Brentwood Preparatory School Incipe 2017-18

Brentwood School Preparatory 8 Kirsten Blee Whilst still at school, I spent my summers working at an activity centre and teaching swimming. I also stayed for a month at a Kenyan mission helping to educate people in the local schools and villages we visited. Therefore, it was no surprise that I gravitated towards a career in teaching. Teaching primary age children particularly appealed to me as I enjoy all subjects and I find the theory of how children learn fascinating. During my four years at University I spent time focusing on the development of early years children and was also extremely interested in special educational needs, leading me to complete my thesis at the British Institute for Brain Injured Children. Subsequently, I spent seven years taking severely handicapped children to Lourdes at Easter with the Children’s Pilgrimage Trust. After graduating from University, I worked at an outstanding Catholic school and was head of RE, Art and PE, before deciding that I should gain more experience in different types of schools. I worked at a number of inner city schools before taking a job as head of Key Stage One. My own children, now 11 and 14 years old, have benefited from the opportunities Brentwood School has to offer since the age of 3. Having worked, whilst they were young, on a supply and part time basis, I am now delighted to be part of this exciting school. Outside school I enjoy exercising, particularly swimming, and currently coach the Brentwood Synchronised Swimming Team. I like to travel to places of historical and geographical interest and spend much of my time on home DIY projects, as I love being creative and therefore am very excited about my new role as head of DT. Stephanie Crichton I am delighted to be one of the new members of the Brentwood Prep team. Both my children are extremely happy at Brentwood School and I admire both the academic and pastoral values of the school. The staff, parents and the children have all been very welcoming and friendly. I grew up in Africa which was perfect for an adventurous child. With a pet chameleon called George, snakes in the veg patch and hippos in the lake - there was never a dull moment! When my family returned to north Essex, I attended school in Colchester and then went on to university at Queen Mary and Westfield College studying Marine and Freshwater Biology. The opportunity arose and I jumped at the chance to pack my bags and move to Bermuda. In Bermuda, I soon discovered that my love for adventure and my degree meant I could work in the Education department at the National Aquarium and Zoo. It was an amazing job, I taught children about their island and how to protect it for future generations. I had the enviable job of taking children snorkelling off the coral reefs, caving in the most beautiful undisturbed caves, swimming in mangroves and camping on remote islands. I ran the summer camps and helped teach the science curriculum to local schools. After 8 happy years, and now with a husband, Andy, and a daughter, Isobel, we moved back to the UK to Shenfield. Since then and a son, William, later, I have been filling my time looking after my family and volunteering for a women’s refuge. I was so pleased when the teaching assistant’s position became available and I got the job! I am also the co-editor of Incipe which has been a voyage of discovery in itself. I look forward to many years of fun, happiness and wonderful experiences as I embark on my dream job. Tina Griffiths I joined Brentwood School in 2016 as a teaching assistant, initially to cover maternity leave, having previously volunteered in the Nursery. Having grown up locally I attended The Coopers’ Company and Coborn School in Upminster and aspired to a high powered career in the city. I soon realised this wasn’t for me and after having my two eldest children I retrained, obtaining an Advanced Diploma in Childcare and Education and started working in a primary school in Hornchurch - twenty years ago! I have always preferred working with younger children and after specialising in Early Years I worked for Thurrock Council in their Early Years Team travelling to childcare settings and schools as an advisor and assessing those studying for level three and four childcare qualifications. However, I missed working with children on a daily basis and so after having my third child I decided it was time to get back in the classroom! Outside of school I am a keen runner but also love to be curled up with a good book. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Brentwood so far, and am looking forward to many more fun and exciting years. Salute Holly Johnstone Joining Brentwood School this year was a really exciting step in my career and an opportunity I couldn’t resist. I have always been a huge fan of sports; particularly netball and running, so as soon as I visited the school and saw the array of extra- curricular activities, I knew it would be the perfect school for me. I grew up in Cornwall and attended Plymouth University where I