Farewell as 47-year family-school connection ends
BBCA family's day-to-day connection with a primary school, which has spanned nearly half a century, has come to an end.
Members of the Simon family have been pupils, parents, staff and grandparents at Les Landes School, in St Ouen, in Jersey, over the last 47 years.
However, this era came to a close when the two youngest grandchildren left on Friday.
An emotional assembly marked the end of the connection. Joan Simon, who started as a parent in 1979, and then became a teacher, said it was "very emotional - I didn't think it would be but it got to me, it was beautiful".
Joan was a history teacher at the school for 20 years, and her daughter, Sally Parker, also taught there and shared the job with her.
Joan helped to establish the school's annual sponsored walk and was a much-loved teacher known for bringing topics such as Roman history vividly to life, the school said.
Seven of her grandchildren have attended the school and the last two grandchildren Aubie and Beau have just left to go to secondary school.
Aubie said Les Landes meant a lot to him as he had been there seven years and it was sad to go.
He said he enjoyed "the different opportunities like St Aubin's Fort" and going to England for a week of activities.
Beau said: "It feels a bit surreal leaving because I've been here so long."
Head teacher, Vicki Charlesworth, told the BBC how Joan inspired generations of children through her enthusiasm, care and commitment to learning.
She said: "The Simon family encapsulates what Les Landes is.
"We have core values of community, achievement and pride and they are all of those things and more."
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