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| Village School - St Bernadette's |
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The school opened on 21st April 1971 having taken only 10 months to build. There were 54 children on the roll when it opened. There are approximately 250 children on the roll now.
The school is a single storey building with an enclosed courtyard, which has doors leading to it from 3 classrooms and the main hall. The school has always had the privilege of a large playing field, bordered by several trees, as well as a playground area. This year has seen the landscaping and planting of an allotment area, which Year 6 are helping to look after, and where we hope to produce a variety of fruit and vegetables.
On the original architectural drawings a swimming pool was planned but the first head teacher, Sister Monica (Sisters of Loreto) was advised against building it by the head of neighbouring Bowmansgreen Primary School because swimming pools cost a lot of money to maintain.
There have been three head teachers since Sister Monica retired - Sister Josephine, Mrs Kate Cox, and the current head teacher Mrs Ann Cassidy.
Most of the pupils live in London Colney. The furthest commute is made from St. Albans.
One of our current Teaching Assistants, Mrs Maureen Lerwill, was present on the very first day of school and can be seen in photographs of the day along with the parish priest at the time, Father James Gunston.
The Year 4 class who helped to research the history of the school for this article were asked what they particularly liked about the school. Answers included the large playing field, playtime, lots of school trips, kind and
caring teachers, fun work and also the music lessons that are available.
Currently we have children learning to play the acoustic guitar, the electric guitar, the keyboard, the piano, the clarinet and also taking singing lessons.
Many thanks to the Year 4 class of 2005-2006 who spent time finding out about the history of the school and writing this article.
Phillipa Clark
Year 4 Teacher
St Bernadette's School
The background picture was drawn by Luke Banfield Year 4
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