We give them a big whoosh on their way…… First, we bid farewell to Cathy Delacroix , our beloved SEN Teacher, who will be retiring after 23 years at DUCKS. Cathy’s dedication and compassion have made a lasting impact on countless pupils. We wish her a fulfilling and joyful retirement. We also say goodbye to Leona Williams , an exceptional Early Years Practitioner, (currently in the Duckling Room), who is leaving after 22 years. Leona and her family are relocating to Nottingham, where she will take on an exciting new role as Deputy Manager at Magic Roundabout Nursery. We thank Leona for her unwavering devotion and wish her and her family all the best in this new chapter. Leila Hamadi will be leaving DUCKS after nearly 5 years of dedicated service as a Teaching Assistant, (currently in Lapwing Class). This year, Leila completed her degree, marking a significant personal and professional achievement. She will now be taking some time to decide whether to return to Germany or pursue a postgraduate qualification. Francesca Pay, currently our Swan Class Teacher and Reception Lead, will be leaving DUCKS at Christmas after 3 years of committed service. Francesca will be returning to her hometown of St. Albans to take on an exciting new role as Head of STAHS Pre-Prep. While we will miss her greatly, we are also excited for her as she embarks on this new phase in her career. Annisha William, another valued Early Years Practitioner, (currently in the Baby Room) will be leaving DUCKS after 2 years to work closer to home and pursue a new role as a Teaching Assistant. Annisha’s enthusiasm and dedication have greatly enriched our community, and we are confident she will excel in her new role. Lastly, we say farewell to Grace Mather It’s always bittersweet to say goodbye to valued team members, but we also celebrate their future endeavors and achievements.
It is my great pleasure to share with you the seventh edition of Little Alleynian As I write this introduction we are just coming to the end of a highly informative and fun-filled ‘Science Week’. As part of the many exciting activities the children have visited Science labs on the main site, joined the College Science teachers for a ‘Pop’, ‘bang’ and ‘whoosh’ session on the DUCKS field, and shared a special assembly with a colony of bees! We have enjoyed three ‘Stunning Starts’ this year which provide the backdrop to our creative curriculum. These themes become familiar within the children’s learning and activities, sparking curiosity, creative thinking and questioning. We began the school year with ‘Up Up and Away’ in the Michaelmas term, inspiring the children to think about the far reaches of the globe and the universe beyond. ‘St Paul’s Pigeons’ by artist Mark Herald provided the backdrop to the Lent term theme of ‘The Big Picture’. The children delved into the history of London’s past and also enjoyed visits to the Dulwich Picture Gallery and Tate Modern, examining and developing different artistic techniques culminating with their end of term ‘Great Exhibition’ in the school hall. ‘Rings of Friendship’ has been our theme for the summer term, coinciding with the upcoming Olympic Games. The children have enjoyed adding stickers to our World Map and celebrating their own and other children’s family heritage, the many different nationalities and faiths within DUCKS and the uniting of friendships across the globe. Our families are so wonderfully supportive of everything we do and it is always a pleasure to welcome them into DUCKS. Beside visiting for Stay & Play sessions in the classroom and at our Forest School, parents also combined with our Year 2 Charity and Leadership Group to support the various charities our children have raised money for throughout the year – ‘Happy Whale’ (in support of ocean conservation), Read Easy Southwark (in support of adults learning to Read) and ‘Sarcoma’ (a bone and soft-tissue cancer charity). The DUCKS family and the sense of community is at the very heart of all we do.
and Millie Shaw , our Gap Year Assistants, who will be leaving DUCKS to study at Bristol University. Their energy and support have been greatly appreciated, and we wish them great success in their studies and future endeavors.
Jo Parker Head of DUCKS
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