WHD Weekly 1st July

A Foreword From Mrs Parpworth

Dear Parents,

This is to be my last newsletter, so I apologise for the length in advance.  Please may I suggest you make a cup of tea and settle back to read my final mammoth edition!

We couldn’t have asked for a better end to our penultimate full week of term than our annual Pre-Prep Speech and Sports Day, welcoming everyone together to celebrate the progress and achievements of all children.  It was a fantastic morning with a real feeling of community spirit.  A special thanks must go to Mrs Spencer and her choir; Amelia Foster and Freddie Spencer for their musical performances; Arabella Dolan-Crowley for her Elocution Cup recital; Laura O’Dell for her PFA speech and our Head Boy and Girl, Nicholas and Suri for their final thoughts.  I want to thank you all for the kindness and support you showed me through a very emotional and difficult speech.  As always, your encouragement spurred me on and I hope you know I meant every word.

Mrs Crompton and her team deserve high praise for running such a slick Sports Day.  Every single child deserves recognition for their invaluable contribution to our school community.  We thoroughly enjoyed watching the children compete in their races and much fun was had by all.  Thank you to Mrs Smith for taking photographs and to our PFA for organising ice-lollies.

Moving on to our final few days, we are looking forward to our Year 5 & 6 show (Friday 2pm and 6pm), Prep/Senior Speech & Sports Day (Saturday at 11am), Year 6 Leavers’ speeches (Monday at 9am), Final Pre-prep assembly (Tuesday 9am), Leavers’ celebration supper for Year 8 (Tuesday at 6pm).   On Wednesday we will hold our final assembly and Chapel Service (11.30am) followed by our Leavers’ lunch for Year 6 and 8 at 12.30pm.

I wanted to take the opportunity of recognising the contribution made by some of our staff members who are leaving for pastures new at the end of this academic year. 

As you know, Mr & Mrs Spencer are departing for pastures new and I wanted to reiterate again my thanks to them both for their years of dedication and service to the school.  Mrs Spencer has gained the role of Head of Boarding at the Oratory School and Mr Spencer will take up the post of Head of Geography at Elstree School.  The Spencers have been a significant part of our school community for over ten years.  They have dedicated their lives to the full boarding experience, acting as second parents to hundreds of children, supporting and nurturing countless many along the way.  Not only that, Mrs Spencer’s passion for singing has secured our reputation for outstanding choir provision in the local community.  Mr Spencer has been a dedicated Deputy Head who has ensured that the school has run like a well-oiled machine.   In addition, his talents in geography and general knowledge have prepared students for great success year after year.  I want to thank the Spencer’s for their unwavering dedication to the school, selflessness and devotion to the pupils.  We will miss their familiar and much-loved presence at the school, we will miss Leanne’s beautiful singing voice echoing around the corridors and of course, we will miss their amazing children.  We wish the entire family the very best of luck in their move.

Mr Burleigh, our cricket coach, will retire after 40 years’ association with our school!  During his time at Wellesley he has been a MFL teacher, a boarding House Master and sports coach.  Mr Burleigh has coached countless children in cricket with great success through the generations and we cannot thank him enough for the energy, commitment and positivity he has brought to our school.  We wish him the happiest and healthiest of retirements.   

Ms Jefferies, our Year 3 teacher, will leave at the end of this term as she relocates to be nearer to her family.  Ms Jefferies has worked at our school for over six years, injecting a passion for art and creativity into every aspect of her teaching practice.  Much loved by all, Ms Jefferies has nurtured every little person she cares for into confident people, ready for the challenges ahead.  We will miss her vibrancy, good humour and quick wit.  We wish her the very best for this exciting next phase of her life.  I am delighted to announce that Ms Claydon will step into the role as Year 3 teacher from September.  Already known to many of the families in Year 2, I am sure that her presence and reputation for outstanding care will reassure you all.

Mr Bithel-Vaughan, who teaches core subjects to our senior students, is retiring after more than six years at the school.  Mr Bithel-Vaughan’s devotion and commitment to his students is unparalleled and he has worked tirelessly to ensure his students have access to the very best opportunities to succeed.  Results achieved at both Scholarship and Common Entrance more than speak for the impact of his work and on the life chances this has given his pupils.  He truly is an inspirational man, much loved by all families and staff who have had the pleasure of working with him.  I want to wholeheartedly thank Mr Bithel-Vaughan for everything, and we wish him the happiest and healthiest of retirements.  

Mrs Lear will leave at the end of this term and will join Dover Grammar School for Boys teaching mathematics.  We wanted to thank Mrs Lear for her resilience, dedication and flexibility during her year with us.  Our students have achieved exceptional outcomes under her guidance and we want to thank her for creating a nurturing and positive learning environment for all to thrive.  We wish her the best for her new opportunity.

Mrs Moosuddee, our Senco, leaves to fulfil a Deputy Headship at Haven Nook School in Canterbury.  Anna has supported children at our school for several years and we thank her for her calm and steadfast approach; the nurture she has provided our children and for her unwavering dedication.  We wish her the very best for her fabulous new opportunity.

Mrs Harber, our cook, leaves at the end of this term after five years of delicious cooking at our school.  We will miss her fantastic bakes, cheery disposition and helpfulness.  We wish her the very best for her future. 

Finally Mrs Taheri, matron, retires at the end of this term after fourteen years service in the boarding house.  Fiona has diligently cared for countless boarders, keeping their shoes shining and uniform pristine.  She has acted like a second parent to many and cared for children when they are far from home.  She is an amazing woman and we wish her the happiest and healthiest of retirements.  

And, of course I will also leave for pastures new myself.  It has been the most amazing twelve years and it is important you all know how much you have meant to me over these years.  

I am filled with immense pride in all that we have accomplished together over these past 12 years. Yet, there is also a touch of sadness, as this will be my final week as your Headteacher. It has been an honour and a privilege to lead this remarkable school, and I am grateful for the unforgettable memories we have created together.

When I first joined this school 12 years ago, I was immediately struck by the warmth and love I felt in every facet of the school. My feelings on that haven’t changed.  From the very beginning, it was clear that Haddon Dene, now WHD, was a place that would always have a piece of my heart.

So I would like to thank you all for what has been the most exhilarating, challenging and enriching chapter of my life.

To all the brilliant staff at the school. Your commitment, creativity, and care has been the driving force behind our school’s success. You are the people who make the difference every day to our children’s lives.  You create a calm, safe and happy place for our little ones to grow.  You provide our children with the best education so they have a choice of countless prestigious schools to transition to. You foster and nurture each child so that they develop into kind, resilient and determined young people.  You have been amongst the most committed, professional and supportive people I have ever had the pleasure of working with – thank you for every laugh, every hug, every ounce of support and most of all for your friendship.

To our parents, thank you for your unwavering support and trust. You have believed in me and supported our school through enormous amounts of change and have been there to celebrate and support the achievements of our youngsters during the countless good times we have had.  I cannot tell you how much I have appreciated your words of encouragement over the years and I wish you all the very best for the future.

And to our children, you are the heart and soul of this school. Your enthusiasm, resilience, and achievements have been a constant source of inspiration to me. Watching you grow, learn, and become the brilliant people I see before me today has been the most rewarding aspect of my job. You have taught me as much as I hope I have taught you, and I am immensely proud of each and every one of you.

To our Year 6 and Year 8 Leavers, I wish you all the best for your amazing futures.  You are all incredible people with very bright times ahead.  Stay true to our values and grasp every opportunity that comes your way.  Thank you for giving us so many years of happy memories – it has been my privilege to watch you all grow.  Good luck at your next schools!

As I prepare to step down, I do so with a heart full of gratitude and memories that I will cherish forever. This school has been more than just a workplace; it has been a second home, filled with a family that I will always hold dear.

While this chapter of my life is coming to a close, I am confident that the future holds even greater things for this wonderful school. I leave knowing that our school is in capable hands, with a strong leadership team and a community that is committed to our children.

Thank you for the trust, support, and love you have shown me over the past 12 years. It has been an extraordinary journey, and I am deeply grateful to have been a part of it.

I wish you all the very best for the future.  Goodbye for now!

Mrs Jo Parpworth

Matches This Week

2.00pm start unless otherwise stated

Monday

Cricket v Sunningdale: 1st XI (a)

Tuesday

Cricket Dynamos Finals: U11 A Girls (a)

 Wednesday

Cricket v Parents: U11 and U9 (h)

Matches Last Week