Deb  and Jude have both announced their intentions to retire from teaching.  They have both had wonderful long careers in education and are looking forward to spending more time with family, grandchildren in particular, and doing more travel. We will miss their great skills and expertise  and their influence on their colleagues.  Over 16 + years, so many of our students have benefitted from the work Deb  and Jude have done in the early years of schooling.

We will be having a Special Farewell Assembly  on Wednesday 14 December  at 9:15 am to farewell staff who are leaving.

From Deb:  I’ve been fortunate to finish off my career with another great class and equally fortunate to have had a great career over many years, including 17 years at Woodend. We all know Woodend is a wonderful school and this is a product of our strong community spirit and caring children and this will be hard to leave behind. So I shall miss the children and the school when you all return in 2017 although I will probably come back for a few visits. I am looking forward to the new opportunities that come with having more time and it looks busy already!

Thank you all for your support, friendship and camaraderie during the year, and I feel privileged to have both worked at Woodend and had the opportunity to teach your children.

Very sincerely Deb Darwin

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From Jude:

I would like to let you know that I will be taking long service leave at the beginning of Term 1 and will retire in mid-March 2017. I have really enjoyed my 16 years of teaching at Woodend. I have found this profession a very rewarding one. In particular, I have valued the connections I have made with Woodend children, families and staff.

Woodend is certainly a credible school and this is a result of our strong community spirit and caring children and and I am fortunate to have been a part of building this culture. So I shall miss the children and the school when school returns in 2017, although I am looking at becoming a relieving teacher. I am looking forward to the next chapter in my life and the new opportunities that come with having more time, and my own children have booked me for babysitting duties! I also look forward to more travelling time.

I take this opportunity to thank you all for your support, friendship and partnership over the years and feel honoured to have worked at Woodend and to have taught your children.

Yours gratefully,

Jude Wood