Good evening
It is with a heavy heart and great sorrow that I write this week’s newsletter, following the devastating news we received last weekend of the tragic loss of one of our Year 11 students, Joe Maddy. We send our deepest condolences to Joe’s family at this time.
Additional support has been available to students in school this week, and I am conscious with the half-term break this change to routine may be difficult for some students. Grief does affect everyone differently so I would encourage all families to check in with their children and see how they are doing.
For those who may need some support over the half-term break, please find some useful links below:
Childline https://www.childline.org.uk Tel: 0800 1111
Offers online advice through an app or desktop site, with coping strategies, message boards, “ask Sam” feature, 24/7 online 1-2-1 Counsellor chat and Freephone helpline for all young people up to the age of 19.
Samaritans https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/
Tel: 116 123 Emotional support 24/7 – target age group Year 9+ – phone, webchat and email
SHOUT https://giveusashout.org/
Text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258 – text support service for all ages
Winston’s wish – Talking grief
https://www.talkgrief.org/ dedicated online space for grieving teenagers and young adults (13 to 25) from the childhood bereavement charity Winston’s Wish. Live chat, text, call and email options. Lots of useful coping tips.
https://www.childbereavementuk.org supporting-bereaved-children-and-young-people.
Local support can be sought through Service Six Wellbeing Drop-ins – (Espresso Yourself) for those aged 11-18 years. No appointment is necessary, and anyone is welcome to come along and have a chat with one of their team for some help and advice. For those who would prefer to book an appointment then please give the office a call on 01933 277520 .
Drop in Times and Venues for Service Six
Tuesday 4.00-8.00pm - Rushden Mind
Saturday 10.00-2.00pm - Service Six office in Wellingborough
Key Dates for Next Term
24th February – return to school
27th February – Year 12 Parents’ Evening
27th February – Year 11 Macbeth Performance (in school)
6th March – Year 9 Parents’ Evening
6th March – World Book Day
Thursday 3rd April – End of term
Joe Maddy
In assemblies this year I have spoken to all students about how they should aim to add value to our community each day. Joe was definitely a young man who added value to our community, and I will remember fondly conversations I had with him about farming and his future plans. It is uncommon for young people to be so fixed on what they wanted to be, but Joe absolutely had a goal to aim for. He had a great passion for farming and had super sense of humour and that unique ability to make the day of those students around him a little bit better. He was a very popular young man and a great friend to many of our students, and not just in Year 11, but across a number of year groups.
I have been humbled by the strength and dignity of our students and staff this week in dealing with such a tragic news. Staff and students have taken great comfort this week in sharing memories of Joe and it is clear that Joe’s superpower was to be able to make his fellow students smile and laugh. He will be greatly missed.
Best wishes
Simon Anderson