An Eric Wright Facilities Management employee, Mark Rushan, caretaker at Wolverham Primary and Nursery School, has been nominated for a School Superhero Award. The School Superhero award is part of a national campaign by financial technology company, Miconex, to recognise staff working in schools.
The nomination was entered by Jennifer (one of the parents of children at the school). She wrote: “Mr Rushan is at the gate every morning when we arrive for school and he always has a beaming smile, and is so friendly. Having a chat with Mr Rushan puts you in a good mood for the rest of the day, and we look forward to seeing him.
“You can see that Mr Rushan works hard to keep school running smoothly, but he always has time for a chat.
“Sometimes in the mornings it can be a rush to get the children there, or I might be trying to get the children out the car, but Mr Rushan is always there for moral support. He’ll hold the gate open, and offer a reassuring word or two; he always knows just the right thing to say.
“Wolverham itself is a lovely school. We’ve moved house now so my children will be moving to another school and we are devastated to leave Wolverham.
“During the pandemic, the nursery aged children didn’t have video based learning because they learn through play. Instead they offered stories and activities through the Tapestry app.
“All of the staff, from the administration staff to the teachers are really genuine. When you send your child to school, knowing that they’re being looked after by people that genuinely care is a huge thing. I’d love to see Mr Rushan win this award. His enthusiasm is infectious and he deserves to win.”
Families can nominate their school superheroes who have made a positive contribution to their school community. One school superhero will receive a £50 Town and City Gift Card for their choice of over 60 schemes around the UK and Ireland, including the Chester Gift Card, with their school or class receiving a £250 cash prize.
Emily Ghazarian, marketing and events manager at Chester BID said: “We are so delighted Mr Rushan has been celebrated as a school superhero. There are so many people like him in the communities around Chester who have made schools a wonderful, safe and happy place for so many children and we are so thankful to them. They truly embody the community spirit we see every day in Chester.
Colin Munro is the managing director of Miconex and said: “Jennifer’s story shows the power of a simple smile and a few words, and the difference they can make to a person’s day.
“It also shows how vital every single staff member in a school is and we welcome this chance to celebrate Mr Rushan, a School Superhero quietly going about his job and making school a positive place to be.
“The winning School Superhero will be announced on August 31 and we wish Mr Rushan and Wolverham Primary and Nursery School the best of luck.”