Jill E. Crowley

Headteacher at The Acorns School
1994-2004.

As a former small school headteacher in the Mole Valley, I have known and worked with Jill for over 12 years.

Jill Crowley worked unstintingly to ensure that The Acorns School offered its young pupils the best education both she and her team of highly professional teachers could offer.
Only recently she had written an article about the Easter festivities and seasonal songs the children had been learning ready for their end of term concerts, and the great excitement when the school visited the Weald and Downland Museum at Singleton. School isn’t just ‘chalk and talk’ its about experiences and adventure, and believe it or not learning through fun!

It is not an easy task managing a small school and one wears many hats. During her ten years at The Acorns, Jill worked tirelessly to ensure that the villages of Leigh and Betchworth would retain a first class educational presence and one that everyone could be proud of. There will be many youngsters who will always be able to say
“Mrs Crowley taught me to ……”

From us all thank you Jill.

Jenny Hudlass
Acting headteacher at The Acorns School.

April 2003

The tragic and untimely death of headteacher, Jill Crowley after a fatal road accident has left a hole in the hearts of many that knew her, particularly at the school.

The Acorns began in 1994 and, as headteacher, Jill had carried out the merging of the sites at Leigh and Betchworth looking after 100 pupils.

Lady Hamilton of Dalzell, chairman of governors for the school, said, " As well as an excellent headteacher and being meticulous and hard working, Jill was superb at teaching the children how to read and how to spell. She was also very good at looking after the staff."

Tricia Hughes, who worked with Mrs Crowley, said, "Such was Jill's lovely personality that she brought out the very best in the children. Her positive encouragement led the Acorns to being the best school I've worked in. You could almost feel the warmth there."

"I can't image the Acorns without her. To me she was the essence of the school and her loss will be immeasurable."

The children have the last word:

"She was always happy and smiling"

"She taught me to read"

"She always told jokes"

"She always gave us a last chance"

"She gave us two Smarties on our birthdays"

Jenny Hudlass, recently retired as headteacher of Mickleham School has taken the role of acting headteacher.

Editor

Extracts from Dorking Advertiser

January 2004

All classes now have their ICT ceiling projectors installed and we are all thrilled with our new technology. Rainbow classes had not expected to receive theirs yet. However, due to the fantastic support we have had from the people in Leigh village we are able to give all our children access to this new technology. Thank you all yet again.
At the end of December we will be saying farewell to Mrs Barbara Dobell who has been a Dinner Lady at Leigh Acorns for eleven years. She will be sadly missed. Dinner Ladies help to ensure our pupils have happy lunchtimes and so get to know the children very well.

As I write, Christmas is our main focus. This year our play is called 'All Around the World' and features the children singing songs and presenting gifts from Spain, America, India, China, Africa and Hawaii. The songs are really catchy and we are all humming them even when at home. For the first time we are going to use the stage in Leigh to enable all the audience to see all the children. This sounds easy but needs more rehearsals than usual to ensure everyone gets on and off the stage safely.

After the children have entertained their parents, the Openwide Theatre Group will be coming to entertain us with their production of 'The Big Catch'.

Two years ago they performed 'The Town Mouse and Country Mouse' for us, to rapturous applause.
At the end of the term are the Base Parties when a 'certain visitor' will be given a huge welcome! The penultimate day of term sees both Bases holding their 'Mince Pie Entertainments' at which the children sing serious and funny Christmas songs and our Christmas Hamper Raffle is drawn.

By the time this is published I hope you will all have had a Happy Christmas. Happy 2004 everyone.

J. E. Crowley

(Headteacher)

October 2003

The new academic year has just started and it is the tenth year for The Acorns First School. This has flown by so quickly since our early beginnings and our oldest pupils of that time are now in their sixth forms, or even at work!

It is our last year as a First School - from September 2004 we adopt Infant Status.

The first day of term started with a recorder recital from Fiona Mayall, a pupil from Reigate Grammar School, who brought her collection of five recorders. Our children were entranced by the different sounds and Year 3 are looking forward immensely to starting their own lessons.

This year our Harvest Festival is on September 29th at St Michael's Church, Betchworth. The proceeds from the Harvest Sale will be used to buy equipment for a school near Killimanjaro.

Every year we have a different Harvest Topic. Treasures from under the ground, such as caol, rock, precious stones, sand, clay and oil are the Harvests we are celebrating this year.

J. E. Crowley

(Headteacher)

September 2003

As I write it is the end of a long, hot and very busy Summer Term. Both Bases in Betchworth and Leigh are alive with fantastic models following the visit of sculptor Christine Charlesworth.

Each Spectrum class was covered with plastic and sheeting to protect the carpets and surfaces from the very messy Modroc. This extremely effective material enabled our pupils to create amazing models under the tutorage of Christine. The models are quite large and included owls, snakes, alligators, a whale, dolphin, tortoise, hedgehog, various birds and beautiful swans.

Christine was booked after last years successful visit to Polesden Lacey for the Sculpture trail where her exhibits were displayed. Parent volunteers joined in and evryone was thrilled with the children's rseults, as was Betchworth Decorative Fine Arts Society, who so kindly sponsored our Sculptor and the materials needed.

After a Sports Day and Family Picnic, held this year at Betchworth Base, which just missed the hottest day of the year, and Maypole Dancing on a day of heavy showers, the term has finally come to an end with Leavers' Assemblies. Our Leavers read out their memories of their time at Acorns. Children's recollections convey their most important memories, some of which are surprising.

We aalways feel sad to say 'Goodbye' to the July leavers as they take their next step in their life journey. Understandably, it is a time of miexd emotions combined with pride in our pupils' achievements.

J. E. Crowley

(Headteacher)

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