A Final Message for the School Year
Dear Parents and Carers,
As the final children leave through the gates and another school year comes to an end, it is difficult to know where to begin. The last few weeks alone have included residential adventures, educational visits, sporting successes, special assemblies, transition activities and so many memorable moments of learning. Throughout it all, our children have shown enthusiasm, resilience, courage and kindness.
There is always something particularly special about the final day of the school year. Classrooms are packed away, books are taken home and children leave a little taller, a little more confident and ready for whatever comes next. It is also an opportunity to pause and recognise the people who make Southill the wonderful school that it is.
Thank You
Firstly, I would like to thank our extraordinary staff.
Schools are built on thousands of small acts of care that are not always seen: the reassuring conversation before the school day begins, the lesson adapted so that every child can take part, the lunchtime club, the extra phone call home, the trip planned long after the working day should have ended and the quiet encouragement given when a child is finding something difficult.
Our staff give so much of themselves to the children of Southill. Their dedication, flexibility and commitment have been evident throughout the year, particularly during an exceptionally busy final term. I am enormously grateful to every teacher, teaching assistant, member of the office team, lunchtime supervisor, kitchen colleague, cleaner and site staff member for everything they contribute to our school.
Thank you also to our governors, volunteers and the Friends of Southill School. Your time, support and commitment help us to provide opportunities and experiences that would not otherwise be possible.
To our parents and carers, thank you for the trust you place in us each day. Thank you for supporting learning at home, attending events, encouraging your children, communicating with us and working alongside the school when challenges arise. The strongest schools are built through genuine partnership with their families, and your support plays an essential part in everything we achieve.
Most importantly, thank you to our children.
Thank you for your energy, your questions, your laughter and your determination. Thank you for trying again when something has been difficult, for looking after one another and for making us proud in so many different ways. You are the reason we come to school each day, and you are what makes Southill such a joyful and rewarding place to work.
Farewell to Year 6
Today, we also say a very special goodbye to our Year 6 children. The whole-school clap out was a fitting and moving way to mark their final departure, as pupils, staff and families came together to celebrate everything they have brought to Southill and wish them well for the future.
Year 6, you have reached the end of an important chapter. You have grown in knowledge and confidence, but also in character. You have learned how to work with others, overcome setbacks, take responsibility and contribute to the life of your school.
As I said during your leavers’ assembly, one day you may forget many of the individual lessons you were taught here. However, I hope you will always remember how Southill made you feel: that you mattered, that you belonged and that you were capable of amazing things.
As you leave Southill, you take a piece of this school with you, but you also leave a piece of yourselves behind. You leave behind friendships, memories, achievements and a lasting impression on the children and adults who have shared your journey.
Secondary school will bring new opportunities, new friendships and new challenges. There will be moments when things do not go as planned, but that does not mean you have failed. Keep trying, keep learning and keep believing in yourselves. We certainly will.
Be brave enough to be yourselves, kind enough to notice when somebody else needs support and confident enough to stand up for what is right. Whatever you go on to achieve, you will always be part of the Southill family.
Congratulations, Year 6. We are incredibly proud of every single one of you.
A Time of Change
This term also marks an important moment in the life of our school. Caroline, our Headteacher, has decided to leave Southill after 15 years of dedicated service.
During that time, Caroline has played a significant role in shaping Southill into the caring, ambitious and welcoming school it is today. On behalf of our children, families, staff and governors, I would like to thank her for her many years of commitment to the school. We wish Caroline every happiness and success as she begins the next chapter of her life.
It has been a genuine privilege to lead Southill during the final weeks of this school year. A fellow local Headteacher recently said to me that it is an honour to be trusted to lead a school, and I wholeheartedly agree. It is a responsibility I do not take lightly, and I am grateful for the trust, encouragement and support I have received from our children, staff, governors and families.
Looking ahead, I want to continue strengthening Southill as a true community school: a place where children feel safe, valued and inspired; where families feel welcomed and listened to; and where we work together to provide the very best opportunities for every child.
Looking Ahead to September
Before we return, I hope everyone has the opportunity to slow down, rest and enjoy time together. Children have worked incredibly hard and deserve the chance to recharge. Please continue to encourage some reading over the summer- even a few minutes regularly can make a real difference- but make plenty of time for play, exploration and new experiences too.
As September approaches, please remember to label uniform, coats, water bottles and other belongings clearly. Further information and reminders for the new school year will be shared through our usual communication channels.
Children return to school on Thursday 3 September.
We look forward to welcoming everyone back, including our new Reception children and families, for the beginning of another exciting year at Southill.
For now, thank you once again for everything you have contributed to our school community. I hope that every Southill family has a safe, happy and restful summer.
See you in September.
Matt Ryan
Acting Headteacher