Thursday 21^st July 2022

Dear Parents,

As we come to the end of the academic year I know that our entire school community is extremely proud of the children and everything they have achieved. It has also been a wonderful final half term in school with many events running for the first time in almost three years. Sports Day in particular this year had an extremely special feel to it. Thank you for all of the positive comments and thank you once again to Mrs Hunt for organising the event. We were also delighted that Years 4&5 were able to attend a Residential Visit to Condover Hall, and are very grateful to the staff members who attended for ensuring the children had such an amazing time. Please click here for some highlights of their time away. Many other visits and experiences have been organised by our staff team for all of the children over this half term which have been brilliant at expanding the children’s knowledge and skills. Thank you also to everyone who has supported our superb PTFA this year too, the children were treated to an unforgettable ‘Colour Run’ in light of the excellent support we receive. Please see highlights here.

Of course, today we say farewell and good luck to our amazing Year 5 pupils who depart Cropthorne-with-Charlton CE First before moving on to pastures new. They are a fantastic group of children who are well prepared for the next step in their education and we are all very proud of them and all of the incredible things they have achieved during their time here. Good Luck Year 5!

Mrs Frances Jones departs us this year as she begins her very well-deserved retirement. Mrs Jones has been an integral part of the school for the past seventeen years, touching the lives of so many children and families over that time and her calmness and creativity will be fondly remembered not only by the children, parents and staff who are at Cropthorne now but by former colleagues and families of children who have previously left us and some of whom are now all grown up. Mrs Jones will be very much missed by us all and I know everyone wishes her the happiest of future years. Thank you so much, Mrs Jones.

 

As ever the support we have received from our families has been as superb as ever, we really are a community to be proud of! Thank you for all of your kind words, encouragement and commitment to the children’s schooling over this past year. Thank you also on behalf of all of the staff for your extremely kind and generous end of year gifts and wishes.

Lastly, I would like to thank all of the staff team for their truly exceptional hard work this academic year. There have been some significant challenges once again but with the positive and valued support we have received from our families we have been able to keep all classes open, keep the children in a place they love and are loved, and helped create some amazing experiences and treasured memories. The staff’s hard work and commitment to our children is outstanding and they are already preparing to, and will continue to prepare to make September the best it can possibly be. I am hopeful that everyone has a restful summer and has the opportunity to reflect and recharge.

School will reopen for all children on Tuesday 6^th September at 8.40am. Until then, on behalf of everyone here at Cropthorne with Charlton CE First School I would like to wish every single member of our brilliant school community a wonderful, very special summer holiday.

Yours sincerely,

Rob Bothma

Head teacher