Time Capsule Ceremony at Derwent Primary School
Date Added: 16/05/2022
Time capsule ceremony sees school celebrate expansion project which will honour ‘inspirational’ former governor
The children of an “inspirational” former Derwent Primary School governor, whose memory will be honoured with the naming of a new teaching block, were among the pupils that buried a time capsule to officially mark the construction period of an expansion project.
The Derwent Primary expansion project is the next important stage after the school became was one of the first in Central Bedfordshire to transition to the two-tier educational system, in September 2022, as part of Schools for the Future programme.
A new building, which will include ten additional classrooms, is under construction to support this age range change. Once complete, it will be named in memory of former governor Leah McDermott, who sadly passed away.
Her two daughters Abbie and Chloe joined four Year 5 pupils – that will become the school’s first ever Year 6 cohort as part of the expansion – to bury a time-capsule containing photographs, information about Derwent Primary School pupils, what they would like to do when they grow up and things they like about the school.
Speaking at the ceremony, Derwent Primary School Chair of Governors, Caroline Coombs, said:
"Once the new two-storey building is complete it will be known as the Buttercup building, in memory of our great friend and much-loved governor, Leah McDermott, who sadly passed away in June 2020. Leah was an inspirational and committed governor who always went above and beyond to ensure the best for Derwent’s children.
"The school community wished to honour Leah and decided the building would be a lasting memorial to her. It was a great privilege to have Leah’s daughters Chloe and Abbie to place the time capsule in the ground on the school’s behalf. We’d like to thank Central Bedfordshire Council for making this journey possible and for investing in our children’s future. We will continue to ensure that every child who attends Derwent receives the best possible education."
The school currently has 150 places and 30 nursery places, with an age range of 3-9 years. The expansion will allow the school to increase its age range by two-year groups, from 3-11 years, providing 60 pupil places in each year group, with a total of 480 places.