Deputy principal Melanie Dean couldn't help but cry as St Mary's School in Blenheim held its last assembly for the year – not just because the senior students were finishing school, but because it signalled the end of her 25 years of service to the school.
Mrs Dean starts her new position of deputy principal at Miramar North School in Wellington in the new year and will also teach year 2 at the school.
Her husband, who works for the air force, was relocated to Wellington in July this year, which prompted her move, she said.
Two of her three children will also move to Wellington and one will move to Auckland to study at Auckland University.
Originally from Masterton, she started her teaching career at St Mary's in 1986 and said she was worried about moving to the South Island where she did not know anyone, and nervous about what was her first teaching job.
In her speech to parents and students on Friday, Mrs Dean said that when she started her career she believed she was the teacher and her students were the learners.
"It took a while to understand that we're all learners," she said.
She tried to keep herself busy in the last few weeks leading up to the end of the school year, trying to take her mind off the looming milestone.
Being involved in the school for so long meant she had sometimes taught two generations of the same family.
Mrs Dean wiped tears away as she was gifted, at the end of the assembly, a special candle by principal Alister Bridgman.
She received applause from parents and students alike.
It would be hard leaving the friendships she had made with families and staff at the school, but she felt positive about the move, she said.
"I don't know how I will cope not knowing anyone in Wellington."
In his nine years at the school, Mr Bridgman saw Mrs Dean grow from classroom teacher to deputy principal, which he said reflected her quality.
"She's an awesome person to work with, lots of fun, great sense of humour, she's an excellent teacher, very passionate about her teaching, always keen to learn more about teaching."
He said he would miss her both as a colleague and as a friend when school resumed for 2011.
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