Retiring teaching assistant Julie going to miss children "immensely" after 42 years at the same school
“I see a lot of the mams I used to teach picking up their children from school and I also used to teach one of our current teachers”
A Washington teaching assistant who has worked at the same school for nearly 42 years said she is going to miss the children “immensely” as she retires from the teaching profession after over four decades of service.
Julie Smith, 61, joined Rickleton Primary school as nursery nurse in September 1984, just two years after the school opened. At that time, Margaret Thatcher was the Prime Minister, ‘I Just Called to Say I Love You’ by Stevie Wonder was number one in the charts, and the movie Ghostbusters had just been released.
On Wednesday (July 22) Julie will be saying goodbye to the children and staff for one last time as she begins her well-earned retirement.
Julie said: “Wednesday is going to be a very sad day and I’m sure there is going to be a lot of tears. I don’t think it will really sink in until September, when I don’t have to get up to come to school.
“The children are what I’m going to miss most - seeing their smiles, really keeps you going. This is an amazing school, and seeing the children come to us in nursery and how they develop and grow - I’m going to miss them immensely. I’ve already been getting the Year 6 students coming up to me in the hall and asking me not to go. The last 42 years have been amazing.”
During four decades teaching at the school, Julie has taught the children of those pupils she once taught, although has not yet seen any grandchildren arrive at the school.
She said: “I see a lot of the mams I used to teach picking up their children from school and I also used to teach one of our current teachers, Miss Blair, who is now a teacher at the school.
“I often bump into former pupils, who are now adults, in the Galleries and they come straight across to speak to me. I’ve seen a lot of change in my time in the profession including the curriculum, use of IT, and things like school dinners. The children have also changed.”
Julie is certainly going to be missed by the children she has dedicated her career to caring for and educating.
Year 6 pupil Esme Dowson, 11, said: “Mrs Smith is very kind and caring and I remember her really helping me with my multiplication back in Year 4. Whenever we see her we run over and give her a hug. I’m going to miss her a lot.”
Luke Basham, 11, said: “I used to really like it when Mrs Smith used to read us stories. She would make funny noises and put on the voices of the different characters.”
Year 5 pupil Arlo Meredith added: “I remember when I had done something I thought I was going to get into trouble for and I was really upset. Mrs Smith helped me to get all my feelings out and I’m going to miss her a lot.
“She always has a smile on her face.”
Julie now plans to use her retirement to travel and to “sort out my garden”.
She added: “I’m going first of all have a rest before going on holiday to Majorca and we have booked a cruise for later in the year.”
Commenting on Julie’s years of service, the school’s headteacher Jan Price said: “I think being at Rickleton for so long just shows Julie’s passion and commitment to both the children and the school. We’d like to say a huge thank you for the 42 years of happiness she has brought to the children at the school.
“We now have a huge Julie sized hole to fill.”
Deputy headteacher Alan Baker added: “I think it’s phenomenal for Julie to spend such a long period of time in one school. I’ve certainly never known of it. Julie is part of the fabric of the school and she is going to be massively missed.”