Mrs Cunnane Retires

Congratulations and best wishes to Mrs Cunnane, who retired after 40 years service to the teaching profession, 37 of which were spent in St Aidan’s.

On Fri 20th December the whole school community and invited guests assembled in the school hall for a special mass and tribute to Mrs Cunnane on her last day principal in the school.

Indeed the final week of term was very busy as we continued Christmas traditions and also helped celebrate her 40 years teaching.

On Monday Junior Infants performed their Nativity play for the whole school and for parents and extended families.

Wednesday was designated Christmas Jumper Day.

On Wednesday we also had a very important visitor _with treats for Junior and Senior Infants!

On Friday morning Mrs Cunnane was escorted to the school hall by some members of Banna Cheoil Naomh Aodáin.

The celebration began with mass concelebrated by Fr Paddy Kilcoyne, former Chairperson of the Board of Management and Fr Michael Quinn.

Our Deputy Principal, Mrs Macken welcomed everybody to the school to mark the retirement of Mrs Cunnane and pay tribute to her in recognition of her service and dedication to the school community in Kiltimagh over the past 38 years.

Guests included Mrs. Cunnane’s family, members of the Board of Management, Parents Association and former colleagues, now retired and as well as two past pupils Sharon and Marie who were in the first class Mrs Cunnane taught in St Aidan’s school.

Symbols were presented at the start of mass in recognition of Mrs Cunnane long teaching career.

The choir, under the direction of Ms Lee added to the occasion.

After mass Mrs Macken, Deputy Principal paid tribute to Mrs Cunnane, her colleague for the past 34 years. She spoke about Anne’s long and inspiring teaching career. Anne’s excellent organisational skills, her high standard of handwriting and presentation , her enthusiasm and hard work, her baking skills, her artistic talent and her promotion of inclusion were just some of the skills and talents which contributed to forty wonderful years as a teacher. She spoke of Anne’s achievements as principal-the make-over of Junior classrooms and corridors, new outdoor colour scheme, new traffic layout and the development of a sensory room and garden . She wished Anne a long , healthy and happy retirement and concluded with an Irish blessing for retirement.

Fr Michael made a presentation on behalf of the Board of Management.

We were all entertained as Junior and Senior Infants sang a special Goodbye song.

Each class presented Mrs Cunnane with a card.

Former principal, Mairead King paid tribute to Anne and spoke about their early years teaching in St Aidan’s Girls School, their many years as teaching colleagues in this school and Anne’s role as Deputy Principal while she was principal. She complimented Anne on all her achievements as principal.