December 15 was a special retirement day at Barriere Secondary School (BSS) as two of their workers bid farewell. School support worker Wanda Amos, and custodial worker Sheri MacGregor, said their goodbyes to their jobs, co-workers past and present, and friends at an afternoon tea in the BSS library. The room was humming with conversation and laughter as everyone had fun telling stories of the “remember when” kind, while enjoying a tasty assortment of refreshments provided by the staff.
Sheri says she is looking forward to her retirement after working 15 years as a School District employee. She began as a relief worker at BSS, then worked at a number of other schools before returning to BSS.
“I will miss coming to work,” said Sheri, “I liked my job as custodian, it meant that I was in contact with so many interesting people in all the locations I have been working in. The kids were fun to be with, although there were times when they needed some stern reminders to do what was required.”
Sheri told everyone that she is looking forward to spending more time at home. Noting her husband will be pleased with that as he was “known to grumble a bit” about her being away so much.
What will Sheri do with all the time she will have? It is no secret that she likes to go fishing, as the staff members demonstrated by dressing her up in a ‘go fishing’ outfit. The MacGregors have a cabin at Chuchi Lake near Fort St. James. And her grand children will get even more attention now than before; she has helped them with their home work, organized fund raisers with them, and taken them for holidays to the lake. Sheri notes that if after all those activities there is still time left she will go on a holiday with her husband once in a while. Of course, everything will have to be meticulously organized and followed through. Her passion for knowing that everything is in proper order and will be completely correct was the theme of the teasing she had to endure from her co-workers during the tea.
No one could miss how Wanda Amos will spend her time in retirement after she was dressed up in the proper attire for a ‘grandma’ by her colleges.
Wanda is looking forward to spending lots of time with her little grandson Paul. He was at the gathering with his dad, and hardly left ‘granny’ Wanda’s arms while enjoying all the attention he received from everyone.
Wanda started working for the School District in 1988, and has spent the last 15 years at BSS.
“I will really miss being at the high school,” said Wanda, “I like the teenagers, they are funny – most of the time they just love to get lots of attention.”
Many commented how much Wanda will be missed by both staff and students at the school as she was known for her sense of humor, and dedication to her work.
During the tea both retirees were presented with gifts from the staff; and everyone wished them an exciting and fun-filled retirement for many years to come.
Wanda and Sheri told everyone that Although they will miss the staff and the students, both Wanda and Sheri said they are looking forward to enjoying themselves “doing all those things they did not have time for until now”.