School bids much-loved assistant adieu

A retiring education assistant said she was thankful for her 20 years at Our Lady of Lourdes.

Colleen Lewis officially left the school with a farewell assembly on Thursday during which she was inundated with gifts, including cards from every year group and a handmade blanket from a colleague.

Mrs Lewis began her time at the Dardanup school helping a single deaf child, but her role, like the school, changed.

She worked as a general education assistant, as well as with special needs students, and also one-on-one to improve particular students’ literacy skills.

Mrs Lewis said the school’s students and staff had been very supportive both professionally and personally.

She said the school had grown considerably in size during the last 20 years, and believed her time had been rewarding.

“What is rewarding is getting a child to believe in themselves,” she said.

“When they do that, they start achieving.”

Deputy principal Natalie Dillon said Mrs Lewis had made a significant contribution to the school and would be missed.

“Her kindness and patience and the extra care she gives to students in all aspects of their schooling, being academically or socially, will be greatly missed,” she said.