TMF LOCKDOWN HEROES: Mrs Kilpatrick has been our rock!

Monday 15 June 2020

A primary school teacher who supported her students and their parents during the lockdown has been shortlisted as the TMF Lockdown Hero after proving to be a "rock" for one young girl and her mum.

The TMF Lockdown Hero Awards - launched by TMF Group in partnership with Bailiwick Express - aim to say thank you to the heroes of the health crisis and celebrate the many local acts of kindness that have kept the islands going at a difficult time.

Now it’s up to the public to decide which of the four shortlisted heroes should win the £500 cash prize.

Today's shortlisted nominee is Val Kilpatrick, a teacher at Amherst Primary who, like other teachers in the Bailiwick, went 'above and beyond' to support her pupils and their families as the islands entered lockdown.

Pictured: Val Kilpatrick is a Year 6 teacher at Amherst Primary School.

Mrs Kilpatrick was nominated by Sophie Randall, who said her daughter is one of her pupils and she has been very well supported during the corona virus crisis.

Ms Randall said it was a "a great idea to do this competition as so many people have been amazing," but for her, her TMF Lockdown Hero is Mrs Kilpatrick, a year six teacher at Amherst primary school who has a family of her own.

"Mrs Kilpatrick has been my daughter’s teacher since September when she started the last year of primary school, year 6," said Ms Randall.

"When lockdown was in talks Mrs Kilpatrick gave the class a chat and prepared the children as much as she could even in the unknown. She’s an understanding teacher as well as firm and fair. 

"My daughter has struggled. She’s struggled with her social life being interrupted but mainly school work. having to sit in a different room and not a class room, no teaching assistant, no friends and having me (mum) to teach, but I’ve also had to work to keep paying the bills. Mrs Kilpatrick understood my concerns and immediately set up a video call to help my daughter settle. She spoke to me and said I was doing my best and this helped, but what she’s done for Lucy is outstanding.

"Every morning since lockdown she’s had one on one lessons with my daughter and a few others, marked work on the day so feedback could be given and sent video messages to the children that helps keep them calm (always brings a tear to my eyes) but mainly the support she has given to both Lucy and myself. Lucy was doing work on her phone and Mrs Kilpatrick brought round (kept to social distances) a chrome book for her to borrow during this dreadful time.

"She’s always so positive and sends a vibe of love and caring through her smile that to me was just what I needed as a struggling parent. Mrs K has wise words and a very caring personality. It’s not only been during these times that she’s been amazing, she’s the best teacher Lucy has had and being in year 6 it’s a difficult year for the children.

"I can imagine a lot of people will be putting forward teachers for the Lockdown hero as the education system has been outstanding in guernsey. I just feel Mrs Kilpatrick of Amherst school has been Lucy's and my ROCK!" 

Mrs Kilpatrick was surprised to have been nominated as a TMF Lockdown Hero when she was contacted by Express.

"Hearing about the nomination was incredibly humbling and overwhelming," she said. "It is amazing to be recognised for doing a job I love and find rewarding on so many levels."  

She said teaching her students during the corona virus crisis brought new challenges but she is very proud of the job everyone at Amherst Primary School did.

"Teaching during lockdown was a new challenge which I really enjoyed. The most rewarding part of on-line learning was connecting with students and families through our on-line learning platform. 

"Our school motto is Every Child, Every Chance, Every day – distance learning made it real – even though we weren’t in a classroom together – we had to find ways of reaching out and meeting the needs of all our families.  I am proud of the job we all did.  Connecting with my children and families made the challenge of distance learning a success and has laid the foundation for a successful end to year 6 as we have returned to school."

Pictured: Damien Fitzgerald, Head of Funds, TMF Group - Guernsey.

Mrs Kilpatrick's nomination was welcomed by Damien Fitzgerald, Head of Funds for TMF Group in Guernsey. He said: "As a company with more than 100 offices in over 80 jurisdictions, we know that working together can be very powerful.

"These Lockdown Heroes have been at the heart of our communities, carrying out activities that have enabled people - many of which are vulnerable and shielding - to get through this pandemic. It's important that we celebrate these acts of kindness, as well as the passion and community spirit of our islanders."

If you think Val Kilpatrick should be crowned the TMF Lockdown Hero, look out for an Express poll in the next few days.