CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY & FRIENDS OF DINNIE HEROE

It is our sad duty to announce the unexpected passing of our colleague and SEND Coordinator, Dinnie Heroe on Friday 17 November 2023.

All of us, at Berkeley Academy and Cranford Community College (where Ms. Heroe had worked previously) are deeply saddened by the loss of our amazing and caring friend and colleague and extend our love and support to her family and friends at this difficult time.

Ms. Lewis has taken over Ms. Heroe's resoponsibilities with immediate effect and with support from colleagues across the school. Ms. Lewis is the Designated Safeguarding Lead. 

 

KEVIN PRUNTY	PHILIP DOBISON
CHIEF EXECUTIVE	CHAIR OF ADVANTAGE MULTI-ACADEMY TRUST

On behalf of the Trustees, Staff, Students and Families of Berkeley Academy and Cranford Community College

 

MESSAGE FROM THE HEADTEACHER

Dear Parents/Guardians/Carers,

Sadly, staff at Berkeley Academy have the weighty task of informing all pupils of the unexpected death of Ms. Dinnie Heroe, late on Friday 17/11/2023.

The cause of her death has not yet been established.

We will be doing so using professional age appropriate PSHCE resources which have been developed for primary aged children.

Some children will have already experienced loss outside of school and our resources and staff will be very mindful of that, and for many children this may be their first conscious encounter with loss.

As you all know Ms. Heroe had many responsibilities within the academy, including, but not limited to,:

• Coordinator for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities,
• Joint Designated Safeguarding Lead,
• Religious Education Lead and
• Peripatetic Teacher.

 

As such, she was known to children across the school and many parents. Colleagues and the whole school community have to come to terms with the loss of an amazing person and a caring soul.

Ms. Heroe will be missed by everyone who knew her – she always went over and beyond for our families and was an active member of the Hounslow Methodist Church – she took her charity work seriously and collected for various Foodbanks, including the one at Berkeley Academy.

Our thoughts, love and prayers especially go to her 2 daughters, son-in-law and 2 grandchildren.

Schools, in addition to being a place to learn skills and about the world through subjects, also work in partnership with parents in the personal development of children and building resilience.

At Berkeley, we educate the whole child and hopefully prepare them for all aspects of the world in which we live, so that they are well equipped to lead successful and happy lives and bounce back when there are setbacks, not over focussing on the bumps in the road but always looking at the road ahead, with optimism and positivity.

When someone dies, it is normal for their friends and family to experience lots of different feelings like sadness, anger, and confusion.

The children have been told that their teachers are willing to listen to and discuss any questions at school, but if there is anything more that you or your child needs to know or if they are particularly affected by this loss (sometimes situation like this can trigger suppressed grief from another loss, for example), please do not hesitate to contact academy staff and we will support you as appropriate or signpost you to where support is available.

I have included some helpful sites for parents talking to their children about death and loss (further below).

We will of course pay respects, on behalf of the academy and the wider community to this outstanding soul including:

• a minute’s silence in assembly on Wednesday afternoon.
• making a charitable donation,
• setting up books of condolences which can be given to her family,
• providing flowers and a card for her family,
• attending the funeral if/as the family wishes (please note that this may create some disruption to the school on that day), and
• we will establish a memorial / memorial event at a later date, inviting Dinnie’s family and friends to join us.

 

We thank you for your love and understanding at this sad time for our school community and Ms. Heroe’s family and friends.

 

Ms. Panesar

Headteacher

On behalf of Berkeley Academy and Advantage Multi-Academy Trust

 

RESOURCES FOR PARENTS

 

• https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/death.html
• https://www.childbereavementuk.org/supporting-bereaved-children-and-young-people
• https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-a-z-mental-health-guide/grief-and-loss/

 

 

MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE (RAAC)

Dear Parents and Carers,

You may have seen media coverage regarding Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) and its use in educational settings.

RAAC is a lightweight form of concrete; because it is weaker than regular concrete, concerns have been raised about its long-term durability.

Recent structural surveys have confirmed that there is no RAAC at Berkeley Academy, Berkeley Pre-School or Cranford Community College. 

KEVIN PRUNTY

CHIEF EXECUTIVE

 

REMINDERS

 

 

1. IF YOU HAVE MILD COVID SYMPTOMS (such as a runny nose, sore throat, or mild cough): YOU DO NOT NEED TO ISOLATE YOU CAN ATTEND SCHOOL / WORK YOU SHOULD TAKE ADDITIONAL HYGIENE PRECAUTIONS​   IF YOU ARE VERY UNWELL / HAVE A FEVER: YOU NOT NEED TO TEST YOU SHOULD TAKE ADDITIONAL HYGIENE PRECAUTIONS YOU MAY STAY AT HOME UNTIL WELL ENOUGH TO RETURN YOU SHOULD AVOID CLOSE CONTACT WITH OTHERS FOR 3 DAYS YOU SHOULD NOT RETURN IF YOUR TEMPERATURE IS STILL HIGH AND YOU HAVE A FEVER   AND WHEN RETURNING TO SCHOOL / WORK: CONSIDER WEARING A FACE MASK (MASK WEARING IS VOLUNTARY) TAKE BASIC HYGIENE PRECAUTIONS