Farewell to Mrs Drabble

Photo: JESSIE COLQUHOUN

WE'LL MISS HER: Redoubt North Primary School junior pupils say they’ll miss deputy principal Pat Drabble, who has been at the school for 31 years.

After 31 years and 900 students, Pat Drabble has stepped down as Redoubt North Primary School's deputy principal.

A foundation staff member, Mrs Drabble has been at the school since it opened in 1978.

In that time she's seen big changes at the school - including new classrooms, the addition of an intermediate school and growth in staff and student numbers.

"But it's always been a sharing, caring place," she says.

Part of her job included meeting and greeting every five-year-old and their parents and welcoming them to the school, something she has done since the early 1990s. She's even taught two generations of some families.

"I'm now seeing children of children I've taught coming through," she says.

"It gets a bit embarrassing when they say to the little ones: 'She used to be my teacher'."

So what's kept her coming back each day for the last 31 years?

Mrs Drabble says it's because "the children are delightful and I've got wonderful colleagues". And she's never been tempted by a change, simply because her job was "never, ever boring".

Principal Jane Milner says there will be "lots of tears" when Mrs Drabble leaves.

"She's going to be terribly missed."

The school has presented her with a long service award and held a special assembly in her honour.

Mrs Drabble is "easing myself out slowly" and will do some part-time work at the school next year. "I'd miss the children too much if I had a clean break."

- © Fairfax NZ News