Time To Say Goodbye

LINDA SAYS GOODBYE

“It has been quite hard to write this piece, and I realise that this is because part of me is rather in denial about leaving King Alfred. Although I’m looking forward to moving on to the freedoms that retirement will bring, it is also difficult to imagine leaving KAS and everything that it has given me over the last 16 years.

When I walked through the main gate on my very first day here – from the busy road outside to the oasis of green calm - I felt a surge of optimism and the sense of positive hope and many possibilities, and that feeling has continued (very nearly!) every day that I’ve walked through that gate since. Maybe this is what the children feel too when they come to KAS, I hope so.

Working at KAS has always been busy and demanding, but also energising, joyful, and above all, rewarding. I am incredibly grateful for being able to work in such an extraordinary place, with so many inspiring, thoughtful colleagues and to have seen more than a generation of children come through Admissions. It has been a privilege to take on the Marketing role as well, and to have the opportunity to take part in setting the school on its path to reaching a wider audience.

I’ve always thought that one of the best aspects of my job is that I get to work with just about everyone in the school. Many of the wonderful colleagues I have known have moved on over the years, but I know how much I will miss everyone who is here now, and especially the brilliant Admissions and Marketing team, Gill, Caren and Diane.”

In the Bull & Bush

On a staff night out

With colleagues

Linda Fraser

FAREWELL TO DENNIS

His quiet organisational skills are already being missed as he danced off into retirement earlier this year

Dennis Cooke retired at Easter after working at KAS for an incredible 33 years. He was appointed in September 1989 as a Lower School Class Teaching Assistant and settled in quickly, initially as a maternity cover and then job-sharing with Josie as TA in Year 2. In 2004, he graduated to the role of Senior Teaching Assistant in Learning Support in Lower School.

Throughout his career at KAS, Dennis has skilfully supported individual Lower School children. Dennis’ structured one-to-one intervention significantly improved the achievement of learners in literacy or numeracy. In addition, he was talented Classical and Spanish guitar player and so Dennis has performed in many Lower School Callovers, inspiring children to take up the instrument. Organised and methodical, he was the ideal person to oversee the purchasing of resources for the whole of Lower School and he was also an invaluable member of Lower School camps for many years and acting as Camp Quartermaster.

Dennis was a familiar sight arriving by bike each day and will be missed by staff and students alike.

Dennis Cooke

Xmas 1989

DENNIS IN PICTURES

Asked to remember his time at the school, Dennis chose these two photos and shared his memories of them with us:

“Here I am dressed as Dennis the Menace at the work Christmas party in 1989, with my daughter Sibyl aged 5 months. Sibyl was the reason I joined the school as the maternity cover for TA, Josie. Jane Townsend was the class teacher and an excellent mentor for me in the ‘lower family group’ setting (Years 1 and 2 mixed). It was certainly a bit of a change from teaching music and guitar.

In this photo we are untangling the Maypole ribbons in May 1991. It was about 5 months before the birth of my daughter Florence. The maternity cover role I’d started in became a job/child-care share for several years. In the early 2000s when a learning support post became available, I was thankful to be able to fill it and allow Josie to return to a full time TA position.

Now I’ve retired I’m going to keep busy with music and my house and garden. I hope to see everyone soon.”

Untangling maypole ribbons

TIME TO SAY GOODBYE

You can sign out at reception – but you can never leave the KAS community!

Andre

ANDRE MOURATO

After coming to KAS as a student, Andre first started work at KAS as part of the Estates Team. Over the next 13 years he took on many roles and ended up supporting Claire in the Upper School Admin office taking responsibility for attendance (and mobile phones!)

Head of Estates, Zah said: “Andre is always positive, helpful, involved and ready to step in when the proverbial hits the fan. He is a great colleague and friend and, whilst the school will be poorer for his leaving, I am so pleased he has found an avenue into his long-term career aims to be a mentor and youth worker. I am sure in you will be a great inspiration to the young people he will be working with.”

Anna

ANNA NÍ CHAOIMH

At the beginning of the year, we were sorry to wave Anna off to a new chapter with her baby boy and husband Charles in Ireland.

Anna was a key member of the English Department who brought passion and intelligence to her classroom for many years at the school. She also contributed a great deal to the life of Year 7 as their Head of Year and undertook some invaluable research into progressive education for us before she left.

We warmly wish her and her family all the very best.

BECKY TOLLEY

“I have worked at King Alfred School for two years and have been involved with Reception and Years One, Four and Five. Thank you to everyone at KAS for an amazing time here over the past two years but I would give particular thanks to Caitlin, Emily, Nina, Amina, Nick, and Lucy for helping me find my feet in each new year group and creating such lovely environments. I’m moving on to study Primary Education this September. I have learned so much and will always have great memories of working here. It has been amazing!”

GEORGIA KEANE

Georgia leaves us after a year as a TA in Year 5 to undertake her teacher training. She said about her my time at KAS, “I have absolutely loved it here. It was my first classroom experience and I’ve felt supported from the start. I was put in a class that I have grown to love and I have learned so much from working with the children, Zac, and everyone else around me.”

Georgia

Giovani

GIOVANI DE CICCO

Giovanni started working as a science technician specialising in Biology in 2016. Colleague Roger Grech said: “He was a pleasure to work with, hard-working and a valued member of the Science Department. He will be sorely missed and we all wish him well in his future endeavours.”

TIME TO SAY GOODBYE

Priti, Annabel and Sharon

PRITI SHAH

Wishing a fond farewell to, Priti, who is left KAS at the end of May.

She has been a very important member of the Bursary Finance team for the last 6 years. Known by staff to be tireless in her quest to have all invoices approved and supporting documents to hand at the end of each week.

We will miss her sense of humour in the Bursary not to mention the yummy Indian treats.

Sending all our good wishes with her for the future.

ANNABEL CROSS

After moving to the UK from Zimbabwe in the early 2000s Annabel came to work at KAS as a financial accountant in 2007. With her relaxed and friendly manner, and wonderful sense of humour, she instantly fitted into the community, so much so that her husband Adrian also came to work here on the Estates team, staying until 2018.

Annabel continued in the bursary after Adrian’s retirement and rose effortlessly to the challenges of a department which experienced significant change over the years. A supportive colleague and staunch gatekeeper of our financial records she was always a welcoming presence and a strong team player.

After 15 years of dedicated service, she has recently moved to Gloucestershire to spend more time with her family.

There are so many fond memories of Annabel (not least her love of Maltesers!) including the tradition of her and Adrian sitting in the Lower School playground at staff parties, singing and playing the guitar and recounting their escapades in ‘Zim’.

She will be keenly missed and the KAS Community wish both her and Adrian every happiness in this next chapter of their lives.

SHARON MYERS

Sharon leaves us after six years as Finance Manager working first under Alan, then Julie and for a short time with Victoria. She was a dependable, supportive, and encouraging colleague and leaves behind lots of great memories.

Bursary Manager, Tricia said: “When Sharon came for her interview in 2016, I wondered if this high-powered woman would fit into our small team. She turned out to be a breath of fresh air and most certainly became one of the team very quickly, I really shouldn’t have worried!

Sharon worked closely with Annabel and Priti and was always there if any of us needed advice regarding work or home life. Out of work Sharon was a fitness guru and astounded us with photos of her on a stand-up paddleboard in the Lake District or practicing yoga and we loved hearing about her open water swimming.”

We wish Sharon all the best of luck.

KEEPING UP WITH KAS

Want to peep behind the KAS gates more often than once a year? Follow KAS for term-time insights:

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@thekingalfredschool

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The Alfredian Magazine 2022

Edited: Diane Leeming & Rocco Panaggio Design: Sparkloop

The King Alfred School, North End Road, London NW11 7HY

www.kingalfred.org.uk Tel: 020 8457 5200

Email: kas@kingalfred.org.uk