Les Landes celebrates one family's five decades at the school

Wednesday, 15 July 2026 09:45

Les Landes School is marking one family’s contribution to its community, which began almost 50 year ago.

The St Ouen primary is celebrating the long-standing contribution of Joan Simon and her family with a special assembly today (14 July) as the youngest of her grandchildren leave Year 6.

Joan’s connection with the school goes back to 1979, when her child joined. She later became staff, spending 20 dedicated years as a teacher.

Joan’s daughter, Sally Parker, also taught at Les Landes, even job-sharing for a time with her mum.

Seven grandchildren have attended as pupils, continuing a family tradition.

During her time connected to the school, Joan helped to establish the school’s annual sponsored walk, which continues to this day.

Headteacher, Vicky Charlesworth, says the assembly will capture the schools legacy, as well as that of the Simon family:

"We've got photos from across the decades, when, for example, they didn't have a school uniform at the start in the 1980s.

"There are pictures of the buildings in 1995 when the school was developed, and some of the classes were in porta-cabins.

"We've got a number of class photos and school memories from over the decades that we're going to show to the whole school, and take them through school life and what life was like through the 80s to the present day.

"The juniors in 1985 had an outdoor toilet! There's so many ways to remind us all of how the school has evolved.

"Les Landes is a very special community, and the Simon family is one of several families whose connection to the school goes back decades. We have such a good history in the school and the parish, and so much pride in that."