THE corridors of St Mary’s Primary School in Dechomet are practically etched in Margaret McEvoy’s mind.
As a former pupil, and soon to be a former member of staff, the local woman has spent well over 40 years at the country school, which sits between Ballyward and Closkelt. At a special presentation at the school on Friday, which was attended by pupils and colleagues, both past and present, along with members of her family and the school’s Board of Governors, Mrs McEvoy’s input at, and devotion to, the school was acknowledged.
With just days until the children commence their summer holidays, it will also signal the end of an era, Margaret’s 34-year career at the school, which has been more like a second home. And, speaking from her classroom on Monday evening, where she strived to help improve children’s lives, the local woman said the decision to retire from the school was “a tough one”. Adding that St Mary’s “has been a huge part of my life,” Mrs McEvoy said this made her decision to end her teaching career “even more difficult”. “Although I have been teaching here 34 years, my time here began as a little four-year-old pupil,” she said.
During her career she worked alongside three school principals, the current, Mrs Oonagh McNally for the past five years, and before that for 11-and-a-half years with Mr Brian Doyle and for 17 years with Mrs Delia Burke. Mrs McEvoy, who most recently has taught the P2 and P3 children, said she has seen “so many changes” during her career. Despite many changes, however, she stressed “the friendly atmosphere and sense of community is still just as strong as ever”. She said that to secure her first, and what would inevitably be her only teaching post, at her former primary, “was such a proud moment for me”.
“I have loved every moment teaching in our wonderful school and this has been due, in no small measure, to the many people who have supported me over the years. I have been blessed to work with such an incredible group of people.” With such a lengthy career at one school, she has had “the honour” of teaching more than one generation of many local families. The local woman said spending her entire career at one school “is not very common nowadays”. “I just found I could not break away from this wee school,” she continued. “My heart has always been here, and I never wanted to leave it,” she said, before admitting that sometimes her husband and son would joke that St Mary’s was more like her actual ‘home’! “I am really sad to be leaving, although I am looking forward to a much more relaxed pace of life.” She also reiterated her thanks to everyone who attended Friday’s special celebration, and sent a message to all children she has worked with down through the years. “I would like to remind all our present and past pupils who I taught over the 34 years, that I have really loved being your teacher; you certainly brightened my days. “I am going to miss you, but I am leaving with so many lovely memories from our time together, and I want to thank the whole school community for their kind words, best wishes and generosity on my retirement.”
Wishing the principal and all the staff, parents and pupils “every blessing in the future,” Mrs McEvoy concluded: “St Mary’s, Dechomet will always hold such a special place in my heart and I will continue to follow it with great interest.” Principal Mrs McNally paid tribute to her colleague’s unstinting dedication to her job and said everyone is very grateful for how much she has contributed to the life of the local school. Noting that “it is commonplace to see her car still in our car park at 7pm or later,” Mrs McNally said this “is testimony to Margaret’s dedication and commitment to her pupils” as she insisted on making sure appropriate work was prepared for every group or individual child. “We are all incredibly grateful and appreciative of how much Margaret has given to the school, what she has done for every single pupil and what she has given to the staff. “Margaret, you have been our favourite hello for 34 years, now you are our hardest goodbye. We wish you a very long and happy retirement with your family. But remember, a teacher never really retires since their work lives on in the hearts of their students,” she concluded.