Healey Primary School

Healey Primary School

School has now broken up for one week for the half term May break. We reopen on Monday 3 June and the term lasts until 18 July when the children break up for the big summer holiday. Dinner money for the half term will be £62.90. Any money owing due to absence will be returned. Please could I remind parents that children on packed lunches should not bring a drink as we provide a drink for them. We have had too many accidents with carton drinks and ruined lunches!

I know that many of you are apprehensive about what is happening in September at Healey and I am aware that speculation has been high about the replacements for Mrs Whitworth and myself. I am grateful for your patience with this.

From September the Headteacher of Healey will be Mrs Helen Johnson. Mrs Johnson is currently deputy head at Smithy Bridge Primary School; she has an excellent history of working in Rochdale in various schools, and was a major part of Rochdale Authority receiving an award from the DfE for achieving Beacon Status for Healthy Schools.

Mrs Johnson is an ideal replacement, I could not have been happier when she expressed an interest in applying for the post and I know from the feedback from both the Local Authority and the Governing Body that she was unanimously chosen to take over Healey from September. Mrs Johnson is calm, sensible and approachable; she comes from an outstanding school in Smithy Bridge and is therefore ideally placed to work with the teachers, pupils and parents to continue to drive this lovely school forward. My regard for Mrs Johnson is helping me enormously to manage the hand over of Healey without too much sadness!

I was not able to announce Mrs Johnson’s appointment formally until the governors of Smithy Bridge School had informed their parents and appointed a suitable replacement. Also joining Mrs Johnson and Mrs Giverin as Senior Managers of Healey and replacing

Mrs Whitworth in Year 6 will be Mrs Melanie Ross. Mrs Ross is currently a Year 6 teacher at Lowerplace (another ‘Outstanding’ school) where she is in charge of their Key Stage 2. Mrs Ross is keen to join Healey and I am sure that current Year 5 children will be in a safe pair of hands for their final year in primary.

Mrs Ainley will also be leaving Healey at the end of this term. As yet no decision has been made about who will replace her role. However there is a LOT of expertise on the staff and I can reassure all parents that even the most vulnerable children will not be affected by the changes.

Mrs Whitworth, Mrs Ainley and I had always planned to retire in July 2013, between us we have a century of teaching experience! It is time to move over and let others enjoy the running of Healey. This school was once described as ‘……….a jewel in the crown of Rochdale.’ I know that we will be leaving the school in a good place and that we all feel very, very proud of what we have achieved with your children. We still have another six weeks before we leave so I am sure there will be ample opportunity to talk with you before we celebrate our long awaited retirements.

Mrs Giverin has asked me to point out that if you want to take up the Rochdale Football Club After School sessions (see letter sent out today) cheques need to be payable to “Healey Primary School”. The sessions are open to all children in school from Reception to Year 6.

The next half term will be busy; we will have trips for classes, sports day, French day, leavers BBQ, reports and open evening. Please check we have the right text details for regular updates and reminders. The PTA are hoping to be able to start their playground slide project too.

Finally parents are reminded that holidays taken in term time should always be requested by letter. In addition, any requests for time during September will not be authorised. Taking time out of school is very disruptive for children, but especially so in September when children are getting used to their new classroom, new timetable and new teacher. If you are unsure of the holiday dates there is a copy on the school website and we will be issuing the handy ‘credit card’ lists again this year.