Big Changes At Goldstone

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Goldstone Gazette
GOLD
June 09- Staff changes special
Big Changes At Goldstone In the past few years
we have been very fortunate in that we have had
very few staff changes and no teacher in the
last six years has left for reasons other than
promotion or because they had major domestic
changes. Well it is my very sad duty to tell you
that there are to be a significant number of
changes at Goldstone in September. We can still
say that no one is leaving because they are
desperate to get away from our school but as you
will read in the next few paragraphs we should
say thank you and give our best wishes to all of
our departing staff. In order of the length of
their service at Goldstone Mike Davies
(currently teaching Yr 4) - Mike who has been a
teacher at Goldstone (first the Junior and then
the Primary) for 28 years has decided to take
early retirement. Despite only looking 19 Mike
will hang up his chalk at the end of this term.
The place will not seem the same without Mike who
will be missed in many ways. He has been our
Music co-ordinator of late using his great piano
and keyboard skills to write many of the songs
which have been performed in junior shows over
many years. During his time at the school he has
been acting deputy head and science co-ordinator
and rumour is that he was the woolly mammoth
warden in the bronze age. Mike is looking forward
to travelling and playing and watching lots of
tennis. Val Heys (currently teaching Yr 5) - Val
has also decided that the time is right for her
to retire following her husbands retirement
earlier in the year. Val has been at Goldstone
for 17 years and has the unusual distinction of
having a career which has covered reception
children right up to secondary and has even
taught undergraduates at University. Val has
given our History curriculum real authority over
the years.
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Fay Hemsley (Nursery teacher) - Fay is the woman
that people are happy to entrust their most
precious things to at three years old. I have
said to many people that she is one of the main
reasons for our numbers increasing over the past
few years. Our Nursery is very unusual in that it
has a waiting list. Fay was a qualified Nursery
Nurse before becoming a teacher and has been our
Foundation Stage manager until recently.
Unfortunately she has had some health issues
lately and will begin her very well deserved
retirement in July. Fay has been at Goldstone
(and Knoll before that) for 10 years. Louise
Dollings (currently teaching Yr 5 and KS 2
Manager) - those eagle eyed amongst you might
have spotted that Mrs Dollings is having a baby.
So it will not be a surprise that she is going to
be leaving Goldstone on 24th June to start her
maternity leave. The bad news is that she will
not be returning as she has just been appointed
to the local authorities team of consultants,
where she will specialise in supporting teachers
and schools in developing their skills in
teaching literacy. This is a fantastic
opportunity for Lou and is recognition of her
ability and knowledge in the area of primary
literacy. Lou has been at Goldstone for 8
years Chris Youles (currently teaching Yr 6) -
Chris has only actually been with us for four
years but he has made a huge impact. He helped
guide our year six children to our best ever SATs
results last year. He wrote and produced last
years summer production and he has been co-coach
of the football teams for the whole time he has
been at Goldstone. Unfortunately Chris will also
be leaving us at the end of the school year to go
and work in Thailand. Anna Goodman - who works
as a Teaching Assistant in Yr4 will also be
leaving us to return to her home town to continue
her studies which will result ultimately in her
becoming a teacher and I am sure she will make a
first rate one. So as you can see we shall be
losing a significant number of excellent
colleagues and good friends. Our school will not
be exactly the same but I am confident that the
people we have appointed will bring other equally
valuable qualities. From September some of our
current staff will be moving to other year
groups. Here we try to outline which staff will
be working in which year groups next year
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Teachers and year groups for next year Nursery
Sara McKenna will be moving from Reception to the
Nursery. Reception- Claire ORiordan and Katy
Long will remain in reception. Claire will
continue as Foundation Stage Manager. Year One-
Sandra Ades will remain in year one. Vicky Conry
will go to year one when she returns from
Maternity leave. Victoria Rogers will be our new
KS 1 Manager and is joining us from West Sussex.
Victoria is a music specialist. Year Two- Pam
Owen, Caroline Stevenson and Judy March will
remain in year two. Year Three- Mark Sheehan will
remain in year three and Mags Newton will move
to year three. Year Four- Tina Daly will remain
in year four where she will be joined by Laura
Robertson who will be joining us from a school in
North Wales. Laura is a PE specialist. Year Five-
Vania Seevaramen will be moving to year five. She
will be working with another new teacher Jane
Swindells who specialises in Music and
Dance. Year Six- Iain Henderson will remain in
year six and Anna Warne will moving to year six.
Anna will also be taking over as KS 2
Manager. As you can see we still have a very
very strong team.