Head’s Blog – End of Term

Friday 09 July 2021 | By Samantha Hockney

I hope you enjoy reading this special end of term edition of our fortnightly Teesside High School newsletter.

…and what an end of term it has been!

I am delighted to have made it to Friday 9 July and have to admit I am breathing a sigh of relief that our summer term has not been interrupted by Covid-19. I think it is easy to underestimate, from the confines of our small community, the significant disruption other families, teachers and pupils are facing once again in local schools, with self-isolation, bubble closures and home learning unfortunately becoming the norm once again.

With infection rates rising drastically in recent weeks, we have been extremely fortunate to be unaffected by what is such an unpredictable and changing situation. I owe you, as parents, my sincere thanks for your perseverance with lateral flow testing; equally, my thanks go to our entire school community for abiding by such rigid safety guidance. Whilst what September will bring remains unclear, the last 18 months have taught me there is absolutely nothing we cannot overcome as a school family. I am super grateful for your support.

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of Sports Days, celebrations of success and the usual end of term events to mark rites of passage as the children transition from one area of the school to another. It has been a joy to have these events back on the school calendar once more.

What is built into the fabric of Teesside High School at this time is celebrating progress just as much as we do achievement; recognising those skills and qualities not acknowledged by formal examinations or tests.

This was evident in this week’s Prep and Senior Celebration of Achievement events, and showcased in abundance at Prep and Senior Sports Days. The resilience, leadership, initiative, drive, courage, discipline and incredible team spirit that our pupils have shown this year makes 2020-21 truly remarkable for me. It is an academic year that will live long in the memory.

I hope you enjoy reading what our pupils have enjoyed getting up to during their last few weeks of term. May I take this opportunity to wish you a restful and relaxing summer holiday – it is extremely deserved.

Read our latest newsletter here.

Mrs K Mackenzie, Head, Teesside High School