Pupils bid a fond farewell to a ‘truly fabulous’ principal
Pupils at St Mark’s Primary School wiped away tears as they said a fond farewell to their head teacher before she retired last week.
Brenda McNott, 61, was principal at the school for 19 years and is now looking forward to spending time with her grand children and going travelling with her husband.
Primary seven pupils, who were also leaving the school as they start their secondary schools in August, handed their head teacher a photo frame with pictures of St Mark’s classes along with other gifts from parents and teachers at the end of school assembly on Wednesday, June 22.
Brenda, who described her role as the best job in the world, said: “It has been an absolute pleasure and I want to thank all the parents, staff and children for making 19 years perfect.
“I will miss them but I know the school will go from strength to strength and I wish them all the very very best.
“We have had a very constant staff and they’ve all worked extremely hard, above and beyond anything I could have ever expected of them.
“It’s been interesting as I retire, with staff who themselves have retired, have come back to say how much they have enjoyed their time at St Mark’s. That is what this school is all about, it’s very much a family school.
“I’m going to spend time with my grand children and my husband and I are going travelling. Our first is a cruise to parts of Spain, out to Madeira then out to Barbados and then on to America.”
During the end of term assembly, Mrs Robertson’s primary seven pupils paid tribute to Brenda by singing one of their favourite songs and handing her a rosette for being “truly fabulous in everything she does”.
Before Brenda handed out perfect attendance certificates and sports day awards, the pupils on stage wiped away the tears and donned their yellow leavers caps before singing along to One Direction tune, History.
Brenda wished all her pupils and staff a lovely summer and added: “I wish them (primary seven pupils) all the best as they move into secondary school.
“They are a beautiful, very hardworking and trustworthy bunch and it’s all down to their parents and carers.”
Elaine O’Donnell will be the new head teacher at St Mark’s and will start her role on August 11.