Thank you Julie (from all of us)! Friday 17 July 2020

Highams Park School would like to thank our wonderful chef Julie Kelly for her kindness and compassion to students and staff alike. This has particularly manifested during lockdown as Julie has been in school every single day since the announcement, feeding and encouraging the children of key workers but also doing her usual selfless acts of supporting everyone. Here are a few messages of thanks from us:

Thank you Julie

“During the COVID crisis I don’t think there is one person in our school community who has worked harder or been more committed to serving the needs of the school. Julie has been exceptional and has single handily maintained the moral and spirits of all of the students and staff who have been in school during this challenging time. Her ability to judge when a student needs a distanced arm round the shoulder to lift their spirits has been a privilege to witness.

The creative ways in which she has been able to encourage and support all of us has brought a smile to everyone’s face. Helping small groups make cakes, guiding the students to decorate the canteen windows with messages expressing their thoughts, allocating responsibility to others to help deliver food or to clear up have all helped to provide a structure and motivation to students at different times.

On a personal note, her willingness to come and seek me out when I have failed to emerge from a meeting and to deliver a lunch or a cup of team has been such a blessing. I am fully aware that this I am not the only one that she has done this for and there a few colleagues, myself included who have been too well fed as a result of her kindness.

Julie, you have been a star – she has not had a break throughout the whole crisis. Even when her car broke down on route to school she still managed to find a route in! A real Highams Park legend. Your endeavours have been clear for everyone to see. Thank you on behalf of all of us.”

Phil Grundy

Principal

My Highams Park School Lockdown Hero

"My Highams Park school lockdown hero is without a doubt Julie Kelly. Let's just look at the facts; she has been at work every day since March the 24th. She has single-handedly worked in the canteen to provide a huge variety of tasty and healthy meals to all the keyworker kids and staff. She has been prepping, cooking, serving and cleaning all by herself.

Julie will also make members of staff a welcoming cup of coffee or tea first thing in the morning. This in itself is a huge accomplishment, but she has done far more than that. The value of her relationship with the children is something that is impossible to measure. In very difficult times she has always been there for the pupils presenting a friendly and, importantly, a reassuring presence. Julie has possibly been the member of staff that the keyworker children have seen the most of. In these unstable and worrying times, Julie has become the most solid and reliable adult presence in school for the pupils.

There have been many other achievements such as Julie taking small groups of pupils and supporting them to make cookies and all sorts of other tasty morsels, but the important thing is that without doubt all the children respect and trust Julie."

Mr Macdonald

Head of Year 10

“I have to say that I was most impressed with your support for the students during lockdown. You went beyond your duties as a school cook; cooking with the students and getting them involved in the provision of the lunches. You also gave them confidence to make dishes they had not cooked before and taught them about the importance of food safety, particularly in an industrial context. The students loved helping, being valued, and contributing to the school community during this strange and difficult time.

You deserve recognition not just for your work with the students but for cooking the lovely meals for all the staff that were in school too and for always having such a positive outlook and a smile on your face. Thank you so much Julie X

Mrs Butt,

Head of Food Preparation, Highams Park School