After 40 years of teaching the children of Barriere and area, Helen Fraser has retired.
Her last day at Barriere Elementary School took place on Tuesday, Dec. 15.
Fraser says she started teaching in Barriere right after graduating from college
“I had the education but I still needed to learn the skills to actually teach,” said Fraser, “I taught grade 3... in a portable... it was quite an experience.”
From there her career in teaching slowed for a short time when her children were young and she opted to stay at home so she could be with them, during this time she was “a teacher on call”.
Fraser says she has seen many changes during her career as a teacher, “You have to roll with the flow to be successful.”
Fraser’s dedication to her profession and her students has been consistent throughout her career. She has gone above and beyond in her contributions of time and expertise to many events within the school; including the Spaghetti/Math Night, Heritage Fair, Young Artists, Parent Tea, Scholastic Book Fairs, Pac Projects, Art for Others, Social Club, Newspaper Group, Girls’ Group and so much more.
As many of her former and current students would attest, Mrs. Fraser was fun, fair and a favourite for many. Her years teaching and serving as the school librarian have instilled a love of reading for her students, something that they now pass on to their own youngsters.
“I will miss the kids,” said Fraser, “ But I have no regrets about my years as a teacher in Barriere. I am the last one of the teachers here who has remained in this community for my entire teaching career.”