New entrants' teacher makes her exit

School was out for Valerie Davies yesterday after a teaching career spanning more than four...
School was out for Valerie Davies yesterday after a teaching career spanning more than four decades. She is pictured with her final year 1 class at Alexandra Primary School. PHOTO: LYNDA VAN KEMPEN
Valerie Davies is philosophical when it comes to teaching new entrants at Alexandra Primary School.

As new entrants' teacher and junior team leader, Mrs Davies (67) has taught two generations of children in her 29 years at the school.

But after more than 40 years as a teacher, she decided she would call it quits this week so she could spend more time with her husband, children and grandchildren. Mrs Davies started teaching ''straight out of college'' at Opoho School in Dunedin, going back to the same school and classroom in which she had once been taught.

She later taught at Surrey Park School, Tokanui and Becks Schools, but wound up at Alexandra. She worked in many areas of the schools, teaching from year 3 up to year 6, but helping to transition children from new entrants to primary school was her most satisfying role.

''It's so rewarding to see them come into school with limited skills in numeracy and literacy, and just to see them develop their independence as they learn and begin their primary years.''

Teaching new entrants was not for everyone but Mrs Davies found it rewarding. Of course she had to deal with ''toilet problems'' and talking to nervous parents but that was ''all part of being a teacher''.

Throughout her career Mrs Davies had seen many changes but it was the transition from paper to technology and information technology that was the most fundamental.

Teaching plans, once on paper, were now online and ''collaborative'' and were shared so other teachers could contribute in real time. Professionally, she had been challenged the most by different principals over the years who all had different styles of learning and teaching. The secret to success was being willing to adapt and willing to learn, she said.

''Teachers are learners too.''

The current principal, Adele Gott, was the sixth Mrs Davies had worked under, but one thing had always remained constant.

''I want my children I teach to be keen learners and to be keen to have success. Even little children can competently set their own challenges,'' she said. Her husband, Terry Davies (68), was also a teacher and deputy principal at Alexandra, but they met years earlier at high school when they were both 17.

''We have worked at the same schools, other than for two years, over 40 years of teaching,'' Mr Davies said.

''We worked in different areas but we could share ideas at home and help each other out.''

Miss Gott said it was sad to say good-bye to ''a special lady''.

''The learning experiences and projects that have taken place for all of our new entrant children over the last 28 years could not have happened without a great deal of commitment and support from an amazing teacher like Valerie.''

''We wish Valerie all the best for a long and happy retirement.''

Mrs Davies' favourite subjects were maths and science when she was at school, and she said she had tried to pass the same enthusiasm on to her pupils. She would not miss the ''heavy workload'' but had not yet made up her mind what she would do now she had finished. .

''It's been a part of my life for so many years.''

She planned to garden and read, and spend more time with her husband, two children and six grandchildren. Three of her grandchildren lived in Northern Ireland and Mr and Mrs Davies planned to visit them this year.

liam.cavanagh@odt.co.nz

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