downsmail.co.uk
News
Grammar head sad to leave ‘lovely school’
THEEaster holidays will never be the same again for Mary Smith, who waved goodbye to her stu- dents and teaching friends at Maidstone Grammar School for Girls. Her retirement follows eight
years as head at the highly-rated school and 38 years teaching in sec- ondary schools and further and adult education. Mary (right) said: “The early
years of my career were spent be- fore there were computers, white- boards, projectors, or photocopiers in schools and before Ofsted was invented. “I feel hugely privileged to have
spent my working life teaching people, young and old, about liter- ature and the English language. I am passionate about both, having been inspired by my own teachers. So, to spend all those years talking about Shakespeare and Eliot and Blake and Chaucer, and even apos- trophes and semi-colons, has been wonderfully rich.” She describedworking at MGGS
as a privilege. “It is a lovely school, recognised as outstanding by Of- sted but, more importantly, it has a very special ethos.” Some of her best memories, she recalls, were events that brought
the whole school together such as its house arts and ragweek, day of silence and a helicopter flyover. She added: “The students and
staff here are exceptional. I feel very emotional about leaving. I shall miss everyone very much and wish all students present, past and fu- ture, the very best for the future.” Mary also wished her successor, MaureenWolloshin, all the best in her new post, which she started at the beginning of the new term. Asked what she might do now,
Mary said: “I hope I shall be able to carry on teaching in someway, as I have enjoyed it so much and have always been a teaching head- teacher. Otherwise, maybe it’s time to write that book.”
New challenge for deputy head
THE deputy head of Maidstone Grammar School has taken up a new post as head of a high school in Lincolnshire. Michele Anderson had been deputy head of the boys’ school in Bar-
ton Road, where she also taught geography, for eight years, prior to being appointed head of Spalding High School. She took up her new post at the start of term. MGS was judged outstanding by Ofsted at its latest inspection in September, where inspectors described one of Mrs Anderson’s lessons as exemplary. Mrs Anderson’s role included staff and student development and headmaster Mark Tomkins said her talents would be sorely missed. Julie Sewell, assistant head of Fort Pitt Grammar School in Chatham, has been appointed her successor and will take up the po- sition in September.
Supporting mums for 10 years
THE Maidstone breastfeeding drop-in centre at the Salvation Army Centre in Union Street is celebrating its 10th anniversary. The centre was opened on May 12, 2004 by Maggie Lack, from Health Promotion, to support new mums and is now a partnership venture funded by KCC. Breastfeeding consultants and volunteers called peer supporters staff the centre. The group will celebrate its 10th birthday with a cake at the ses-
sion on Wednesday, May 14. Anyone who has been helped by the group iswelcome to come along. The centre is open from 12.30pm to 2pm everyWednesday at the Salvation Army Centre, 74-80 Union Street, Maidstone.
CARE VISITS AT HOME Good Old Fashioned Service
ASK DEBBIE........ for help, advice and assistance
Dear Debbie,
I have been caring for my sister who has learning disabilities for the past 3 years. Much though I love her, things can get on top of me sometimes and then I need a break. I would really like to get away for a week with my husband and children but am worried about leaving my sister. I’m a bit anxious about residential care so I was wondering if “home care” could help? Kind Regards,
Alexandra P Dear Alexandra,
Round the clock –or even just frequent and regular - care work can be exhausting, so it is not at all surprising that you feel that you need a break every now and then.
Many home care agencies will offer a respite service that can be anything from 15 minute visits to check on well-being, right through to 24hr live in care. A well- resourced agency should be able to profile a short list of suitable Care Workers to match your sister’s interests and then introduce potential Care Workers to your sister to ensure she is involved in the creation of her care package and to make sure she is comfortable with the particular Care Worker selected.
A few “trial run visits” beforehand during which you are initially present can build confidence that things will work when the time for your break arrives – which means that you will be able to relax properly and get the full benefit.
Home care works really well for respite breaks – but it takes a little planning!
Kind Regards, Debbie Moulton, Care Manager, Bluebird Care
How Bluebird Care can help with you or your loved ones:
• Help with getting up or going to bed
• Personal Hygiene • Cleaning the home • Preparing Meals • Assist with medication • Overnight Care
• Washing or Ironing • Shopping
• Sightseeing or leisure activities • 24hr Live-in-care
• Trips to see friends or relatives
MAIDSTONE • 01622 809530
maidstone@bluebirdcare.co.uk
www.bluebirdcare.co.uk/maidstone Maidstone Town June 2014
19
If you have a question that you would like to ask Debbie then please email her at
debbie@bluebirdcare.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48