Pupils say thank you for inspiring lessons

Releasing their poem on national Thank A Teacher Day (Wednesday 20 May 20) the children at independent Belmont Grosvenor School have also thanked the NHS and key workers who are working on the front-line during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In line with all schools across the UK, and following government guidance, co-educational Belmont Grosvenor, in Birstwith, Harrogate, has been closed to all pupils apart from a small number of key worker children since the end of March.

But while the school building has been closed, teaching, learning and the sense of community at Belmont Grosvenor School has not stopped.

As well as weekly virtual celebration and show and tell assemblies, well-being meetings and book clubs hosted by Headmistress Mrs Sophia Ashworth Jones, Belmont Grosvenor has been running a structured programme of remote learning delivered by the school’s dedicated teaching staff.

As well as the core subjects of English and maths, the weekly timetable has incorporated PE, drama, music, art, ICT, French, history, geography and well-being.

To show their appreciation, parents and pupils at BGS have joined together to create a colourful poem to say thanks to their teachers – and to send a thank you message to the NHS and key workers across the UK.

Chair of Belmont Grosvenor School PTA Mrs Kristin Klauser, who has two children in Year 6 and Year 3 at BGS, joined forces with mum Mrs Davina Ellis, whose boys are in Year 1 and Pre Reception, to pen the poem on behalf of the entire school community.

Said Mrs Ellis: “Shortly after lockdown, a parent in my son’s year suggested making colourful thank yous for the Year 1 teachers.

“I thought it would be lovely if we could extend this to the whole school, as parents from other years had similar ideas, so all the children could say thank you to their dedicated teachers, as well as thanking the wider community including the NHS, key workers, and those on the front line.

“Kristin and I bounced some ideas off each other and we came up with this poem, as it expresses everything in our BGS families’ hearts at the moment,” she said.

As well as thanking Belmont Grosvenor teachers for being ‘there for us each and every day’ and on hand to ‘provide thoughtful comments to ensure our tasks get done’, the poem thanks key workers and NHS staff who ‘risk their lives, don’t utter a moan’.

Mrs Klauser added: “Lessons have been inspiring.”

“We wanted to say thank you – and extend our thanks to the wider community, the NHS and key workers, for continuing to work to keep us all safe.”

Mrs Emma Shea, Deputy Head at Belmont Grosvenor School, said she was delighted with the way remote learning was progressing at BGS.

“The feedback we have received from parents has been fantastic, really positive, and makes us feel that we are doing the best we can to continue our pupils’ learning during this challenging time,” said Mrs Shea.

“Parents are not teachers and they tell us that they are really enjoying the prompt dialogue and feedback provided by our BGS staff to make sure their children are on the right track with their work,” she said.