Nathalie Froment | June 21 2021 |
As we close out the end of this school year, we have to say goodbye to a few of our beloved staff members. This year has been anything but normal, and unfortunately we are not able to say goodbye to these amazing members of our school community in person. I did, however, want to highlight some of their careers and plans for the future as they move on from KCVI/KSS.
Mr. Saunders comes from a family of teachers, but he never considered it to be for him until his uncle brought it up on the day after he returned from out west. He bounced around many schools in his early years before finding some roots teaching summer school at Sydenham High School, adult math and a landscape architecture focus program at LaSalle Secondary School. Eventually he was given the choice between a full-time assignment away from KCVI or one grade 9 science class at KC; he “opted for the second and never regretted it.” Mr. Saunders has been involved in the environment club, blood club, and badminton at KCVI throughout the years. Originally he lived very close to the school, but moved out to Seeley’s Bay in 1993 to be able to grow food, have some animals, and just generally surround himself with wildlife. Mr. Saunders has plans to “do more of the things [he] loves to do in the days to come” with his wife who also retired recently and to reconnect with family across the continent. Anyone who knows Mr. Saunders knows that he absolutely loves bringing animals in for his classes to see. Over the years he has brought (at least) 47 different animals to KCVI!
One of Mr. Saunders’ biggest plans for the summer is to reach out and thank some of his favourite teachers from his time in school. He said “it’s always something [he’s] intended to do, but now he will have time to follow through.”
Mr. Babcock has been teaching for 30 years. He even began his career as a student teacher at KCVI in the social sciences department and said that “something always seemed to be out of place” when he was elsewhere. He has taught phys ed, history, geography, and psychology in many different schools over the years and helped with international school trips. He has coached football, rugby, track and field, skiing, and curling. Mr. Babcock had many great things to say about the staff and admin team at KCVI, including that they were extremely welcoming and “the finest [he’d] ever worked with” and he noted that he was surprised that very few changes were made to the KCVI school building since he was a student teacher. When asked about his plans after retirement, Mr. Babcock said that he will enjoy watching his “two children go through life” and participating in as many outdoor activities as possible, including but not limited to kayaking, fishing, hiking, cycling, golfing, and skiing. He is hopeful to travel or even live in some of his bucket list places!
He highlighted all of the memories associated with the “endearing cracks in the walls and holes in the floor, the dimly lit gym, wind blowing through the windows, and that convoluted hallway system” and said “it was a pleasure to be able to end [his] career at KCVI.”
In her 32 years of teaching history, English, and her role as IB facilitator (27 of which were at KCVI/KSS), Ms. Davis has been involved with the girls’ soccer team, debate team, school plays, and international trips just to name a few, as well as being on the Status of Women committee and the Collective Bargaining Committee for OSSTF. Ms. Davis highlighted many great memories from her time as a teacher, including re-connecting with former students at numerous occasions, being able to share a love and appreciation for literature with students, and working with amazing mentors and colleagues. She has been reflecting on “how fortunate [she is] to retire from this profession when some died too young to be able to do that” and how great it has been to work with the IB organization and the IB students and families over the years. Ms. Davis made sure to mention that she will miss her colleagues and friends at KCVI/KSS dearly, as well as the students.
She has many post-retirement plans including working with Learning About Learning and Thinking About Thinking to give workshops at IB schools about the IB’s approaches to learning, watching her daughter get married next year, travelling overseas when it is safe to do so, and lots of reading!
Ms. Connelly has been the vice-principal of KCVI/KSS for seven years. Throughout her time at KCVI/KSS she has been part of many different events including but not limited to grade 9 days, musicals, holiday shows, and Relay for Life. Ms. Connelly also spotlighted how she has been “so impressed with how everyone has followed the COVID protocols without complaining” this year and how grateful she is to have been able to be a part of transition from KCVI to KSS, although she said that “connecting with and supporting students throughout their high school journey” is a the biggest highlight for her. Next year she will be moving to fill the role of principal of LCVI and Calvin Park Public School and said that she looks forward to “seeing some KSS students over at LCVI for a focus program.”
Mr. Lambert has been at KCVI/KSS/Module Vanier for only two years, but he has been teaching since 1994. He started his teaching career at KCVI teaching grade 9 French and typing! He said it “was a great privilege for me to be a part of the move from KCVI to KSS” and that transitioning from the “oldest school in Ontario to one of the newest was both a challenge and very rewarding.” Next, Mr. Lambert will be moving on to fill the role of principal at Alternative and Continuing/Community Education where he will work with both students and adults in a variety of areas from new immigrants looking to learn English to supporting the Limestone District School Board e-learning program. He will be working out of the old Calvin Park Public School building across from LCVI. Mr. Lambert made sure to spotlight how much he will miss working with the incredible admin team at KSS as he “knows how hard they work behind the scenes for the two schools that live in Kingston SS.”
When asked if he had anything to say to others at KSS, he said he is “so proud of the perseverance that each and everyone in our building has shown over the last year” and he “is confident that we will come out of this pandemic stronger and more committed to helping each other”.
Last minute, I received information that Ann Marie Andretta, our office manager, will also be leaving KSS to pursue a role at the Limestone District School Board Office.
While we are all grateful to see the end of the 2020-2021 school year, it does come at a cost. While we wish them all the best, these amazing staff members, who have put their all into giving us the best year possible despite the circumstances, will be missed.
We're losing too many!