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New Head to make Greendown a Centre of Excellence

In May, Greendown School Governors appointed Mr S.D.O'Sullivan to school life — academic, personal and social — which is clearly central to Mr
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be the school's new Headteacher. Mr O' as he has been known to thousands O'Sullivan's vision for Greendown at the start of the new millennium.
of Greendown students since the school opened in 1986, was first appointed "Having seen other schools in Cornwall, the Midlands, and East Yorkshire,
as head of PE and had responsibility for the development of the community I know how good a school Greendown already is; but I want to make it a
programme. Over the following fifteen years he became Director of Personal centre of excellence, at the heart of, and serving the wider community," he
Development, Deputy Head in charge of Students and now Headteacher. says.
Starting working life training to be a surveyor, and with prospects of a Developing the teaching and learning in the school to very high standards
career as a first class rugby player, Mr O'Sullivan's life was changed utterly and enhancing the school ethos are Mr O'Sullivan's immediate aims. "I
by the experience of teaching PE in a small Brighton secondary school. "I got want students to treat themselves and each other with respect, to be excited
a huge buzz from teaching," he remembers, "realising that I could help shape by their learning and to push out the boundaries of their knowledge. I'm
the direction of future generations. From that moment on, I knew there was looking forward to the challenges ahead."
never anything else I wanted to do more." Greendown, already West Swindon's most popular secondary school,
It is this drive to help students achieve their best in all aspects of their looks set for even bigger achievements in the future.
Mr O'Sullivan in a meeting with the Greendown School Council, standing from left, Matt
Celebrating 15 years Holloway, Esme Bennett, Cane-Ann Sopp, Danielle Spall, Gemma Bastin, Tom Towers, Sam
Johns. Sitting, Elizabeth Cosgrove, Nadia Jones, Jade Gordon, Jenny Hutchinson, Daniel Pratt

Greendown was planned and set up as a
communiy school, years before the idea
became fashionable. This year we celebrate
our fifteenth year, both as West Swindon's
seconda ry school and a centre for a wide
range of community activities offered to all
ages and all interests. See page 8 of this
newsletter for a listing of current users.

Shaun Shirley - a sad loss

Greendown is a very caring commu- an impact in the short
nity and the whole school was deeply time he was at Green-
saddened by the tragic death of year 8 down."
student Shaun Shirley after a road acci- - T The memorial was built
dent in West Swindon on 17th Janua ry. by school technician Mike
Fellow students decided immediately Lay with help from stu-
to raise funds for a permanent memorial dents Peter Lusty, Colin
to Shaun and nine months to the day and Steven Lambeth. We
after we lost Shaun, a cheny tree sur- thankful to M&W Woodworking for
rounded by seating was unveiled by his Dlying the materials.
parents in a tearful ceremony on 17th r and Mrs Shirley were presented
October as a quiet place for students to i a book of memories about Shaun.
meet and think of others. and Mrs Shirley with their children
Mrs Sandra Shirley said she had found than, Siobhan and Rachael and Shaun's
great support in the messages of condo- .ds on 17th October.
lence from Shaun's school friends. "It's a dedication to Shaun on the brass plaque
comfort to know that Shaun made such s: 'He always made us laugh'