A farewell from Mrs Crowley

Dear Parents, Grandparents, Friends and Children,

As the school year ends and my Retirement is imminent, I would like to thank each and everyone of you for my wonderful years at St Mary’s. Even though I’m ending my career after 30 years of continuous service, I also had the privilege of working at St Mary’s for 2 years as a very young teacher in 1982 and 1983. During those two years I had the privilege of teaching some current parents! I left at the end of those two years and returned in 1994. 

Thirty years is a long time in anyone’s career, but my love for the children, parents and wider community have made the time pass much too quickly and I am so blessed to have experienced a career that I have loved. I thank you parents for the gift of your children who have been the greatest motivation for me to continue learning, growing and smiling! I’m going to miss their beautiful smiles, comments and daily requests to “dance on the tables”. 

My mantra as a teacher has always been that children might not remember what I have taught them, but they will always remember how I made them feel. I hope and pray that I have lived out that mantra and if so, my most important job is done. 

As Community representative over many years, I had the fortune of working with many parents across a range of initiatives including, but not limited to, coordinating classroom helpers, running Costuming workshops and participating in Mother’s Day lunches. So many parents and children embraced my Alzheimer’s ridden Mum at these lunches between 2006 and 2010. You cuddled her baby (doll), sat with her and held her hand. I will never forget the smile on her face. Whilst she could not communicate, she felt your love and I thank you, from the bottom of my heart. 

I’d like to express my heartfelt thanks for the many highs we have celebrated together and for the strong support you’ve been to me through the sad times as well. I will be eternally grateful for the kindness shown to me in so many different ways in the most difficult times of my personal life, particularly after the passing of my much-loved parents.

The St Mary’s Community is unique and I am richer for the gift of being part of it. The tears are now flowing, so it is time to close! I wish each one of you an abundance of peace and happiness in the future years and the strength to cope with life’s inevitable challenging times.

THANKYOU FOR EVERYTHING