Retiring Duntroon School teacher Gill McCone with pupils Jessie Conian (8), Kaitlyn Ratcliff (8) and Georgia Lightbody-Smith (8). Photo by Sally Rae.

School's out for popular North Otago teacher Gill McCone.  Mrs McCone (61) retires today after eight years at Duntroon School and a 30-year teaching career.

At a farewell lunch at the school yesterday, principal Bev Conlan said saying goodbye to Mrs McCone was one of the hardest things she had had to do in her time as a principal.

Mrs McCone was widely recognised as a teacher of excellence and she had helped make Duntroon School a special place. She was a totally dedicated teacher, Mrs Conlan said.

Mrs McCone said today marked the "end of a chapter'' and the beginning of another.

She and her husband, John, have sold their farm at Otekaieke and are moving to Hawea where they have built a house. The couple met when she was teaching in Kurow.

As a teenager, she considered many career ideas and chose teaching because she thought it would not be repetitive, and therefore not boring, and it involved working with special people - children.

She had not been disappointed in her choice.

Duntroon School had been an "extra special'' place to work and she would take many fond memories with her.