By Lisa Ramsden
THE end of the school term last week also marked the end of an era at a local school.
All Children’s Integrated Primary bid farewell to three of its highly respected members of staff, principal Jon Beattie and P6 teachers Pat Skeffington and Paul Rodgers.
Relative ‘newcomer’ Mr Beattie ended his career on a high after nine years at All Children’s, whilst Ms Skeffington retired after 33 years teaching in her adoptive hometown.
Mr Rodgers, who was raised in Newcastle and attended the town’s St Mary’s Boys’ Primary School, ended his career in his hometown, having initially spent several years teaching in England before joining All Children’s.
Having educated, nurtured and provided guidance and leadership to thousands of children during their careers, the three all recognise how invaluable their colleagues have been, as well as the wider school ‘family’ and its many supporters.
Sitting in Mr Beattie’s office, with the faint but busy hubbub of school life audible in the background and whilst looking out on a section of the walled garden at the start of King Street, where the school sits, the colleagues each spoke with affection and pride of their time at All Children’s IPS.
They added that the days counting down to their departure were emotional, with a special assembly, in their honour, held at the school.
Ms Skeffington admits she regrets not noting down the myriad of humorous things her pupils have come out with over the years, and joked she could have gone on to print a book!
All three spoke of their pride in the children they have worked with down through the years; watching them flourish, grow in confidence and take on new skills.
Clearly, it’s not just about educating children that is special to anyone who takes on this vocation.
There’s the pastoral side of things too.
Mr Beattie, who worked at schools in Belfast and Holywood before accepting the Newcastle post, said it has been a privilege to teach and work with so many children.
Ms Skeffington, who has taught several generations of the same families, said every day of her career “has been an honour watching the children grow and flourish on so many levels”.
The outgoing principal continued: “The first thing I was struck by when I started here was how incredibly lucky I was to come here.
“The history of integration and all the unbelievable work of our parents and staff since All Children’s establishment is phenomenal.”
He added that it is inspiring “to see happy children come in through the gates each morning to a place where people genuinely care”.
“It is a place where people genuinely care about the children that we are honoured to look after,” he said.
“We are custodians, and everyone takes that very seriously.”
Ms Skeffington said the recent farewell assembly was “emotional”, providing her, Paul and Jon with the opportunity to say goodbye and ‘thank you’ to the schoolchildren.
She also took the opportunity to express her gratitude to families and colleagues who have been “absolutely extraordinary” in terms of “their support and love” as they “absolutely go the extra mile”.
Mr Rodgers, who plans to run the Lisbon marathon this autumn alongside his daughter, also put on record his thanks to the school’s classroom assistants; with Ms Skeffington describing them as “the ones who make our school special.”
She added: “They just make our school tick.
“Everyone talks about teaching as a vocation, classroom assistants have such an important, hands-on role.”
In addition to thanking their colleagues, they also praised the Board of Governors and the Parents Council at All Children’s, the first integrated primary to be established in the province, outside of Belfast.
“We have been incredibly lucky to work here,” Mr Rodgers summed it up.
As all three embark on a new chapter in their lives, the local school will continue to hold a special place in their hearts.
In addition to the farewell assembly held at All Children’s, Mr Beattie was the special guest at a similar event at Shimna College.
Many of his former pupils now study at Shimna, and are sometimes referred to as ‘integrated lifers’, having attended All Children’s before commencing Year 8 at the adjacent integrated college.
In what Shimna’s principal, Steve Pagan, described as a “bittersweet” occasion, many of the students who know of Mr Beattie as their primary school principal took the opportunity to pay their own tributes.
They shared their special memories – such as looking back on school outings, his morning assemblies, memorable moments in both the classroom and the playground, his warm morning welcomes and how he is “the principal who is, at heart, always a teacher”.
Mr Pagan described Mr Beattie as a school principal who was always willing to “get stuck in, filling in as a substitute teacher, amongst other things, as and when required”.
He continued: “And, as principal of an integrated school, he has possessed a powerful quality: someone who always sees the best in people, which our children appreciated.”
Noting that the motto of All Children’s is ‘harmony through understanding’, Mr Pagan said that, as its principal, “Mr Beattie led by example”.
Mr Pagan added that his sentiments also reflected the views of “countless parents and carers from down the years”.
Referring to Mr Beattie’s stature, and how some P1s have at first formed the opinion he is a friendly giant, Mr Pagan noted: “First impressions do count – but, perhaps more important, is how consistent people are.
“Jon, you will be remembered by the words of those who had the privilege of getting to know you while you were here: kind, calm, positive and the patience of a saint.
“The esteem in which you are held, the affection for you at Shimna and, above all, the quality of the young people you have sent to us year-on-year is testament to the fires you have kindled.
“In life, it’s often – and quite rightly – said that first impressions make a difference. For many starting out at All Children’s, it’s the pure height that they notice.”
And, quoting one of the college’s ‘lifers’, Emily McMullan, Mr Pagan concluded that she “was right after all” and that “Mr Beattie is truly a giant”.
