Council Waves Farewell To Retiring Head Teachers

The school year is coming to an end; children are counting down the days until their holidays begin. It’s time for them to say their farewells, until September, to their teachers, but also bid their final goodbyes to those who are not returning. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Three schools within the Caerphilly Borough, Coed-Y-Brain, Cwrt Rawlin and Park Primary, will be saying goodbye to their Head teachers and Deputy Head teacher as they leave for retirement. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mr Morien Morgan, Head Teacher at Coed-Y-Brain Primary has worked at the school for nearly 15 years. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

When describing his greatest achievement at the school, Mr Morgan replies, “Coed-Y-Brain has always been a happy school and I am pleased that it continues one upon my retirement. Staff, children, parents have great relations and we all work together for the common good; the children who come and go. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He continues with a message to his colleagues and children at the school, “Keep doing what you have always done, as you’ve done it because I think it has worked pretty well thus far.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Another to retire within the borough is Mrs Mair Evans from Park Primary; her years as Head Teacher began in 2002 when three former schools, Gilfach Fargoed Nursery, South Bargoed Infants, of which she was Acting Head, and Y Graig Junior School amalgamated to become Park Primary. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mrs Evans said, “To all my dedicated staff, A GREAT BIG THANK YOU for all your hard work and support, to my pupils, you are all unique individuals, but together we make a beautiful school. To all at Park Primary, remember and fulfil our vision; Staff, Governors and Parents working together to effectively ensure a quality education for all our children through fun, commitment, challenge and high expectation.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

From many of her memorable and enjoyable moments, Mrs Evans rates the pupils’ achieving their own goals at the top of her list, she said, “For example when a selective mute says, ‘Hello Mrs Evans’ for the very first time or ‘Look, watch me, I can write my name’.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

She also said winning £45,000 from the Peoples Millions Lottery fun, to erect gates and fencing around our playing fields was up there with her most memorable moment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Although retirement has yet to register with Mrs Evans, she is looking forward to waking up in September and not having to rush into school. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cwrt Rawlin Primary School will also be losing one of its valued members of staff, Deputy Head teacher, Mrs Elaine Perkins. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mrs Perkins has worked at the school since its opening in 2001, starting as Head of Foundation Phase before becoming Deputy Head teacher, which later turned into Acting Head teacher before a new one was appointed in 2015. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

She said, “To have watched the school grow and become, over time, the heart of our local community has been, without question, a privilege and most rewarding experience. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

She continued, “I will look back over my career with gratitude for all the opportunities I have been afforded and the many hardworking, inspirational people I have worked alongside in many different guises over the last thirty eight years with the Local Authority. Each has brought its own reward. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I wish the new Head teacher Mrs Lloyd, the Governing Body, Staff, Parents and children all the very best for a happy future as more new chapters unfold for a super school. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

When asked to recall a highlight from her teaching career, Mrs Perkins said, “I will recall much laughter, the triumphs as well as the occasional disappointments but primarily I will remember the kaleidoscope of children who have enriched my life beyond measure. They have made me proud to be called a teacher. I am leaving a profession I hold in the highest regard and I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who has supported me along the way.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Derek Havard, cabinet member for education and lifelong learning said, “On behalf of the Council, I would like to wish Morien, Mair and Elaine, all the very best for the future and thank you for playing such a vital role in the next generations’ education. We wish you a happy retirement and I am sure you will all be greatly missed.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​