Africa-Press – Seychelles. Assistant teacher Helena Simara from the International School Seychelles (ISS) who just celebrated her 60th birthday, has retired after 36 years of service.
She started her career at the ISS in 1986 and stated that when she first started the building was old and wooden and school finished at quarter past twelve.
She added that later on more and more kids kept joining the school which went from 60 primary school pupils to the current 700 pupils.
The primary deputy head teacher, Daphne Jasmin, said that both she and Ms Simara started their career around the same time and have worked together for 35 plus years.
Bothe Ms Simara and Ms Jasmin have seen major changes to the school and back then Ms Simara was working with nursery students. At present Ms Simara has experience with all the year groups in the section which include pupils from three years old to seven years old.
The principal of ISS, Elodie Vallantine, said that it is such an amazing achievement that the teaching assistant has been at the school for 36 years and that she is blown away by the dedication and professionalism of Ms Simara to the school.
She highlighted that Ms Simara has been flexible and adapted well to the changes that have happened over the 36 years of her career.
During a ceremony this week to honour the old-timer, various teachers recounted their work relationship with Ms Simara and commended her for her efforts, dedication and the joy she brought to the teachers and pupils alike.
The teaching assistant was emotional in saying goodbye to her colleagues.
She was awarded a certificate of 36 years of service, a 50-inch LG TV as a token of the school’s appreciation and various other small gifts.
The teacher assistant said she enjoyed her work so much that she did not realise this much time had passed.
Ms Simara stated that she does not know yet what she will do after such a long career but she will take the time to rest and reflect.
She took the opportunity to encourage the younger teachers to take up the challenge to break her record.
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