Saying farewell to Ms. Kerrisk after 42 years
As the school year draws to a close, all in the Greenhills community bid a fond farewell to teacher of Irish and German, Anne Kerrisk who has taught in Our Lady’s College for 42 years. A proud past pupil, Anne’s journey with the school started in 1975 when she joined as first year student. She has very many happy memories of her time as a student in Our Lady’s College and the academic grounding she received as well as the encouragement and nurturing as a young person that she experienced had a formative impact.
Anne studied Irish, German and English in Maynooth University before joining the Greenhills staff in 1983. And she remarks on what a privilege it has been to return to the school that she loved as a young girl, and to be welcomed as a colleague. She notes how special it is to have had the opportunity to develop close and deeply valued friendships with people who had once taught her.
There are many highlights that stand out in Anne’s long association with the school, and one, in particular, dates from early in her career, when Anne was involved in the Cooperation North project, established to promote positive cross-border relationships between schools north and south of the border. Anne has very happy memories of that project and of the friendships formed with Rex, Joan and Betty of Dromore High School. She recalls the great welcome she and other Greenhills colleagues also received on visits north, as well as the laughs and great camaraderie that was fostered.
Anne is also very proud of her experience on the Pre-First Year team, an initiative of its time led by a group of teachers committed to easing the transition from primary to secondary for students for whom the move to a large school might prove particularly challenging. Anne remembers the wonderful collegiality that characterised this group and the valuable insights about young people developed while working with such visionary colleagues
Throughout her many years of work in education, Anne’s love of teaching and a deep interest in students’ wellbeing (long before the concept came into vogue) has been the cornerstone of her approach. Her work has ranged from involvement with the German Exchange in Solingen to hosting German teachers on their visits to Greenhills, and coaching students in German debating.
Her other great passion has been Gaeilge in Greenhills and during her time with the Irish department, Anne’s love of Irish culture and the language has inspired students and fellow teachers alike. Never one to pass up the chance to do a few twirls at the school céilí, Anne also describes time spent with students in the Gaeltacht with great fondness and she has happy memories of Irish debating, and success in Gael Linn drámaíocht over the years.
She has even been known to dabble in a bit of Gaelic coaching in her time in Greenhills!!Perhaps her newly acquired free time might present a unique opportunity for her local St. Fechin’s GAA!!
In her capacity as Head of Year and in her promotion of pastoral care, Anne has always been a nurturing and supportive presence in the life of her students. A wonderful communicator, she has always strived to encourage her students to recognise the best in themselves and in others, and to be ambitious academically and in all areas of life.
Above all, Anne has been steadfast in her commitment to instilling positive values of empathy and kindness in all of her students. As she herself points out, many of her friends are past pupils, evidence indeed of the very positive rapport with students she has always sought to develop.
In reflecting on her over 40 years of interactions with generations of Greenhills girls, Anne describes the great privilege it has been to have had the opportunity to be a presence in the lives of so many young people. Although much has changed in school since the early days of ‘chalk and blackboard’, Anne notes that what hasn’t changed is the special quality that characterises the Greenhills student and it is this quality and the rapport between teacher and student that she will miss.
A true Greenhills girl, Anne will also be fondly remembered in Our Lady’s College as a teacher and cherished friend who always appreciated the social aspect of school life and who always had a real interest in her colleagues both in and outside of school.
Anne also acknowledges the enduring legacy of the many Presentation Sisters with whom she worked over the years. She is very conscious of the responsibility entrusted to all of us in the school community to uphold the ethos which the sisters have nurtured over the generations.
She expresses her thanks to the many colleagues who have made her time in school so rewarding and enjoyable, with particular thanks to former principals Sr. Elizabeth Maxwell, Sr. Frances Crowe, Pádraig Ó Broin and former deputy principals as well as the current management team and Principal Geraldine Mulvihill to whom Anne extends warm wishes for on her retirement.
As her time in Our Lady’s College comes to an end, the broad Greenhills community wish Anne a long, happy, and healthy retirement where she will enjoy more time with husband Diarmuid, children Áine and Seán, beloved mam Rose and extended family and friends. Anne assures us that she will enjoy a lot of reading, travelling and even longer walks on the beach with chocolate labrador Ted!
Sláinte an bhradáin agus ádh mór ort ar do scoir ón obair a Áine, ó gach éinne i gColáiste Mhuire, na Cnoic Ghlasa..
