NEWS PHOTO MO CRANKER
Mother Teresa School principal Erika Bodnaruk waves to students passing by the school on Thursday. Bodnaruk is in her final two weeks at the school and is retiring after 30 years in education.
mcranker@medicinehatnews.com@mocranker
It was a special day Thursday for teachers and students at Mother Teresa School.
Faculty set up lawn chairs and designed signs, then waited for students and their parents to drive by and say goodbye for the year.
“I had two staff who really, really thought it would be important to say goodbye to our kids,” said principal Erika Bodnaruk. “We really haven’t been able to see them, other than virtually, so we found we needed to do something to see them.
“We’re following all of the guidelines from the chief medical officer and it’s going to be great to see all of the students rolling down their windows, waving and saying goodbye.”
Nearly every teacher from the school lined up down Cameron Road near the school. Bodnaruk says it is important to say goodbye, especially to the students moving on to a different school.
“We’re hoping most of the Grade 6 students can come by,” said Bodnaruk. “We really want to wish the Grade 6 students well and congratulate them on the year.”
Bodnaruk just finished her ninth year as principal of the school and is now moving on from the education field. She is going to focus full time on her family’s Christmas tree farm just outside of the Hat.
Bodnaruk worked in education for 30 years. She worked in three different provinces, four school divisions and at nine different schools. She was born in the Brandon, Man., area and went to Brandon University. She then completed her masters at the University of Lethbridge. She says the day was important for her.
“The pandemic has definitely gotten in the way of farewells,” she said. “I hope this can give the kids some closure and give the kids some closure.
“I’m really hoping I can come back next school year to say goodbye properly in the fall when we’re open.”
