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Dodgeball Team Crowned National Finalists – 2nd Best in the UK!
Last Friday, our amazing St Stephen’s Dodgeball Team travelled to compete in the UK National Dodgeball Finals – and after a day of incredible determination, skill and resilience, they came home as national runners-up! That’s right – they are officially the 2nd best school dodgeball team in Britain. What an unbelievable achievement!
Having already battled through two tough qualifying rounds, winning both the local tournament and regionals, our team earned their place at the finals.
The day didn’t start smoothly – we lost the first two games of our opening match. But, in true St Stephen’s style, the team showed unshakable resilience and fought back to win the match. From there, their confidence grew, going undefeated through the rest of the group stage and into the quarter-finals.
Once again, the match began with a rocky start, losing the first two games. But with nerves of steel and incredible teamwork, the squad came back to win in sudden death – securing their place in the semi-finals, which turned out to be a more comfortable win against a team they had previously beaten in the Regionals.
In the final, they faced a familiar opponent – the team they had already beaten twice this season. Sadly, this time it wasn’t to be, and we lost our first and only game of the tournament. The team were understandably disappointed but showed humility and sportsmanship, congratulating the winners during the presentation.
A huge well done to our incredible dodgeball squad:
Isla, Sassy, Alana, Eli, Alex, Raff, Seb and Oli – we are so proud of you all. You played with heart, pride, and integrity and can now call yourselves national finalists. What a journey, what a team.
Farewell and Thank You – End-of-Year Goodbyes at St Stephen’s
As we come to the end of another wonderful academic year at St Stephen’s, we take a moment to say a heartfelt thank you and farewell to some cherished members of our staff who are moving on to new adventures.
Maggie Libura – A truly invaluable member of our team, Mrs Libura has been with us since 2011, offering over a decade of care, commitment and support. Whether working as a teaching assistant or in her mentoring role, she has consistently provided exceptional help to so many children, especially in the area of mental health and wellbeing. The feedback we’ve received from both pupils and parents has been nothing short of outstanding. Maggie’s calm presence, unwavering dedication and kind heart will be deeply missed. Thank you for everything, Maggie.
Muna Abdullahi– A bright shining light in the Year 5 team, Ms A has brought warmth, humour and positivity to everything she does. While we say goodbye for now, we’re hopeful this is only au revoir—and we look forward to hopefully welcoming her back as a trainee teacher at St Stephen’s next year!
Hedy Harrison– A truly outstanding teaching assistant and person, Mrs Harrison has been part of the St Stephen’s family since 2012. Her gentle manner, deep knowledge, and wealth of experience have enabled countless children to flourish. Always going above and beyond—including attending residentials and championing Battle of the Books—Hedy’s dedication and kindness have made a lasting impact on our community. We will miss her so much.
Emily Scoffield– A wonderful, warm, kind and caring teacher, Emily has shown incredible dedication to Thunberg Class. She knows and values each and every child, and her thoughtful nature and calm, nurturing approach have left a lasting impression. Emily, you will be truly missed by staff and pupils alike.
Sian Owen - We are sadly saying goodbye to Mrs Owen, who is leaving us after several years as a fabulous teaching assistant on the St Stephen's team. Her calm, thoughtful manner has been a steady support for so many children, and her warmth and dedication have made a lasting impact. Sian will be greatly missed by both staff and pupils, and we wish her all the very best for the future.
To all of these incredible staff members—thank you for the joy, care, and commitment you’ve brought to St Stephen’s. You will always be part of our school family, and we wish you every success and happiness in the future.
Welcome to Our New Staff Team!
As we say fond farewells to some much-loved members of staff, we’re also delighted to welcome new faces to the St Stephen’s community for the upcoming academic year.
A very warm welcome to Sophie Reynolds, who will be joining us as the new Year 1 teacher in Pankhurst Class. Sophie brings with her a wealth of experience in both Early Years and Year 1, and we’re excited for the energy, creativity, and expertise she’ll bring to our youngest learners.
We’re also pleased to welcome Jackie Kondoska, who will be teaching Kamkwamba Class. Jackie has taught in Years 5 and 6 for many years and brings with her a strong background in upper Key Stage 2, including experience leading writing in her previous school. We know she’ll be a fantastic addition to the team.
We look forward to an exciting new chapter with Sophie and Jackie and know that our children and families will make them feel right at home. Welcome to St Stephen’s!
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