THEY are the unsung heroes of education. If your school has a top caretaker, classroom assistant or dinner lady, why not nominate them for a regional award?
They are the personnel who cook the dinners, help children with literacy hour and keep the school safe.
For the fifth year running, The Journal has teamed up with its sister paper, the Evening Gazette, and our associate sponsor, Northumbrian Water, to host the North East School Awards. The deadline for entries is Monday and we are appealing for readers to send in their nominations for two of the most popular categories – Caretaker of the Year and Support Staff of the Year.
Last year’s winner of the caretakers’ award was Lez Pratt from Finchale Primary School, in County Durham.
He was nominated by the acting deputy headteacher, Jo Hall, who said: “Lez knows all of the children by name, as well as their likes and dislikes.
“Due to his commitment and effort, parents treat him with great respect, recognising that he is doing the best for our school and all our pupils. He repairs broken items, moves furniture around classrooms, helps put up displays and works on our outdoor classrooms and gardens.”
Angela Barry, from Caldicotes Primary School, in Middlesbrough, won the 2010 Support Staff of the Year award.
She was nominated by the school’s receptionist, Cassie Williams, who said: “Angela goes above and beyond her role and is on hand with support for children, staff and parents alike.
“Caldicotes would be lost without her. She makes everyone’s lives easier and is always there to share a workload – even when she has a trolley-load of her own.
“Her smile and caring nature makes everyone’s day that little bit easier and she is always around to give you that little boost and make you feel better after a rough day.”
The North East Schools Awards are open to all primary, secondary and special schools across the region.
The campaign is also being sponsored by Nexus and the Centre for Life. There are nine awards in total – four for school projects and five for staff.
All project award winners will be presented with a £1,000 grant for their school, a trophy and certificate at a special ceremony next month.
Individual winners will also get a trophy and certificate. The categories are: Sustainable School Award; Active Community Award; School Newspaper Award; Healthy School Award; Headteacher of the Year; Support Staff of the Year; Inspirational Primary School Teacher; Inspirational Secondary School Teacher and Caretaker of the Year.
The awards ceremony will take place on July 14, at the Centre for Life, in Newcastle’s Times Square.
For more information and to enter online log on to www.journallive.co.uk/schoolawards or, call Jennifer Cook, event manager, on 0191 204 3310, or e-mail jennifer.cook@ncjmedia.co.uk
