to the bottom of the issue. Half term should give us the chance to ensure a return to normality at the front of school.

The snowy weather has provided a somewhat more enjoyable environment for our key worker children, who have revelled in the grounds this week. It is wonderful to hear them having such a fun time at school and we all long for the day, hopefully in the not too distant future, when our fields, classrooms and corridors echo with the sound of pupils once again.

I await the Prime Minister’s announcement later this month with my fingers crossed for a phased return from Monday 8 March and it goes without saying I will stay in touch to update you as soon as we know more.

Wishing you a wonderful and restful break. Read our latest newsletter here.

Mrs Mackenzie, Head