End of Term Farewells and Good Wishes

Categories: Principal's Blog

I’ve reproduced part of the end of term newsletter below especially for anyone who maybe won’t have access to a paper copy.  There may be a couple more blog entries before the summer break really takes hold, especially announcing the winner of the first staff House cup and saying farewell to a few staff who have been with us for a very long time indeed.

Before that though I’d like to write a few words of tribute to a vitally important person at Lodge Park who is finally moving on after twenty-three years on our Governing Body.  Stan Delbridge MBE joined us as the local policeman and has seen four headteachers come and go. Words cannot express just how supportive as our Chair of Governors he has been to me as the new Principal and I know how much Tom Waterworth valued Stan’s common sense and finger on the pulse of the college and his willingness to challenge in the way that only real friends can.  Working on a Governing Body can be about as big a commitment in terms of voluntary service as you can get, and Stan has been tireless visiting lessons, mentoring students, presenting, meeting and drumming up support.  Stan has donated a shield to the college as an award each year for the student who has made the greatest contribution to our community.  From a man who himself won an MBE for community service it is a perfect way of keeping that link alive.  In recognition of Stan’s work the governors agreed that we rename V and N block in the coming year as Delbridge Block.  To avoid confusion we’ll not renumber rooms until the new timetable is well bedded in, but only the governors will know why there will be no room D1 in college.

We also said goodbye to Tina Marshall who can genuinely claim to mark the end of an era as she leaves.  Tina has been our heroic librarian now for 15 years and now hands on to Wendy McCabe.  The affection and respect both from students and staff for Tina is immense.  

 

Another farewell was from Mary March, who again has been at the heart of Lodge Park across several eras - 22 years service in total.  Both as an exceptional teacher and one of the most positive, dedicated and good-humoured Heads of Year you could ever wish for, Mary is one of a kind.  

It does seem like this college year has flown by.  It certainly doesn’t seem so long since I wrote that first letter home to welcome everyone back, and the worries about snow seem only yesterday.  The last few weeks have been a time of some very important new beginnings, but also bittersweet as we say some goodbyes.

The Year 13 students of 2010 had their 'Formal' at the Best Western Rockingham Forest.  This was a final chance for the students to relax together as a year group and say goodbye now all their exams are over.  The students enjoyed a meal before dancing the night away.  We wish them luck for the future and will enjoy hearing all about their success stories in years to come.  On our website there is a selection of photographs from the evening.  Of course we’ll all see each other one more time for results day in August, and I hope at Christmas we’ll have a great turnout when we welcome everyone back for the celebration evening.

Year 11 also got either suited and booted or dressed in all their finery for the Prom.  In my time as a teacher I’ve been to a few Proms but I can safely say that nothing comes even close to this one at Lodge Park!  I know that the friends and parents who gathered around to take photos were impressed, and the atmosphere, the attitude and the sense of good fun that ran through the whole evening was just wonderful.  So the bar has been set very, very high for next year’s Prom Committee!  Our best wishes go to all the students whether they are returning to the 6th form or going on to Further Education or the world of work.

We have also made that leap from Years to Houses and introduced Vertical Tutor Groups. That first Monday morning was a special day at college as tutors met their new groups and got to know them.  I was really impressed by the way that so many older students, some of whom would be happy to say they did not like the idea of change one bit, didn’t just give it a chance, but they stepped up and made it work.  I’ve seen Year 9 and Year 10 students leading work, sitting with and helping students in Year 7 and 8 and taking the responsibility they deserve.  This is going to grow and grow and really transform our college.  The ‘Families’ system that many parents will remember themselves from their time at Lodge Park as students will take a while to bed in, but we will get there.  I’m already getting positive feedback from students that the new forms are working well.

Finally I just need to remind everyone that college finishes early at 12:05pm on Friday 23rd July, that the first day back for most students is Thursday 9th September (although Year 7 and Sixth Form begin the day before) when we’ll be looking forward to seeing everyone back at college in their new uniform after a really good rest and great holiday, and to thank everyone for their support all year.  Have a great summer break, let’s hope the sun shines.