The Ballyboy Community bid farewell to retiring school Principal Patricia Grimes.
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A teacher for 35 years in total, Patricia has served in Scoil Bhríde as principal for 26 of those years.
A special celebration was held on Friday, October 23rd 2020. Due to Covid 19 restrictions a large gathering was not possible, however, instead, the entire community gathered together in spirit, if not in body, to pay tribute and wish a fond farewell, to retiring Principal, Patricia Grimes. |
Patricia was appointed principal of Scoil Bhríde in 1994.
Since then she has totally invested herself in the school and community of Ballyboy. Her creative, innovative thinking, practical no nonsense attitude, along with her enormous generosity, kindness and warmth has touched, inspired and left a lasting impression on so many lives. As a mentor she gave understanding and advice, as a colleague she was a true friend, as a teacher, she taught the joy of learning and helped shape so many careers and successes.
Her dedication over the years to charitable work in Africa has cultivated in Scoil Bhríde, an ethos of charity and support for the less well off. Patricia has worked tirelessly in the pursuit of education for children, not only in Ballyboy, but also as far away as Kenya and Tanzania. The twinning of Scoil Bhríde with a school in Ewuaso, Kenya provided a wonderful source of real-life learning for the children and a belief in our ability, that, even though we are small, together we can make a big difference.
Since then she has totally invested herself in the school and community of Ballyboy. Her creative, innovative thinking, practical no nonsense attitude, along with her enormous generosity, kindness and warmth has touched, inspired and left a lasting impression on so many lives. As a mentor she gave understanding and advice, as a colleague she was a true friend, as a teacher, she taught the joy of learning and helped shape so many careers and successes.
Her dedication over the years to charitable work in Africa has cultivated in Scoil Bhríde, an ethos of charity and support for the less well off. Patricia has worked tirelessly in the pursuit of education for children, not only in Ballyboy, but also as far away as Kenya and Tanzania. The twinning of Scoil Bhríde with a school in Ewuaso, Kenya provided a wonderful source of real-life learning for the children and a belief in our ability, that, even though we are small, together we can make a big difference.
Her encouragement of the school’s Millennium Pledge to provide annual bursaries for the education of children in Tanzania has led to such memorable community events as the school’s annual Enterprise Day and annual Christmas Carol Singing. These events have created precious memories for so many of us and our children and have impacted on the lives of so many children further afield.
On this special occasion to honour Patricia’s huge contribution to Ballyboy, she was presented with a Book of Memories, a compilation of pictures, dedications, photos and tributes from pupils and staff, past and present and from all those in the school community whose lives she touched.
On this special occasion to honour Patricia’s huge contribution to Ballyboy, she was presented with a Book of Memories, a compilation of pictures, dedications, photos and tributes from pupils and staff, past and present and from all those in the school community whose lives she touched.
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She was also presented with a beautiful collection of good wishes, memories and songs from the children, recorded and compiled by Jared Madden, drama teacher. The Board of Management Chairwoman, Catherine Buckley, and Parents’ Committee Chairman John Gill, also made presentations on behalf of the pupils, parents and school community, among them, a spectacular and unique framed, inscribed, photograph of Ballyboy church, taken by John Gill. The children, in their “bubbles” serenaded Ms Grimes off with the Beatles “ Here comes the sun” and Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again”!
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