Fond farewell to a popular head
THERE was a fond farewell to Lisa Rees, who has left Woolton Hill Junior School after 10 years there.
Mrs Rees, who was headteacher at the school from September 2019 until earlier this year when the school merged with St Thomas’ Infant School to become a federation, is to become interim head at Sulhamstead and Ufton Nervet Primary School.
Paul Davies was announced as executive head of the Schools of Woolton Hill federation in February this year and started the role in April.
On her final day last Friday, Mrs Rees was presented by a parent with a leaving gift of donations, flowers and a huge card, signed by parents of current pupils and past pupils who had come through the school while she was a teacher.
Mrs Rees said the gift was a “lovely surprise”.
She said: “I was completely surprised, it was really special.
“The parents are really sweet, they organised it themselves and got me a really generous gift, flowers and a really lovely card.
“It was a very touching gift.”
Mrs Rees has steered the
school through the coronavirus pandemic, leading it as it transitioned to lockdown learning and now managing the situation with many children having to isolate.
She said the school’s yearly residential trips – school trips where the pupils stay away for at least one night – had created “special memories”, adding “For me, my best memories are the residential opportunities that the school provides. I’ve been really lucky to go
on all of them and I’ve formed special memories with all the children I’ve taught.
“It’s also the staff who have been really supportive, particularly through lockdown when things have been quite challenging.
“I’ve had incredible team support that I’ll always remember – I’ve never felt on my own as head.
“I’ll miss the staff body and the real team environment.”