Kilkenny school bid farewell to treasured teacher after 32 years of service

Mrs Mary Jacob, former principal of Presentation Convent N.S. has retired. After 32 years of teaching in Castlecomer, Mrs. Jacob ensured the amalgamation with the Boys’ School, to form Scoil Íosagáin, was a successful one. A special ceremony to celebrate and honour her teaching career was held in school on 22nd October.

Among Mrs Jacob’s strengths was her cultivation of a bustling classroom environment, incorporating digital learning, hands- on work including gardening, lively discussions as Gaeilge, a love for music, for nature and of course, encouraging top class handwriting!

Her classroom displays are exemplary, with the latest Autumn artwork and posters spurring colleagues into action!

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Planting of fruit trees, shrubs, bulbs and vegetables has been a hallmark of Mrs. Jacob’s time in Castlecomer, and just this week, her latest crop of pumpkins was raffled off amongst pupils. Over the years, she made sure that the school benefitted from local links, and vice versa.

Whether it was arranging for TY students to help construct raised beds for the garden, holding sports day in Erin’s Own, visiting the hospital and day care centre to sing carols at Christmas, bringing pupils to Mass, working with Tidy Towns, attending the library and linking with local charities throughout the year, she was always eager to maintain good relationships in Castlecomer.

Staff professional development was a priority for Mrs. Jacob as principal. For pupils, she ensured they experienced a wide variety of sports activities, including GAA, basketball, volleyball, cycling lessons, soccer and fitness programmes.

A great supporter of school teams, she not only coached pupils but provided the half-time refreshments. Mrs Jacob, like all principals around the country, led pupils and staff back safely from Covid – 19 school closure in 2020. She invested in great school improvements from a suite of Chromebooks, solar panels, to new classroom furniture, excellent P.E. music, maths and literacy resources.

The school was granted DEIS status a few years ago, and Mrs Jacob took all this in her stride.

Those who worked with Mrs. Jacob learned so much from her teaching, generosity to the children, time devoted to parents, to always strive to improve the school – the physical building, and the wellbeing of everyone in it. Of course, her wonderful baking will be missed by all in the staff room.

All her colleagues wish Mrs. Jacob a happy and healthy retirement, one that is richly deserved.

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