Headteacher
December News
Dear Parents and Carers
As we come to the end of the Autumn term, there’s so much to be proud of and happy about. At Tetherdown, we’re always moving forward, learning new things, and improving and, as a result, there is much to celebrate.
We sincerely thank everyone who has supported the school in any way—whether sending kind messages to staff, serving as a governor, helping with the nativity play or assemblies, being a class champion, or volunteering your time. Your contributions are truly invaluable and help make Tetherdown the vibrant, welcoming, and inspiring school it is.
Thank you for being part of our journey.
Reception Nativity Play
This year’s Nativity was nothing short of spectacular—a true five-star performance! We were incredibly proud of what our youngest children achieved throughout the week. Memorising lines, singing songs, and performing with such confidence and conviction is no small task, yet every child shone brightly on stage.
This play marks the start of their performance journey, helping them find their voices and build confidence while developing resilience and perseverance. It also teaches them the importance of encouragement, support, and teamwork—essential life skills that will serve them well in the future.
A heartfelt thank you to our amazing staff team for their dedication, hard work, and the time and energy they invested to make this production such a success.
Winter Fair and Our Commitment to Enhancing Play Environments
We were delighted to see so many of you at this year’s Winter Fair earlier this month. Thank you for your incredible support, especially to the Friends of Tetherdown for organising the stalls and to our wonderful staff who coordinated the entertainment, including the choir, Year 4 ukuleles, and JK Dance. Together, we raised an impressive £10,000!
These funds will go toward improving our playground facilities. While it may not sound glamorous, we need a storage shed to organize and maintain the many resources our children will use during playtime.
Our initial steps toward redefining play through Freedom Friday have been a tremendous success. It’s been a joy to see children of all ages playing together and beginning to try different styles of play, supporting one another, and learning to navigate the health and safety guidelines of these new activities.
Next term, we’re excited to expand Freedom Friday to more days and introduce the use of the grassy area, which is now ready after a period of careful establishment. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to enhance our children’s play experience!
Helping Out the Office Staff
To ensure the smooth running of our school and to support our hardworking office team, we kindly ask for your understanding and cooperation. With increasing demands from government requirements and communication needs, our office staff are diligently managing many tasks to keep the school running efficiently. Your help in the following areas would make a significant difference:
Forgotten Items
We understand that children may occasionally forget things, and we’re happy to accept essential items like medication or glasses, as these directly impact a child’s ability to learn and participate. Each trip to the office for forgotten items takes time away from the many other important responsibilities our team manages. Therefore, unfortunately, we are unable to accept any other types of forgotten items. Your support in this helps us keep the office running smoothly for everyone.
Waiting Outside the Office
As mentioned in our last newsletter, our school’s rich history and 115-year-old building means we don’t have much space for a designated waiting area. To assist the school, we kindly ask once you have rung the school bell to let us know you have arrived that you follow the office message, which may be a request to wait outside the building unless you have a scheduled appointment.
To help everyone stay comfortable, please arrive at your scheduled time and not earlier. If you do arrive too early, you will be asked to wait outside the building. Thank you for your understanding and support. We truly appreciate the many parents who have offered their time to help in various ways—thank you!
Leaving us
Coach Hamidi who has been a part of our PE team since last Summer and worked this term with us, will sadly be leaving today. We are incredibly grateful for his contributions and commitment to supporting and enriching our students' experience in PE this term and supporting the PE department.
Sports clubs are running as scheduled for the Spring Term with cover organised for a smooth transition. We look forward to the continued success of sports at Tetherdown.
Ending the Year 2024 on a High Note
The past two weeks have been filled with joy and laughter as the school buzzed with theatre events, parties, and celebrations to wrap up the year in style. We even had a special visit from Santa himself—though he mentioned he’s quite looking forward to a well-deserved nap after all the excitement and conga dancing!
Wishing all the children and our Tetherdown families and wider community a very happy and restful Christmas. We look forward to welcoming back the children in the New Year on Tuesday, 7th January 2025.
Annie Ashraf
Headteacher
