TEACHER MARIE’S 31 YEARS AT ST MARY’S

ON September, 22, the staff of St. Mary’s Secondary School, New Ross, both past and present, came together in the Brandon House Hotel to honour their colleague Marie Winters on her retirement after 31 years of dedicated service to teaching in St. Mary’s.

Many tributes were paid to Marie by her colleagues, the board of management and support staff. Marie started her teaching career in St. Mary’s in 1985. She was employed by the then principal Sr. Maureen Freyne.

Marie was a dedicated, hard working, innovative and creative teacher who always kept the interests of her students to the fore. She was never one to shy away from introducing new methodologies, programmes or giving up her time to benefit both the students and the school.

In 1988, she was one of a team of teachers who introduced the Leaving Certificate Applied programme into the school. In 1995 Marie introduced the successful Leaving Certificate Vocational programme which has benefited many students over the years. Outside of classroom life Marie brought great humour and laughter to the staffroom. Over the years she accompanied students on many school tours from Cork and Clare to Paris, Munich and Boston, to name but a few.

Presentations were made to Marie from her colleagues, the board of management and support staff.

Marie then entertained those present with a parody she had written especially for the occasion which brought the house down. A school spokesperson said: ‘We wish Marie best wishes, health and happiness in her retirement and may she enjoy every minute of it.’