Our ‘Governor of the Week’ is Len Clark, our Chair of Governors, and he writes:

I can’t remember exactly when I became a governor at St. Mary’s but according to old diaries it must have been in 1976 but then we were known as School Managers.  In those days one of the managers would clerk the meetings and that fell to me to do for the first year or two – later I found that I was Treasurer.    Gladys Vendy was Head at the time – she had not long succeeded Bill Varah who had master-minded the move from the premises in York Street (now Edwina Mountbatten House and home of St. John’s Ambulance Association). Have a peep through the gate in Wyndham Place (which still bears the title “St. Mary’s School” above it!) and see the size of the playground, now used for parking – and we thought our present one was inadequate!  Gladys Vendy was succeeded as Head by Frances O’Neil who in turn was succeeded by Peter Hadfield.

Anyway I think I’m meant to be talking about myself.  Most of my working life was spent as a teacher, starting at a small church secondary school in Bermondsey (known locally as the Bermondsey Boys’ Borstal) and then spending 17 years at Kynaston  School (later to become Quintin Kynaston) starting in the Mathematics Department and moving on to become Deputy Head of QK - acting Head for a term or so.  After this I moved to Cheshunt School as Deputy Head where I stayed until I retired.

I am currently appointed by the Deanery Synod as a governor at St. Mary’s and as well as being a member of the Staffing, Finance and Premises Sub-Committees I am also the link governor for Mathematics.  St. Mary’s is an excellent school – everybody who visits it (including OFSTED Inspectors!) has nice things to say about it, its staff and its pupils and for my part I am very proud to be associated with it.

Correction

Please note that our Musical Extravaganza starts at 6.30, not 6.00 as stated in last week’s newsletter.

Money Trail

The Friends Association are collecting 50p coins for a money trail that they will put together on Wednesday. You should already have some information about this. There are collecting boxes in every class room. The money will be used to support the school in buying those ‘extras’ that make everybody’s life a little easier and/or richer! In the past the Friends have bought stage lights, staging, distorting mirrors for the playground, the soft surface where the ’mushrooms’ are and supported many other projects that enhance our school.

Recycling Week: Textiles

This week is recycling week. Please collect all unwanted or damaged cloth  materials at home and bring it into school this week. Children will using your discarded textiles in an art project next week, as well as recycling some material through Westminster. Please see Mrs Leith for more information, or if you want a large, special recycling bag.

This Week:

• Tuesday: Musical Extravaganza at 6.30

• Wednesday: Friends’ Money Trail

• Friday: Y3 and Y4 to the library

• Friday: Y4 class assembly.

Dates For Your Diary