End of an era as Lisnagelvin Primary School say goodbye to long serving staff

By Marianne Flood

A Derry primary school is losing two of its longest serving members of staff with the retirement of its Vice Principal and a senior teacher with almost 80 years’ experience between them.

Lisnagelvin Primary School’s Vice Principal Joy Tennis and Head of Key Stage 1 and ICT Amanda Jeffrey say they are looking forward to their final day of work tomorrow with a mixture of excitement and nostalgia.

Both Mrs Tennis and Mrs Jeffrey spoke to the Derry News earlier this week where the recalled the many years they had spent in the profession, where they have taught over 1,000 children between them.

Mrs Tennis had always wanted to be a teacher and trained at Stranmillis in the height of The Troubles.

She began her 44-year career in Coleraine and moved to Derry after she got married, where she taught at Clooney PS until it amalgamated with Rosdowney PS to form Lisnagelvin PS in 1978.

Mrs Tennis was an infant teacher before she was promoted to Senior Mistress, which then became the role of Vice Principal.

Her colleague Amanda Jeffrey, who is Head of Key Stage 1 and ICT, had originally wanted to be a PE teacher, but at the advice of her aunts she chose Primary School teaching instead.

“They said to me ‘you don’t want to be out playing hockey when you are 30 or 40’,” she laughed.

Mrs Jeffrey gained her teaching degree at the then University of Ulster in Coleraine, where she had a keen interest in inter-varsity sports.

She taught at the Model School before moving to Lisnagelvin in 1988, just four months after the birth after her daughter Laura.

Mrs Jeffrey helped introduce both the Extended School scheme and Shared Education scheme at Lisnagelvin and has also been on the Board of Governors for nine years.

Mrs Tennis said the last 44 years have ‘gone in a flash’, but she knew it was time to retire when she realised she had taught the grandparents of some of her pupils.

“There was no technology at all when I started,” she recalled.

“Now everything is all singing, all dancing. The pupils now get time to explore. It’s not ‘chalk and talk’ like the old days. It’s more about life skills now.”

She added: “Children aren’t scared to come to school anymore. It is very child led now.

“It’s just like a big happy family now, even with a school of this size.”

The women have taught well over 1,000 children each and have seen many changes to their profession over the years.

“We are immensely busy,” said Mrs Jeffrey

“There has been an immense change in paper work, but the values are still the same.

“You are setting yourself as a role model and helping children achieve their potential.

“Schools have so much more to offer now and are more relaxed and happy places.

“The pupils come bouncing in with a smile on their face.”

Mrs Jeffrey has been at the helm of introducing new technology in her role as Head of ICT.

“We’ve moved from floppy discs and BBC computers to iPads and laptops and having a computer suite,” she explained.

“It is such a progressive area, but I like a challenge and embracing change in everything I do.”

The opening of the new school at Lisnagelvin, which is affectionately called ‘Lisnagelvin Mark Two’ by staff, formed a key moment in the working lives of both women.

They very involved in the planning of the new build and watched it take shape at site meetings.

Lisnagelvin’s ambitious school shows including Oliver, Joseph, Twelfth Night and Midsummer Night’s Dream also hold many fond memories for them, as do the school trips they have attended over the years.

But Mrs Tennis and Mrs Jeffrey admit teaching is an all-consuming job, that leaves them exhausted by the time the summer holidays come around.

“We live, eat and breath it,” said Mrs Tennis.

“We are working in the evenings and at weekends, it’s hard to get that work life balance.

“It’s a vocation, but I love it and I never wanted to do anything else.”

Mrs Tennis, who has four children Rachael, Rebecca, Adam and Nathan, said she is looking forward to spending time with her two grandchildren and reading good books.

“I don’t think it will hit me until September.

“But I think retirement is something you have to work at.

“I’ve never had a career break. After my first baby I was back at work eight weeks later.

“I think it’s lovely that teachers have the option of maternity leave now. It’s great for them to have that.

“We didn’t know any different. Luckily women are good multitaskers.”

Mrs Jeffrey plans to travel and get back into sport during her retirement.

“I’m looking for anything with name on it,” she said, “flights, hotel stays, shows and concerts, spa days.”

“I plan to enjoy myself and take up a new hobby like golf.

“It is time to do what I want to do, when I want to do it.”

Mrs Tennis and Mrs Jeffrey said they will take many wonderful memories of the school with them and many life-long friends.

“The school will go and we look forward to seeing it go from strength to strength,” added Mrs Tennis.