Farewell Comment in School magazine

MY FAREWELL PIECE FOR THE MAGAZINE

All pre primary teaching and learning involves using one or more of the 5 senses.
In my 15 years at Epworth and throughout my 28 year teaching career I have:

Seen:
• Thousands of children, their parents, grandparents, care-givers and pets come and go
• The monkey bars being mastered for the first time
• The excitement as the first tooth is lost and the visit of the tooth fairy becomes a reality
• Children growing out of a pair of pants, jacket or shoes in one season
• Many hasty replacements of group pets
Heard:
• Singing, laughter, gaiety, concern, kindness, compassion, love,
• Soft cry of a child in need
• Loud scream of a “cry wolf”
• Instruments, music, whistles, sirens, squeaky toys, noisy Sensopathic trays, hammering
Smelled:
• Flowers given with such love and devotion
• Johnson’s baby powder
• Mommy’s perfume or daddy’s aftershave
• Pungent odour coming from an ice cream tub…have to look too!
• The necessity to take someone to the loo
• The sour breath of tonsillitis
Tasted:
• Freshly baked goodies lovingly made by children and parents
• Melted piece of chocolate saved especially for me
• Excellent Epworth lunches, teas and snacks
• Half a cheddar biscuit from an aftercare cooler box
• Success in my role as a teacher and as HOD
Touched:
• Hopefully the hearts and minds of thousands of children and their parents
• A small, gentle hand that is holding my hand and not the other way around
• All creatures great and small at the insistence of the brave 4 year old
• The forehead of a child with a fever
• Glitter, glue and stickers as I have made over 800 birthday crowns

The list does not end here and I know that my colleagues, “parents” and the children I have been in contact with over the years will be able to add much more. Hopefully they will!

It is vital for the preschool teacher to have a 6th sense. This is related to having eyes at the back of your head! It is when you don’t need a thermometer to test for illness, when you know you need to scoop up a child in your loving arms, when words are not necessary, when you know that a check on the bathroom is about due, when you can pre-empt a potential social problem and nip it in the bud.

My 6th sense is telling me that it is the right time to go. Letting go is not giving up. I am definitely not giving up teaching. It will merely be taking another form. My 6th sense is telling me to give back and share my knowledge and expertise and that is what I intend to do in 2010 and beyond.

I thank God each and every day as I drive into school for showering me with blessings and for the honour and privilege to be a part of this amazing family. Thank you to Epworth for the most wonderful 15 years of my life.

A big decision

In August 2009 I made a very big decision. That was to give up teaching after 28 years. I was petrified! "Teaching is what defines me" is what I said to my family and friends. But I went ahead and resigned with effect from 31st December 2009.

My husband had been encouraging me to retire for a while but I always had an excuse why I should stay for just one more year. Then something very sad...more of that later...happened in June 2009 and I realised that the time was right.

I have not regretted the choice I made and have set new and exciting goals. I have been able to travel to the Wild Coast (twice) and Mauritius since the start of 2010...something that would have been impossible when teaching.

My new lease on life is invigorating and this has coincided with an acceptance and love for myself. Look out world here I come!