Farewell & Thank You 

from Karen Wakeling

Dear Students, Families and All members of COHR community,

It is with mixed emotions that I write this “Thank You & Goodbye” of my retirement from COHR and Catholic Education.   I will be concluding my role at the end of the school year.  (The countdown is real now!).   

After 21 years of employment at COHR and just under 39 years in Catholic Education, I look forward to spending special days in retirement with my husband Paul, who also recently retired from his role in Catholic Education, my daughter Madeleine, also a teacher, and with my beautiful granddaughter Isabella, and our soon to arrive second grandchild.  Wonderful times await, highlighted by special times as a family, journeys overseas and times spent with great friends! I certainly look forward to going out, doing what I want and not having to think - ‘it’s a school night!'

Christ Our Holy Redeemer will always hold a very special place in my heart. I started back in 2005, relieving the RE teacher for a day and teaching 5\6.  I was in the right place at the right time when the Library job became available in 2006.  Every year since, I have thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself and the students into Literature and discovering known and new authors and illustrators along the way.  

 I have had the joy of working alongside great friends and colleagues, the most special children who have always been the highlight of my every day and so many parents who have so greatly supported me in my role.   My role has brought both personal and professional reward as I have worked towards enriching the lives of children through the richness of literature, and more specifically Australian literature.  Book Week - a highlight, perhaps not for parents having to come up with character costume ideas but the day was always a buzz with student excitement. An extra special Thank You to parents for supporting this day!  Creating staff costumes for the chosen book or character has certainly added fun times over the years, with students and staff waiting for the reveal at the annual  Book Week Parade.  Book Fairs - a huge support from families over the years with many, many books bought for the benefit of our students.  And, I can't forget to mention our wonderful, inviting open Library area. This space has certainly made my job very rewarding and enjoyable and I think I've forgotten all the years we were squashed in the performing arts room.

Likewise, my work spent developing the capacity of the schools digital technologies learnings.  When I took on the IT role, I knew very little about computers, even less about the technical side.  It really is amazing how issues can be solved with a simple turn it off and start it again!  Working in this role has been a fast paced learning curve and a very rewarding role, even at times challenging.  When I started with computers, we had a computer lab and a few screens in classrooms.  I do have fond memories of the computer lab days I think….., where every document we worked on had to be saved, that was a process, especially with the younger grades.  Now we have devices for all in each grade, as well as ipads in the junior grades.  I hope our students remember to always balance their screen time and green time! Learning and implementing Google has been a team effort and discovering the many new apps to present learning digitally has been resourceful and amazing. 

The special times celebrating ANZAC and Remembrance Day ceremonies, along with all else experienced in my daily work has brought enormous satisfaction. On a personal note, I also hope that smiles and a level of excitement continue to come to our children whenever Melbourne’s precious Peregrine Falcons make the news! I have had the joy of many long chats and many celebrations as each year we followed the journeys of our special feathered friends! 

I wish all members of the COHR community every happiness and success for the future. I wish the staff team, and Aimee in her role leading COHR into the future, great reward and success in the coming years, they are friends who will be greatly missed.  I thank the parent community for your long term support and friendship and I thank you for the gift of working with your precious children.   

After 21 years spent at Christ Our Holy Redeemer there is no doubt that this community will always remain special to me.  I warmly wish all COHR community members a wonderful Christmas season and the most joyfilled futures.  Thank you for making my every day at COHR such a wonderful experience.    I can honestly say with a huge smile, “I have had the time of my life!”

Thank You

Karen W