A recipe

A recipe for success is the reason behind this week’s Guardian Rose for a parent helper at St Augustine’s Junior School.
By The Newsroom
Published 23rd Apr 2012, 11:45 BST

Jill Deakin was surprised with the special award this week after she was nominated by office manager Jean Holmes for being an ‘all-round star’ lady.

Jean said Jill does a fabulous job of running the tuck shop and baking up delicious treats for various fundraising activities for the school.

The mother of five, whose children have all attended the school, has been a parent helper and PTA member at St Augustine’s for the past 14 years.

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Said Jean: “Jill is just brilliant and organises everything, including discos for the children.”

“She does so much for them and the school and I really think her hard work deserves to be recognised.”

Jill runs the tuck shop three days a week and changes the menu to suit the seasons, which always proves popular with the pupils.

Said Jean: “She serves them hot chocolate in the winter and milkshakes in the warmer months, which the children love.”

“Her pizza muffins are also a big hit, and she bakes some really delicious cakes, which go down very well with the staff.”

As well as holding regular baking sessions with the children, Jill also organises a variety of food fundraising events which have raised £98 for Water Aid, £100 for the school’s wildlife area and £100 to buy new sewing machines for the sewing club.

Her baking has proved so popular with staff and children alike that the school is currently considering putting together a special collection of her best recipes for all to enjoy.

Jill was shocked to be surprised with the special community award this week and said she was ‘very touched’ to be nominated for her work at the school over the years.

“This means a lot - I wasn’t expecting this at all,” she said.

“The children here are always so lovely and so well behaved. You always do it when they appreciate it so much.”

Jill said she has really enjoyed the past 14 years working at St Augustine’s and was proud of setting up the Parent Teacher Association.

She said: “A parent came to me asking how to set one up, and the then headteacher Neil Moore asked me to set one up - I became chairman and it was great to see parents get involved in the school.”