WHEN children returned to Ballybrown NS on Monday after the Easter break, there was a new, but also familiar, face to greet them at the school gate.
Newly appointed principal Séamus Barry, from Doon, has promised to continue retiring principal Sheila Hayes’ custom of greeting each child by name every morning.
“It’s a tradition that began when we reopened after Covid in September 2020,” said Joe Lyons, who retired as principal of the Clarina school in January 2021, “and Sheila kept up the practice when school life returned to normal”.
“With approximately 300 children attending each morning, it’s a tall order but the personal touch means a lot to children and to parents. It’s typical of Sheila’s caring nature and attention to detail. Indeed, when schools were closed during the Covid pandemic and learning was confined to online teaching, Sheila kept up contact with children who found the lockdown experience challenging by visiting them at home and sitting with them in their garden,” said Mr Lyons.
A native of Pallasgreen, Ms Hayes has been principal since 2021 but has been a member of the teaching staff of Ballybrown NS since 1992.
Prior to that, she taught in St Munchin’s Girls’ NS in Ballynanty, as well as teaching abroad. She has filled many roles in Ballybrown including class teacher, special education teacher, special duties teacher, deputy principal and ultimately principal.
During her time as principal, she oversaw building projects, the development of a new parking area and a host of educational projects.
“During my time in the school, Sheila was in charge of special education. She was constantly researching new developments in education. Sheila set up literacy and numeracy teams among the staff and introduced so many innovations such as peer tutoring, literacy lift off, our school story, mata sa rang and others,” he said.
When Ms Hayes joined the staff of Ballybrown NS, she was recruited by the then principal Michael Lynch, who was among the guests at a farewell Mass in Ballybrown.
New principal Séamus Barry told the congregation how Ms Hayes had modestly resisted the idea of any public gathering to mark her retirement.
Mr Barry and Fr Mike Cussen paid glowing tributes to Ms Hayes.
Fr Cussen told of her dedication to the school and children's wellbeing, as he often spotted her car outside the school long after the school day was over. Tom Donovan, chairman of the board of management, presented Ms Hayes with two paintings by Jim O’Farrell.
Staff presented Ms Hayes with a bench with the inscription ‘Sit with Kindness S.H.’
At her insistence, the bench will be placed on the side of the walking track at the rear of the school.
The parents’ association presented her with a montage of photos, featuring all nine class groups in the school.
Speaking of her time as principal, Ms Hayes said that no matter how difficult of trying a situation might be, she had a way of dealing with it that never failed.
“A visit to the infant classes invariably lifted my spirits. I cherished those visits,” she said.
1.
2.
3.
