17.4.20 Just to say…
Hello everyone, Mr Bennett here, your deputy head.
It’s fair to that when I started working at Mortimer back in November 2019, I never imagined my first 6 months would go the way they have!
Mortimer is the 4th primary school I have worked at, definitely the biggest and as I’m finding…an amazing place to work. I can’t sing the staff’s praises enough. They have a heart for the community and so many can’t imagine working anywhere else. This was apparent during the recent Investors in People review where my zero years service at Mortimer brought the average time at the school down to 13 years! What a great team we have!
A huge thank you to Mrs Cunningham for continuing to pull the strings and deal with so much; Lisa and Ann in their virtual office and to Mr Clarke for opening up every single day! They may be out of sight but definitely not out of mind! In fact, I’ve seen Mrs Cunningham just once in 4 weeks!
As I’ve discovered the pupils are fabulous and have continued to amaze me every day. They are a credit to you the parents, grandparents and carers! So don’t mess them up whilst we have lent them to you during lockdown. I miss my Wednesday trip into nursey to work with Blue group. They were so wary of me in my first week with them, but now they are generally happy to see me and some even shout ‘Hi MRS Bennett!’ – I need to get more males in early years!
I have enjoyed getting to know so many and I am sad that this time is not spent learning more of their names and finding out what makes them tick! It has been great to see the photos on our Facebook page. I miss popping into lessons as Jump Start Jonny plays or seeing them all in assemblies. They are such a great group. Please tell them I miss them.
To you the parents, just do your best over these next weeks, just as you have been. Don’t try to replicate what happens in school, it simply can’t be done. Believe me I know, with having a 13, 10 and 1 year old and trying to work from home! Just do your best each day – little and often is how we are rolling!
My wish is that we get back to Mortimer with every member of staff, every pupil and their families safe and healthy. We have the skills and wherewithal to sort the educational side of things once we get back. Every child is in the same boat, so don’t worry about catching up, just keep them going with the work their teachers are supplying. However, try and see the positives of this time together. I have seen my 1-year-old develop so much in the last month and I am truly grateful for that.
So parents,I wish I was talking to you more about the STEM team, school trips, football and cricket team results, school productions (I think I was in line for the role of Joseph this year!) or all the other positive things that take place…for now I’ll be here to chat meal vouchers and child care or anything else you need.
I’m even missing the knock on my day and “Mr Bennett can we have a chat…” conversations (although they were few and far between!). So when Monday hits and we continue lockdown, just remember Mortimer Primary School is here for your and will help in any way we can!
Stay safe and look after each other.
In the words of our Queen…we will meet again! Feel free to print your certificate out, you’ve earned it!
#mortimerfamily
