Beloved teacher steps down
AFTER more than 40 years in the teaching profession, Empangeni Preparatory School’s Bronwen Griffiths has put down her marking pens and started a new chapter in her life, called retirement.
To mark the special occasion and celebrate Griffiths’s memorable and successful teaching career, her colleagues and pupils held a special assembly for her last Monday.
But teaching was not initially on the cards.
After school she headed off to university to study law.
‘I realised this was not for me, but never at that time pictured myself teaching,’ said Griffiths.
‘But I then enrolled at the Pietermaritzburg Teachers Training College and completed a three-year diploma (1974-1976) in education.’
Following this she landed her first teaching post at New Hanover between Pietermaritzburg and Greytown.
‘I taught there for a year before transferring to Empangeni in 1978 as all my friends were living and working here.’
But after just three weeks at Empangeni Prep, she was transferred to Mtubatuba Primary School, where she taught for a year before returning to Empangeni Prep from 1979 to 1981.
In 1982 she took a break to travel abroad.
‘While I was travelling, I learnt about a post at Prep and took it up in 1983 - and this time it was for the long haul, till 31 July this year.’
‘It is always sad to close a chapter, but one needs to live life abundantly and I am planning on travelling locally and abroad to visit family and friends.
‘I will also remain with Synergy Masters Swimming Club, sew, relax, read and do arts and crafts in my spare time.’
Some of the highlights that stick out for Griffiths in her long career are teaching Grade 4, working in the IT computer room and being involved in Eisteddfods and the school choir.
‘I loved working with the Grade 4 pupils as it’s the first year of the senior phase and the children are at a nice age.
‘Working in the computer room allowed me to teach the children different themes and introduce them to topics they would not learn in the classrooms.
‘Seeing the passion, love and enthusiasm my colleagues and the pupils showed during choir events, Eisteddfods and school concerts, will always be one of my favourite teaching memories.
Griffiths was also involved with mini netball and told the ZO how wonderful it was to experience different relationships with the children outside of the classroom.
‘One is not an island. I really have to say thank you to everybody that I met along the way in my career, as they all shaped me into the teacher I became and the person that I am.
‘I am going to miss the staff and pupils at Prep, as one makes friends and shares many memories with these people that I hold so close in my heart.’ ORRNLQJ IRUZDUG WR WKH QH[W FKDSWHU LQ KHU 5LFKDUG 6SULQJRUXP