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Fond Farewells to Our Staff

As we reach the end of the academic year, it is time to say goodbye to some truly remarkable members of our St Stephen’s family. To those who are leaving us: we want to thank you for everything you have given to our community, and we wish you the absolute best on your next chapters.

Flo Daley (Year 3 Teaching Assistant)

Flo, the children have absolutely loved your incredible sense of fun this year. You developed such a brilliant rapport with your Year 3 classes, bringing energy and smiles to the classroom every single day. We are so excited for you as you leave us to start your official Teacher Training - any future class will be lucky to have you!

Gina Jayona (EY Teaching Assistant)

Gina, your kind and friendly spirit has been a gentle anchor for our Reception children this year. You have supported them through so much growth, and your warmth will be deeply missed around the school. As you also embark on your Teacher Training journey, we send you the biggest thank you and our very best wishes.

Jess Sellers (KS1 Team)

Jess, you have been such a dedicated member of the KS1 team, and so many children have benefitted from your kindness and skilled one-to-one support. We are really going to miss you hugely around school, but we wish you all the very best with your studies as you leave us to complete your speech and language course.

Sarah Khaleel (EY Teaching Assistant)

Sarah, you have been such a much-loved part of the team, and you have been such a secure, reassuring trusted adult for our Reception children as they took their first big steps at school. You are going to be sorely missed by staff and students alike, and we wish you the absolute best for your future.

Rachel Cormack (KS2 Teacher)

Rachel, having taught across Key Stage 2 for the past two years, your impact has been felt far and wide. Moving from Year 4 to Year 3 mid-year was no easy task, but your flexibility and commitment shone through, and the children adapted so well because of you. So many students across the key stage are going to miss you terribly. While we are sad to lose you, we are glad you are moving to a school closer to home. Thank you for everything.

Lydia Cuddy-Gibbs (Deputy Headteacher)

Lydia, as our families already know, you are leaving us to take up your new post as Headteacher at St James, but we couldn’t let this opportunity pass without honoring you here. Your boundless enthusiasm and fierce dedication to every single area of school life have left a lasting mark on St Stephen's. We will sorely miss you, but we know you are going to be a phenomenal Head.

Naomi Mulholland (SENDCo)

Naomi, we are so deeply sad to see you go as you step into your retirement. It is hard to put into words the impact your role has had; as SENDCo, you have been a tireless advocate for so many children. You have supported both our students and our staff to ensure that every single child has the opportunity to not only access the curriculum, but to feel supported, truly seen, and heard at school. You have cared so deeply about the wellbeing of all our St Stephen’s families. We want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for everything you have done for our community.

To all of our leavers: thank you for making St Stephen's such a special place. You will always be a part of our story!

In September, we look forward to welcoming several new staff members to our school community, as well as celebrating some of our current team members in their new roles.

New Staff Appointments

Emily Cook (Inclusion Lead / SENCO)

As Naomi Mulholland will be retiring, we have appointed Emily Cook as our new, highly experienced Inclusion Lead. Emily will be visiting the school before the end of this term to learn more about our children and systems. Naomi will also meet with Emily in September to ensure a smooth handover.

Jack Roberts (Year 4 Teacher)

Jack is an experienced teacher who has recently returned from teaching in the Middle East. He will be joining our Year 4 team, working primarily with Jazi Cotton, while also spending some time in Turing.

Current Staff in New Roles

Sian Brown (Assistant Headteacher)

We are delighted that our Year 6 teacher, Sian Brown, will be taking on the role of Assistant Headteacher with responsibility for Inclusion, starting this September.

Bryn Hunt (Year 3 Teacher)

We are also thrilled to announce that Ms. Bryn Hunt has qualified as a teacher. She will be leading her own class in Year 3 alongside Ms. Easton.

Gabriela Dhir (Year 4 Teaching Assistant and Trainee Teacher)

Gabriela will embark on her official teacher training in September as she continues to work alongside Rachel Mowbray in Year 4. We look forward to being part of this exciting next step in her career.

Top Tips to Keep Your Family Safe:

Keep them out of the home: CAPT recommends that families with children under 5 avoid having water beads in the house entirely. It is almost impossible to ensure a tiny, dropped bead won’t be found by a toddler.
Supervise older children: If older children are using them, ensure they are under strict adult supervision. Use a large tub with high sides so beads cannot bounce onto the floor.
Do a thorough sweep: Always check the area carefully after use to ensure no stray beads have rolled away. Store any remaining dry beads in a secure, locked container well out of reach.
Know the symptoms: If a child swallows a bead, symptoms like stomach pain or vomiting may not appear until hours or even a day later.

What to do in an emergency:

If you suspect a child has swallowed or inhaled a water bead—or has one stuck in their nose or ear—seek medical help immediately at your nearest A&E. If possible, bring a sample of the product or packaging with you.

To learn more and download safety resources, visit the Child Accident Prevention Trust website.

Lost Property: Final Call Before the End of Term!

We have accumulated a number of lost property items over the past few weeks (please see the images below).

If you spot an item that belongs to your family, please come and claim it from the school office before the final day of term. Please take a quick look through the photos below to help us reunite these belongings with their rightful owners!

STARS - Messages

STARS SUMMER CAMP!

Back by popular demand! Come and have fun this summer with your St Stephen's friends at STARS! Booking for our August Summer Camp is now open!

Sessions will run from Monday 3rd to Friday 21st August, from 08:30 - 4:30
Breakfast is provided, however, please bring lunch, snacks and a bottle of water. Water fights are planned, so please bring spare clothes.
Drop off and pick up are from the Winchester Road gate

AUTUMN STARS BOOKINGS

Thank you to everyone who completed the Google Form to request sessions for Autumn 2026. These are under review, and we will email all parents next week to confirm whether or not your selected sessions have been successful.

SUMMER 2 SESSIONS PAYMENTS

Please make sure your ParentPay balance is at least £0 for Breakfast and Afterschool Sessions. Only cleared balances will be successful for 2026/2027 places.
Please transfer Childcare Vouchers promptly and email finance with a confirmation.

Stationery Donations

Thank you so very much to our kind supporters who have brought in stationery supplies so far or used ParentPay to contribute towards our stationery supplies. We are incredbly greatful!

If you would like to donate towards additional stationery, we have two options:

Please contribute to the ‘Stationery Contribution Pot’ on Parent Pay
Alternatively, we have created an Amazon wishlist with items we need across the school. We would welcome children to bring items into the school office to share with their class.

Trip Payments

Year 5 please review your payment schedule for Hooke Court in ParentPay. Instalment 4 is now overdue (26th June). Instalment 5 is due by 17th July.

ARE YOU FOLLOWING US?

For regular updates on all the exciting things we are getting up to in school, you'll need to follow us on Instagram @ststephens.cofe

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