APS News 18

abingdon.org.uk/prep 23 Abingdon Prep Fond Farewells Lynne started at Josca’s in 1996, 22 years ago. Rather appalled by the inaccurate marking of her son’s French homework, she approached the head Tony Savin and told him, in a way that only Lynne could, that she could teach French better! She was given the job and we ‘haven’t got rid of her since.’ Lynne is a superb French teacher; passionate about the subject and exact in her delivery of it. Her approach is traditional, relying on her personality, humour and resources to deliver the curriculum precisely how she feels it should be taught. The famous purple grammar book, which pupils put together over their years with Lynne, is so precious that they are told to guard it with their lives. The Good Schools Guide visited the school in 2017, and they said of her lesson: “Next was the best French lesson we’ve ever observed – a whole class of unselfconscious 13-year-olds belting out their avoir and être verbs to (with true entente cordiale) God Lynne Hough Save our Gracious Queen and La Marseillaise , followed by a brilliant rap complete with hand gestures. One feels this is French that will never be forgotten.” Lynne combines her amazing rapport with absolute discipline. Having her pupils’ respect, boys know exactly where they stand. When I mentioned to one of my pupils in Science who had forgotten his books yet again that Lynne would have given a demerit for that, he replied, “Yes, but Lynne’s amazing.” As Year 7 form teacher Lynne has kept a motherly eye on generations of boys. On joining her form she tells them they are the most important boys in the school to her, she has ‘no favourites’. She supports them academically and pastorally as they navigate their way into adolescence. One key message she gives is to use deodorant! Lynne loves to don her Cleopatra outfit so World Book Day provides the perfect excuse, and she always enters into the spirit of school events. She’s very competitive, taking the annual Year 7 Laser Tag battle very seriously. Even if Anne’s form wins on points, Lynne will have a reason why her boys won technically! It is fair to say that Lynne struggles with the growing use of technology, in teaching and administration, refusing a whiteboard and iPad. I think the mystery of it to her was summed up when she asked what a Google doc was! Jane Herold Jane has been with us for two years and has been pivotal in her role as Admissions Manager and Personal Assistant to the Headmaster. I shall use the analogy of our school as an apple to illustrate this! First, we see the attractive shiny apple skin, much as we see what lies on the surface of our school - the beautiful planting. the corridors and classrooms which look clean and inviting at the start of a day or for an event. Beneath the skin we have the flesh which is like the substance of our school. Surrounding the centre, we find the pips. Not everyone’s favourite part, but essential in the same way that the day to day problems of a school do need to be addressed. At the heart of the apple is the core. If we cut the apple in half around its middle, and look at its cross section, we see a star there. That is Jane. Like the star which often remains hidden but is essential to give the apple its structure, Jane has been very busy at the core of our school. She is the one who organises the weekly planning for all staff so that everyone knows what they are doing, from cleaners to caterers, from gardeners to gap students. It is Jane who ensures the school looks presentable for prospective parents and pupils and guides them through the substance of our school, ensuring that the experience of our visitors is smooth and enjoyable. Jane often has to sort out the ‘pips’ or problems of the school. She is the person staff will go to, whether it be for ordering extra packed lunches or getting the playground cordoned off for parking. Jane often helps to find solutions, giving out sound, practical advice. She is unafraid to speak her mind whilst retaining her professionalism and sense of calm and she is a listening ear to many and a support to all. Jane has an exciting new adventure ahead as Registrar at Pangbourne College and I am sure that she will quickly become the star at the core of their school too. We thank you for all you have done for us, Jane and wish you every happiness. You will be greatly missed. Rachel Pairman Lynne has organised many trips to France, not least the weeks spent in Normandy with Year 8. Taking forty demob-happy 13-year-olds abroad can present challenges and return many anecdotes, including hospital visits with ‘dishy ambulance drivers’, (all the boys returned safe and sound). She’s had to be a customs officer, confiscating knives, firecrackers and laser pens bought legally in France but illegal in the UK. She’s been a diplomat, on one occasion extricating a boy barricaded in by an angry shopkeeper after he’d been caught doing something silly. We love to hear about the boys cuddling baby goats and ‘tat central’ shopping at Mont St Michel. Lynne has proved adept at getting the odd boy through passport control without documents when they have gone awry. Word of this skill must have spread as a couple of stowaways tried to sneak onto the coach on the recent trip, to no avail. This picture sums up Lynne, her sense of fun, the enjoyment she has being with the boys and the delight pictured on their smiling faces. The School will miss her. Claire Delo Normandy with Y8, 2018 PGL with Y7, 2018