School a ‘‘special place’’ for King
Bev King is officially ‘‘signing off’’ from teaching.
The Matamata Primary School senior class teacher was farewelled with a special assembly last week, acknowledging the contribution she has made to the school over the years.
Principal Carolyn Osborne said the farewell was also a time to reflect on King’s teaching career which spans 28 years, with almost 20 of those dedicated to Matamata Primary.
King was an ‘‘educational champion’’, Osborne said.
‘‘Every year you’ve kept moving forward, opening new doors and doing new things. You are curious and that curiosity has been shared with students, taking them on learning adventures to make new discoveries.
‘‘ Classroom teaching is your passion. You think deeply about how to help children to learn new things, to get along with one another and how to believe in themselves. Every day you make a journey with them fun and purposeful.
‘‘ Over the years you’ve connected the children to the world around them by taking them on field trips to activate their thinking.’’
Osborne said King was a role model of a life long learner.
‘‘ This is what makes special. You accept you new challenges, continuously improve your teaching techniques, try new methods and adapt to new ways. You are a teacher admired and respected by many.
‘‘The strengths you have as a teacher and the special times you’ve shared with us will remain in our hearts and minds as we look back over your time in Matamata.
‘‘The many children that have had the privilege of being in your class each hold a special memory of something that has put a smile on their face in times of laughter or consoled them in times of sadness.’’
In thanking everyone for their well wishes, King said Matamata Primary was ‘‘ a very special place’’.
‘‘When I started at this school each day my three daughters came to school with me. As I leave I’m leaving as a granny and I’ve got four grandchildren. I’ve been to about 700 Friday assemblies I’ve decided, but not once has anybody let me tell jokes. So today, before it’s too late, what house is easy to lift? A light house. What does a cow with hiccups give you? A milkshake.’’ King said she loved teaching. ‘‘ Next February, instead of being excited about meeting a new group of children, I’m going to be at Whangamata or visiting family or my grandchildren. I’m going to be on the world’s longest morning tea.’’