PRINCIPAL of Woodland National School, Dr Patricia Slevin, has announced that she will retire from teaching at the end of this school year.
Dr Slevin, who has been prinicpal of the Letterkenny primary school since 2017, shared the news in an announcement circulated to parents.
In the statement, she said: “I have had the privilege of a long and extremely happy career in the teaching profession and when I moved to Woodlands in September 2017, little did I know the joy that I would find – joy that has kept me working for more years than I had ever intended.
“During my nine years here, I have had the honour of working with the most wonderful staff who are committed and dedicated, supportive and inspiring.
“A staff full of people who go above and beyond for the pupils in their care to ensure the children have the best possible experience of school.
“It has been a joy and a pleasure to work with them and the school is very fortunate to have staff of such exceptional calibre.”
She also thanked the parent body of Woodland NS for their support, and praised them for passing on important values of “kindness, warmth, perseverance, integrity and care for those less fortunate than themselves” to their children.
Dr Slevin said Woodland NS pupils have brought her “the most joy”.
“Your boys and girls have made me smile, have kept me young and have inspired me to be the very best that I can be.
“I will miss them terribly.”
Dr Slevin concluded by saying she would be thanking parents in person in the coming weeks.