Dear Editor,
I am deeply grateful for all those who were involved in my recent retirement celebrations. BICS is indeed a special school and it has been my honour and privilege to serve as the BICS principal these past five years. With the support and contributions of many in our school community, I believe that BICS is a better school now than when I arrived and I feel confident that under the leadership of Principal Scott Slater that the school will continue to thrive; BICS is in good hands. While I am proud of what we have been able to achieve together, it is not how I want to be remembered. I have always tried to remember and act in a way that demonstrates my strong conviction that my work is really all about relationships. My work has been about supporting, nurturing and inspiring the hearts and minds of those I serve. I honestly can’t think of a more important job – one that I have been privileged to hold over the past 34 years in various capacities as an educator. I believe that the success of our work is measured by the quality of our human interactions. It is foundational to everything we do. I hope that others will remember me as someone who cared deeply and that I made people feel respected and valued regardless of their role, position or perspective and that I was someone who encouraged them to live with an open heart and mind. So when asked about – what will I miss when I retire? This is what I will miss – the daily human interactions and the challenge of working to help others realize their potential – to learn from mistakes – and to dream big. I have often felt that being a principal is not a job, it’s not even a career - it is a life. So as this chapter comes to an end, I will look forward to a new life - new opportunities and new ways to engage in the Bowen community.
Special thanks to Scott Slater, Sandy Bristow and others for spearheading my retirement celebrations. And thanks to the BICS staff and students for a wonderful final assembly and for acknowledging that I always believed in you. The Vimeo “BICS Snippets” tribute was priceless! I felt very honoured and humbled by the wishes and gifts from so many. And thank you to our PAC who honoured me with a tree for my garden and the beautiful wooden plaque that will be permanently displayed in our new Learning Commons. The quote about leadership from John Quincy Adams engraved on the plaque has always inspired me and may it continue to inspire others in years to come.
With gratitude,
Jennifer Pardee
