Staff
Mental Health Training Feedback
Goodbye to a much loved and long standing Deputy, Miss Daniels. Good luck with your gardening adventure. Bee necklace, RHS gardening tools engraved, John Lewis and gardening vouchers, Charlie Mackesy 'Kind' print & many cards and good wishes from staff, parents and governors as well as children. Generous for a generous and much loved Deputy.
At Miss Daniels' Virtual Farewell Assembly, presentations were made from School and Day Care staff, Governors and a child. Cards from across the site were shared and best wishes as she begins a return to the classroom to develop her gardening skills and knowledge, to benefit others.
Questions Raised by Staff During Autumn Term 2020
Staff keen to say thank you for COVID-19 Lockdown to July 2020 and as whole school returns Sept 2020
I wanted to take this opportunity to express my huge thanks and gratitude for how you have supported me in so many ways this year. In particular, I can’t thank you enough for your understanding, kindness and wise words of advice over the last five months. The impact that these unprecedented times have had on me personally has been so much greater then I would have ever imagined, but the way that you have helped me and my family is something I will always be so grateful for. In such uncertain times, one thing I have never doubted is your commitment to keeping each and every one of us safe during this storm, and I know that you will see us all safely through it until we find our rainbow. Thank you I am so proud to be part of the Howe Dell family.
I just wanted to thank you for this year, I have had the most amazing year and I am going to miss Howe Dell greatly. I am so grateful for you taking me on this year as this year has given me the confidence to go into my PGCE year. I hope you have a fantastic summer.
Thank you so much for being an amazing Head. I have loved every second of my time at Howe Dell and will miss you all terribly.
Thank you so much for always allowing the Staff to put their families first.
I am so grateful for all your support and care towards me. I honestly cannot put into words how lucky I am to work as part of the Howe Dell family. I cannot say thank you enough!
Thank you very much for all your support over the last year it has been great working with you.
Yay! Nearing the end of my NQT year and the end of a crazy summer term for us all. Just to say the biggest thank you for all the support you have shown and for being the friendliest, most caring team. For all the efforts since the 1st June, making it the safest and happiest environment possible. I have had a great first year teaching. Take care and have a lovely summer, you all deserve it… Lockdown Heroes!
Growing Leadership from Within 2020
Well done to our Howe Dell's Leaders from Within 2020 winners!
Continual professional development is key to ensuring our provision remains forward thinking and has maximum impact for our children.
Please see on site our training logs with impact which cannot be listed here under GDPR as information specific to each member of staff.
It includes the following:
- Training on our Eco site and values, which informs our curriculum and is integral to our ethos. This is an early part of every new member of staff's induction.
- Opportunity to shadow and observe fellow colleagues at work to learn from one another.
- Safeguarding and health related statutory training, to ensure exemplary safeguarding procedures are implement.
- Staff meetings, open to governors, non teaching staff and at times other schools to show case learning from external training and to cascade to others to ensure input and outcome are maximised.
- Focussed training for subject leadership and to support staff with new roles and responsibilities to gain confidence in delivering expectations, which are mirrored in positive but challenging appraisal processes.
- We have welcomed moderation orchestrated by School and Day Care with other providers and via external County moderations, all demonstrating the rigour and accuracy of internal assessment.
- We offer coaching as an opportunity for professional growth and to determine manageable next steps.
- Every new member of staff has a mentor, every Subject leader has a Link Governor to ensure strengths can be celebrated with a partner who has a vested interest in developing a specific area.
- Our whole site Leadership Days include Governors and through these, the School Plan evolves. It is relevant and has high ownership and accountability as so many involved in its formation.
- We continue to provide training for others beyond Howe Dell and to learn from exemplar provision in Herts and further afield. The impact being a high profile school with access to innovation and learning both local and further afield.
Howe Dell Heroes - Roll of Honour 2019
Howe Dell Heroes, we thank you, with a selfie no less in 2019!
What makes a Growing leaders From Within Winner? Have a look at these testimonials.
Well done our Leaders from Within 2019 winners. These amazing role models were nominated by our Leadership Team or Governors and recognise people across the site for giving so much more than any one could ask. Thank you from us all!
Growing Leadership From Within 2019
Great level of engagement from lunchtime staff to further develop provision for all children
Great feedback from our on site conference hosting 4 Hertfordshire Schools
Senior Leaders off site to think 'outside the box', enjoy the natural environment and apply team building through new skills!
Mrs Massey completes an extended training programme for Executive Headship. This included a year of working alongside highly respected Heads and visiting schools with various organisational structures in Nottingham, Colchester and Greenwich. As a result teaching School status and partnership development have begun.
Howe Dell Heroes - Roll of Honour 2018, including some examples of completed testamonials.
Training via consultancy, visits, partnership working and through national and local organisations are all part of Howe Dell's philosophy of sharing and learning with other learners. Now we are planning a Conference: 'To Outstanding and Beyond' including workshops led by our staff on 03.09.18. Please see below for further details.
Howe Dell Heroes 2018! Nominated staff and volunteers by members of our Howe Dell Family. An emotional and heartfelt opportunitiy to say thank you.
Our staff and governors begin to consider what are non negotiable cornerstones of our School and what could pros and cons be of extending our reach? Next step, a bid to become a Teaching School.
What did you do that was memorable at work today? Do you want you want to join our 'A team' and be part of the Howe Dell Family? Check on teachinherts for advertised vancancies: visits warmly welcome!
Staff Roll of Honour List 2017-18: recognising leadership in all roles at Howe Dell
Annual Leadership Day with staff and governors: lessons from our past, values intrinsic to our present provision. How will all this inform next steps to spread the 'essence' of Howe Dell to work in partnership with new schools? WATCH THIS SPACE!
Life/work balance; staff milestones are marked and celebrated as well as successful work outcomes. Howe Dell weddings and babies are always celebrated with style.
Howe Dell Heroes, recognised again by staff, governors and pupils. One was even nominated by an impressed member of the public. There are so many wonderful moments to celebrate at Howe Dell but here is our annual opportunity to applaud some highly valued members of the Howe Dell family.
What does our Leadership Team across the site value about opportunities at Howe Dell for professional development?
More to be celebrated after Friday's announcements and Roll of Honour published in our Newsletter! Growing Leadership from Within: Our Annual Leadership Day has resulted yet again with team leaders recognising individuals who are demonstrating increased leadership impact. This year we have decided to publish some of these as well as celebrate all in our Sharing Assembly.
Welcome back! Postcards from our staff, proving they work hard, but have a life outside School too!
We had a Shakespeare Focus for our INSET this year. This is how staff reviewed the day from Teachers' Senior Leaders as well as Teaching Assistants and Dinner Time Staff.
Our AMAZING TAs walked 25 miles and over 16 bridges for Charity!
Howe Dell's Heroes 2016
Howe Dell's Heroes 2016
Our Roll Call of Howe Dell's Heroes:-
|
Name |
Reason |
|
The Facilities Duo – Colin & Sharon |
This duo have had lots of projects to deal with over the past year – including the perennial battle with the wind turbine! (Which is now working!), the installation of the automatic car park gates and kestrels! Add to that Themed Weeks and Wonder Days for Maths, Shakespeare, Pet Day, Space & Time Travel week, Bird Art Attack and Our Living World, along with the regular annual Howe Dell events such as Sports Day, Remembrance Day etc.. |
|
Mel Chandaria |
Mel is a kind, caring person who will go out of her way for anyone. She is an active member on the PSA whether cooking amazing food for an event, helping to set up or henna painting. She always has a smile on her face when greeting parents and staff, and is an active and willing governor, and is very supportive to her R.E subject leader in all areas, wanting to do the best she can for the school and children. |
|
Mrs Massey |
Mrs Massey is a one in a million head teacher. She gives the children in her care opportunities that they would not receive at other schools, through all of the Wonder Day, Wonder Weeks and Theatre trip experiences, as well as other projects run in the school. There are very few head teachers who are accessible to parents both at the start and at the end of the school day and who know the names of so many children. She is inspirational, passionate, dedicated and exceptional. Howe Dell is extremely lucky to have her! |
|
Julia Ellis-Hall |
Julia is always bright, cheerful and approachable. She has many roles linked to Howe Dell but recently has been involved in some important Governor meetings. Julia has made staff feel appreciated and valued and this has been gratefully received during some challenging times. To ensure staff well-being she even brings staff packed lunches! She is also an active part of the community attending and supporting local events, even bringing along her ever expanding group of children who she child minds. |
|
Lyn Walkerdine |
Year 1 wanted to thank Mrs Walkerdine for reading with Year 1 children over the past 2 years. She has helped the children to progress in their reading and has helped them to grow in confidence. They respond well to her and look forward to her coming into read with them. |
Well done those involved in Staff Netball Match for Sports Relief. £40 raised for charity.
Mrs Heard's Thank You Letter.
Staff Roll of Honour 2016
Staff Roll of Honour 2016
Howe Dell Leadership Team Training outcomes
What makes a good teacher GREAT at Howe Dell? Y4, 5 and 6 can tell you!
Well done to Mrs Richards, Teaching Assistant Year 4.1, for her British Red Cross awards – highest number of callouts attended in Hertfordshire, Bedford and Essex and Festive Responder - having attended a house flood on Christmas Day!
She is a volunteer for the Emergency Response Team, and attended 39 callouts last year, ranging from house fires, house floods, distraction burglaries, vehicles into buildings and the St. Albans sink hole.
What do staff value about working at Howe Dell?
An extract from staff survey outcomes, full report available below.
- I believe we make a real difference to the children in our care and everyone shares the same vision and drive to make this school so great. It is a daily challenge and everyone rises to it.
- There are so many initiatives to encourage the children’s learning – wonder days, trips. The team work really well together and it feels like an extended family.
- Everyone works hard with each other and not against each other.
- This is a school with exceptionally high values of integrity in a fast paced and exciting environment; an excellent place to grow and perform.
- I feel listened to and appreciated. I feel I am learning from extremely experiences and inspiring colleagues – from all areas of the school.
What do children think makes a good teacher GREAT?
Staff Survey to inform appraisals and future school planning and resourcing
What do staff do during INSET days?
Leadership Team meet to review staff skills, knowledge and experience in ensuring every child continues to matters, every day at Howe Dell.
Henry V provided plenty of inspiration to reflect on staff leadership styles for a whole site INSET involving teachers, TAs, MSAs and After School as well as Breakfast Club workers
3 staff weddings to launch the new year! See PowerPoint for images of all 3.
3 beautiful brides celebrated via a PowerPoint from our Main Entrance
Introducing our Howe Dell Heroes 2015: staff and volunteers including governors who go above and beyond to make our school a wonderful place to learn.
Mrs Massey as support to the Manager has instigated Day Care Training, with a focus to review provision against New Early Years Framework. How do the staff feel about this?
| Debra Massey | Executive Headteacher |
| Pete Mason | Deputy Head |
Teachers
| Nadia Wilkie | Nursery |
| Tania Akthar | Reception 1 |
| Becca Reeve | Reception 2 |
| Kathy Adams | Year 1 Class 1 |
| Diane Rouse | Year 1 Class 2 |
| Georgina Malone | Year 2 Class 1 |
| Tina Christmas | Year 2 Class 2 |
| Lydia Bigginton | Year 3 Class 1 |
| Lucy Kirk | Year 3 Class 2 |
| Alison Miller | Year 4 Class 1 |
| Paula McNamee | Year 4 Class 2 |
| Jo Middleton/Julia Kiely | Year 5 Class 1 |
| Daniel Steel | Year 5 Class 2 |
| Rachel Micklewright/Krisztina Joo | Year 6 Class 1 |
|
Elle Ayrton |
Year 6 Class 2 |
| Emma Miller | |
| Claire Payne | Early Years |
| Lauren Madden (Maternity leave) | |
| Camille Bogard (Maternity Leave) | |
| Lizzie Castle (Maternity leave) | |
| Heather Woollett (Maternity Leave) |
Chances to join in new learning opportunities for staff
Teaching Assistants
| Anna Alderson | Aleksandra Miksiewicz |
| Lopa Banerjee | Andrea Nash |
| Sally Climo | Jo Newland |
| Emily Cowan | Catherine O'Sullivan |
| Beth Dyball | Belinda Smith |
| Penny Galloway | Victoria Stratford |
| Karen Garg | Gemma Watkins |
| Ria Georgiadis | Laraine West |
| Sharon Jansen (HLTA) | Sharon Worsley |
| Krisztina Joo | |
| Lukshmi Juvanethan | |
| Jane Long | |
| Sam Marsh |
Office Staff
| Mel Allgood | Office Manager |
| Rachel Gordon | Extended Services and Projects Administrator |
| Carly Clark | Admin Assistant |
| Louise Bishop | Admin Assistant |
| Tracey Horncastle | Admin Assistant |
Facilities Team
| Sharon Hill | Facilities Manager |
| Steve Smith | Deputy Facilities Manager |
| Andy Woolford | Facilities Assistant |
Midday Supervisors
| Valmira Lokaj | Clare Tupper |
| Penny Lowde | Selena Truman |
| Jyoti Sindhi | Marinela Bekteshi |
| Seema Tiwari | Tina Wright |
| Jyoti Jamalapuram | Emma Demianyk |
| Lucy Stammers | Gaynor Hodnett |
Other Staff
| Lauren Calder | SENCO/inclusion Manager | |
| Ashling Cooney | Deputy SENCO | |
| Nina Williams | Partnerships and Community Manager | |
| Mel Chandaria | Breakfast Club Assistant | |
| Will Andrews | ICT Technician | |
| Caroline Griffin | Cook |
Wordles arising from staff feedback
