HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2015-06-24, Page 11Wednesday, June 24, 2015 • Huron Expositor 13
Seaforth Public School's principal to retire
Marco Vigliotti
Huron Expositor
Cindy Hamather has
made countless drop -ins to
the various classrooms
enveloped in Seaforth Pub-
lic School over the course
of her four years as
principal.
It is a familiar duty for
any dedicated school
administrator, offering an
opportunity to observe
their teachers in action
and potentially the
response to new curricu-
lum changes or technol-
ogy upgrades.
As she departs on an
early June day from one of
theses trips to a math
class, to see first hand the
implementation of a new
teaching strategy, the
importance of the other-
wise routine visit begins to
sink in.
It will be one of the final
drop -ins by Ms. Hamather,
as the school's young
pupils know her, before
she retires at the end of
the month following a
decades -long career spent
almost exclusively at vari-
ous schools in the region.
"There's a lot of things
I'm doing for the last
time," she said in an inter-
view at the school. "Yes-
terday was the Kindergar-
ten first ride and it was
really hard not to say to
the little ones when they
were leaving 'I'11 see you
in September' because
that's what I've always
said to them."
It has been over the last
few weeks, with summer
beginning to dawn over
the horizon, that
Hamather says her
impending retirement has
begun to "hit her."
After all, it will be her
last June spent walking
the hallways of the com-
munity's sole public
school.
Soon will come the last
graduation ceremony she
will oversee as principal.
And then the final fare-
well to all the students,
staff and families she has
encountered throughout
her tenure.
"It's been very bitter-
sweet," Hamather said of
her thoughts about leav-
ing the school. "I think I'm
ready for retirement, how-
ever I am really going to
miss the kids, the staff, the
families that have been
here because they've all
been so supportive - it's
been a great four years."
Hamather arrived in
Seaforth after stints as
both administrator and
teacher at several so-
called Highway 8 schools
in Huron County, named
for their close proximity to
the region's main east -
west thoroughfare.
She had been principal
at Holmesville Public
School for five years when
she was tapped to assume
the top position at Sea -
forth Public as part of
administrative
re -shuffling.
The move wasn't a par-
ticularly onerous one,
with Hamather living in
nearby Exeter, where she
commutes from each day.
Seaforth, she says, has
been incredibly support-
ive of the school through-
out her tenure, especially
in fundraising efforts for a
planned new playground.
"It's been very support-
ive of our playground ini-
tiative," Hamather said of
the community.
She singles out the
introduction of iPads as
teaching tools in the
school as the most signifi-
cant change she has wit-
nessed over the course of
her time in town.
The proliferation of these
new technologies into the
classroom setting has
Morrison Berries Country Market
FRESH -PICKED &
PICK -YOUR -OWN
Strawberries
Call to confirm availability before
making the drive
519-528-2900
Hours: Mon. - Fri. 8 am - 7 pm • Sat. 8 am - 5 pm • Sun. 11 am - 5 pm
37777 Amberley Rd., Lucknow www.morrisonberries.com
Seaforth Public School principal Cindy Hamather will retire at the end of the school year.
"levelled the playing field"
for students with learning
difficulties, especially in
writing and reading les-
sons, says Hamather, who
credits the iPads in particu-
lar for offering a wealth of
helpful learning aides all at
the tap of a finger.
"It's just so exciting to see
some students that I know
would be really struggling
with their reading but now
that they have the iPad,
(they) can hear and read at
the same time or have the
text read to them," she
explained.
While she may be leaving
behind the school setting,
Hamather plans to continu-
ing working with local youth
Seaforth & Area
FIREMEN'S BREAKFAST
Wednesday, July 1st-7am-12noon
Seaforth Firehall
All -You -Can -Eat
for just $8.00 Per Adult
12 & under $400
4 and under Free
We're serving pancakes, eggs, hashbrowns,
bacon, sausage, fruit, toast, coffee & juice
as a volunteer, including
helping out with the social
skills program Roots for
Marco Vigliotti/Huron Expositor
Empathy - a role she's una-
ble to take on now as
principal.
3rd Annual
Mayor's Mingle
A Celebration of Volunteerism
July 7, 2015
5-8 PM
Central Huron Community Complex
First 120 People Receive a free gift from
Egg Farmers of Ontario!
Complimentary BBQ Meal Courtesy of: