School is finally out for Mrs Curtis
A pohutukawa tree that towers over Room 3 reminds Carol Curtis of how long she’s been a teacher.
The tree was shorter than Curtis when she arrived at St Joseph’s School, Ha¯ wera, 41 years ago.
‘‘I’m teaching the children of children I taught, and I am teaching with teachers whom I taught. They’re obviously drawn back to this place, I think it’s the Catholic character, the caring atmosphere of the place. The children here are no different from children at other schools, but we do have the Christian values of caring and sharing, you feel it and you see it in the playground.’’
When she started her teaching career in 1973, teachers wrote on blackboards and tablets were for sick people. Children certainly didn’t have cellphones and iPads.
As the children have embraced the technology that is essential to stay current now, teachers have also had to learn alongside them, she said.
Teachers received a lot more collegial support now than when she was a newly-fledged teacher, and teaching had become much more focused on individual students’ needs.
‘‘One year has blended into another year and another year, but no day is ever the same; you come to work not knowing what the day will hold.
‘‘Although there’s that saying about never working with children or animals, I love it, I wouldn’t still be doing it if I didn’t enjoy it.’’
Curtis, who went to Makahu School and Stratford High School, said she always wanted to teach.
‘‘As a seven-year-old I remember thinking I was going to be a teacher one day. At secondary school I did consider other things but my mind always returned to teaching, and that’s what I did.’’
But now, she’s looking forward to becoming a student again.
Friday was her last day as the teacher of Room 3 and as deputy principal at St Joseph’s School.
From this week, she’ll be free to begin ticking off items on the pagelong bucket list she wrote down-after she’s got through a slightly shorter ‘jobs to do when I retire’ list, she said.
‘‘I want to learn to paint and to play the keyboard, go for walks with friends and I love to knit and sew. I’ve got loads of things to do.’’
Spending time with her parents, who are both in their 90s, and her first grandchild, are top of the list, too.
She was farewelled at a church service on Friday, but was not expecting to miss the school too much because she would be back from time to time. ‘‘I have agreed to do some relief teaching, just at this school, and I will catch up with the staff because they are expecting me to make them morning teas.’’
Not so young now
YMCA Taranaki is holding an All-Star Legends basketball game on April 27 and a free family fun day on April 28 as it celebrates its 85th birthday. Senior manager for sport and recreation Jonnie Orrell said the Friday night legends event will be a fun but competitive game featuring two men’s teams made up of former basketball stars, including Steve Campbell, Willie Banks and Warren Osborne with some courtside direction from former coach Steve McKean. About 20 ex-players have signed up and the game tips off at 7pm.