St Catherine’s back
by Gaby Spinks

St Catherine’s School is open again and raring to go after two month’s closure due to asbestos contamination, as the Messenger reported in September (St Catherine’s contaminated). Headteacher Fiona Rigby is glad to be back. “It’s like another new start; everyone is fresh and full of enthusiasm.”

They were temporarily based in an empty school in Hemsworth and the LEA has supplied the school with an interest-free loan to buy equipment. “It’s been a difficult situation which has been handled extremely well by the staff, children and parents.” explained Mrs Rigby. “The change in environment has made both staff and children more responsible and aware of their education, and is seen as a very positive situation.”

It’s still not clear who was to blame for the closure. A lot of equipment, school books and children’s work has been lost through contamination. “We managed to clean the children’s progress logs as they are an integral part of monitoring children’s development. But all the school text and reading books were destroyed.” Mrs Rigby explained.

Parents were initially worried at hearing about the school’s closure but those fears were quickly allayed. Mr Walker, with sons Aaren and Amarni, said the transitions between the schools had been fine. Geraldine Hopkins, another parent was initially afraid that children might have to be split up and sent to different schools. “Finding an empty school that could hold everyone was great,” she said. “I’ve been involved in setting up the new school and making St Catherine’s ready again.”

Mrs Rigby told the Messenger, “Lots of people have helped, but I’d like to thank Firshill School who allowed us to hold meetings there and Graham Moseley the LEA officer for arranging transportation. It could have been a nightmare but it wasn’t, Sheffield Utd Academy allowed coaches to pick up and drop off the children everyday in their car park. Year groups were assigned to different coaches and teachers took the registers. They even held assemblies on the buses to save time.” Mrs Rigby would like to thank members of staff, parents and the children for all their help and co-operation with the move to Hemsworth and then back again.

St Catherine’s also has spaces available in the Nursery, if anyone is interested in taking up a place please contact the School on 242 1177.