Fiona's Retirement

Fiona Hopkins has been school secretary in Newport NS for the past 21 years and we are all so sad to see her retire.

September saw a lovely celebration with pupils, staff, Board members and some of Fiona's family and friends.

An Ode to Fiona

So long, farewell, auf wiedershen, Goodbye

We sit in this hall, and try best not to cry.

The day has come to wish our friend farewell

Fiona, the best, quite a story there to tell

Twenty one years a secretary, a role she made her own

Old ways out, new ways in; on screen and on the phone

Systems changed – all streamlined; all answers she had to hand

So wise, astute and thoughtful – smarts to beat the band.

Website so bright and up to date, the envy of each school

Photos, News, our calendar – all looking oh so cool

A challenge now to keep it so, we’ll try our very best

Fiona will be looking on, our weekly online test.

The children here all love her and all her magic ways

Magic chair, magic cream, even magic sprays

But what heals our lovely girls and boys

Is the real true magic in her heart and eyes

Our bright pink staffroom, sleek and new, appeared to her in a dream

She jumped out of bed at 3:00 am and ‘I must show the team’

The look, the flow, the chairs, the plan – her ambitions going higher

What we need, to finish off the job, is a brand new range air fryer.

Her legacy for all to see is the school she leaves behind

The children, parents and all the staff, always in her mind.

A smiling welcome for all to see, such a friendly face,

Helping our fine school to be such a happy place

Our friend is off and will find herself in pastures green and new

To sit and sun and read and rest in skies of aqua blue

Thank you so much from all of us, we’ll miss you oh so much

And we’ll keep you always in our hearts, and always stay in touch.