Today we held our opening service to celebrate the beginning of a new school year. It gave us the chance to welcome all of our staff and students, including the boys and girls in our new 1st year group, to another wonderful year in the Beautiful Brunner.
It was an especial occasion this year as it also gave our school community a chance to pay tribute to our fantastic and amazing school secretary, Joyce Ward. After over thirty years of excellent service to St Paul's CBS Secondary School, Joyce retires today. On behalf of our school community, I would like to acknowledge the debt of gratitude we owe, and to extend our great thanks and appreciation to Joyce for all that she has given to enrich our school.
For generations of our parents/guardians she was the first voice they heard or the first person they met when they contacted the office. In Brunner the help and support that she gives to her colleagues on staff, and to our student body will be long remembered. As school principal, and on a personal note, I can say that the kind personality and praiseworthy professionalism that Joyce has always brought to her work, has made our school office an effective, warm and enjoyable workplace.
So, as Joyce embarks on the next chapter of her life, we wish her a long, happy and healthy retirement, and may she experience many great adventures ahead in the company of friends and family.
The picture accompanying this article is one of our school choir, joined by members of our staff, singing 'The Time of Our Lives'. To Joyce we say thank you again for the time you have given to our school, and for the difference you have made to our lives. Beir Bua agus Beannacht!