Scoil Ursula N.S.

A farewell speech

Yvonne, a wise man once said

"A hundred years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove. But the world may be a different place because I was important in the life a child."

And this you were- you were important in the lives of many, many children during your 40 years here in Scoil Ursula both as a teacher and as a principal. There is a lovely aspirational prayer that goes,

"As I live each day, may I do my part, to make a difference, to touch one heart, and through each day, may it be my goal to encourage one mind, to inspire one soul."

On behalf of all the staff and pupils of Scoil Ursula, we want you to know that you did make a diffrence, that you did encourage and inspire us and we thank you most sincerely for that.

You promoted the idea of Scoil Ursula as a family, you loved to hear your pupils singing 'Together as one'. You reminded each child that they are Gods beautiful creation at every assembly, they will never forget you for this. We will all miss you from Scoil Ursula and we will remember you every time we pray at our Mary Garden because you always brought us there to pray the Rosary.

We wish you every happiness in your retirement and we want you to remember that retirement is not losing, it's not fixed or final but it's a little land of possibility and adventure. We know that you remain an eternal learner who'll find something new in each day ahead. We think that you have been a great gift and blessing to us for the past 40 years and we thank God that you chose to teach and lead us during that time.

During those years you worked closely with the parents of Scoil Ursula pupils and strengthened the bonds of understanding, co-operation and mutual respect between these two important groups of people-parents and teachers. Finally the following poem says everything that needs to be said about what you did while you worked here and about the way you did your work.

(The following poem was given by Sr. Annette some time ago. Author unknown)

The Sculptor
I dreamed I stood in a studio
And watched two sculptors there.
The clay they used was a young child's mind,
and they fashioned it with care.
One was a teacher; the tools he used
were books with music and art;
One, a parent with a guiding hand
And a gentle, loving heart.
Day after day the teacher toiled,
With a touch that was deft and sure,
While the parent laboured by his side
And polished and smoothed it o'er.
And when at last their task was done
They were proud with what they had wrought,
For the things they had moulded into the child
Could neither be sold nor bought.
And each agreed he would have failed,
If he had worked alone.
For behind the parent stood the school,
And behind the teacher the home.

Ar son gach uile páiste,

Míle buíochas agus go ne'eirí an t-ádh leat and as the old Irish blessing goes- may the saddest day of your future be no worse than the happiest day of the past.

Written and presented by
Mrs. Maisie McNabola