The award which was presented by Councillor Roy Brame was given in recognition of the parents’ contribution to online-live learning and their unwavering support by keeping the school safe by following the many rules in place.
Attending the event was the Sheriff of Norfolk Michael Gurney DL, along with various Town and District Civic Heads.
Cllr Brame and Cllr Turner, Chair and former Chair of Breckland Council commented: “The staff at Thomas Bullock Church of England Primary School in Shipdham have demonstrated amazing support to pupils and parents throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. They truly deserve to be recognised for delivering a high quality of education in challenging circumstances, whilst keeping everyone safe. We hope our award for public service during the pandemic goes some way in showing our appreciation.”
Headteacher, Mrs Shannon O’Sullivan said: “We are genuinely touched by this award. Our parents, children and community mean everything to us. We were fortunate that our school never closed at the height of the pandemic. We came together as community. Children were recognised within this award who wrote wonderful postcards which were delivered to lonely members of the community. It also recognised the work of the school in setting up a pandemic fund, our live-learning throughout and our kitchen for providing meals to the church community.”
Last year, the pupils from Thomas Bullock Church of England Primary Academy worked with the local Parish Council providing their community of Shipdham with a smile.
The Shipdham Parish Emergency Council and the Thomas Bullock DNEAT school in Shipdham, launched a ‘Postcard for a Neighbour’ campaign and community volunteer Helen Bridge designed a poignant postcard using the school’s phrase from Matthew 5:16, ‘Let your Light Shine’ and ‘Together We Help Shipdham Shine.’
Oliver Burwood, CEO of Diocese of Norwich Education and Academies Trust (DNEAT) said: “This is a particularly heart-warming story of community and school coming together and most poignantly teaching our children how to look out for other people.”
Helen Bridge said: “We were blown away by how our community came together to support one another over the last year. Even so, the most recent restrictions coinciding with the darkest days of winter really tested our wellbeing and we wanted to do something that would lift everyone’s spirits. Sometimes, small gestures are all it takes to brighten someone’s day and ease feelings of loneliness; and who doesn’t love to see a handwritten postcard land on their doormat?”
The award is proudly on display at the front of the school and the children thoroughly enjoyed receiving the award at their assembly.