Farewell Mrs Battams
Today we said farewell to Mrs Battams who has retired after 28 years’ service.
The school community came together earlier today for a special assembly with different classes performing songs, poems and dances – as well as some of her favourite hymns.
Mrs Battam’s was joined by members of her family as well some former colleagues, friends and people with whom she has worked over the years as SJF Office Manager.
Lorenzo (Y6) and Jack S (Y6) were our very own Ant and Dec, opening and closing the assembly. The children all performed beautifully. At the end of the assembly Mrs Battams shared some thoughts and memories and talked about how school and the building had changed over the years.
Fr Paul then led the community in a special blessing for Mrs Battams and her family which involved everybody.
The school community had all contributed fingerprints to a very special gift; a painting of a tree. The painting had been professionally mounted and framed and presented to Mrs Battams at the end of the assembly along with flowers and a special gift from the PTFA.
I would like to thank our children, my colleagues and Mr McGurrin, Mrs Downes and Mr Tandy for supporting us with the music – which was fantastic!
Everyone then went over to the Parish Hall, which had also been decorated and set up by the PTFA.
Refreshments were served along with a fantastic array of cakes which had been donated so generously by our parents and carers. Everyone then had an opportunity to say their own goodbyes to Mrs Battams.
I would like to thank our PTFA for all their hard work as well as Fr Paul for allowing us to use the Parish Centre.
The day before Mrs Battams, supported by some children, planted a bush she had donated, near the entrance to school. She was also interviewed by the young people of Y5 who asked lots of questions and then used the information they had gathered in order to write their own articles.
Mr MacInnes was very impressed with them all and chose Phoebe A’s for the newsletter. Here it is...
Mrs Battams first came to the school when she and her family moved to the area. She and her husband decided that they would like their children to attend St John Fisher. She loved it and she felt like it was one big family. Before this, she had worked in a bank and then Birley Spa Primary School. She then decided that she wanted to work here.
The interview went well and she got - what is now - Mrs Birch’s job. She was also a teaching assistant. The first person that she met was the Headteacher at the time, Mr McGurrin, and Mrs Corbey. The Office Manager, Mrs Wright, became her best friend along with Mrs Birch.
Once, she dressed up as an alien and scared the Foundation children. She enjoys making people laugh and once she hid in a box and jumped out to scare Mr McGurrin and Mrs Corbey. She said that her favourite part of the job was meeting new people.
Her happiest memory of St John Fisher was her 40th birthday. The school put on a special play all about her and called her ‘The Good Fairy’. If she had any other job it would be to bake cakes or sew because she enjoys doing these in her spare time.
Mrs Battams has worked at St John Fisher for twenty-eight years (since 1991). She says she will miss the friendship and love the most. We will also miss her very much.
