A Heartfelt Farewell and Appreciation to Ms. Deirdre Kelly
Dear Muslim National School Community,
It is with a very full heart that I write this announcement as Principal. After many wonderful years with us, Ms. Deirdre Kelly has decided to retire at the end of this school year. We are all feeling the mix of gratitude and real sadness that comes with saying goodbye to someone who has meant so much to our school.
Deirdre’s decision to retire feels right and timely. She has recently welcomed her beautiful first grandchild, little Hazel, into the family, and I think the pull of spending more time with her has been impossible to resist. Those early years with a grandchild bring a special kind of magic, and we are so happy for Deirdre and her family as she steps into this new chapter. But for us here at school, it is the end of an era. Our school will feel different without her familiar presence.
I have known Deirdre for many years, both as a colleague and through her dedicated work in the school. From the first time I saw her in the classroom, it was clear she was someone special. In my long career in teaching, I’ve worked with many talented and dedicated teachers. Deirdre stands out from all of them. What makes her different is the way she truly lives Unconditional Positive Regard in everything she does with every single child.
This idea comes from the NCSE’s RELATE document and the thinking of Carl Rogers. It means accepting and valuing each child exactly as they are, without judgement. It’s not about agreeing with everything a child does, but about separating the behaviour from the person. Deirdre has this way of making every child feel seen, safe, and respected no matter what. She shows genuine care, listens with her whole heart, and helps children believe in themselves. You can see it in the small moments , the quiet encouragement for a child who is struggling, the celebration of every little step forward, the steady kindness on tough days. She reframes difficult situations with compassion, models forgiveness, and creates an atmosphere where children feel they truly belong.
This approach isn’t just nice to have , it is at the very heart of the new redeveloped 2025 primary curriculum. Relationship-based teaching, wellbeing, inclusion, and holistic development are now front and centre. Deirdre has been living this every day for years. She has given our whole staff a real, living example of what this looks like in practice. Whether in whole-class teaching, small-group work, or one-to-one support, her consistent warmth and acceptance have helped shape a school culture where every child feels valued. That is a powerful, lasting gift to our community.
One of Deirdre’s biggest legacies is the EAL programme she built and nurtured here. Drawing on her own voluntary teaching experience abroad, her deep love of English literature, and her passion for language, she created something truly special. She understood that learning English is not just about vocabulary and grammar, it is about confidence, belonging, and opening doors to new opportunities. She helped children from many different backgrounds find their voice in a new linguistic landscape. Through creative lessons, patient scaffolding, carefully chosen books, and warm encouragement, she made language learning feel exciting and achievable. Many of our pupils have gone on to thrive academically and socially because of the strong foundation Deirdre gave them. Parents often share stories of children who arrived shy and uncertain suddenly chatting happily, reading enthusiastically, or writing their own little stories. That programme will continue to support children for years to come, and that makes me very proud. It stands as a wonderful professional legacy that reflects Deirdre’s sincerity, her expertise, and her deep care for each learner.
As a SET teacher, Deirdre also brought her talents to supporting children with additional needs, including those who are highly able or gifted. She had a particular gift for recognising that these children, too, have important needs that must be fostered. Highly talented children can sometimes feel overlooked if their abilities are not stretched and challenged in meaningful ways. Deirdre saw this clearly and responded with creativity and insight. She designed rich, hands-on challenges that sparked curiosity and encouraged deeper thinking. I particularly remember the engineering projects she set for a cohort of gifted children, bridge construction tasks that involved planning, testing materials and problem-solving. These weren’t simple activities; they were carefully crafted to push children to apply mathematical concepts, scientific thinking, and creative design all at once. Watching those children light up as they tested their bridges, adjusted their designs, and celebrated successes (and learned from the occasional collapse!) was a wonderful to behold. Deirdre created an environment where gifted learners felt both challenged and supported. She helped them develop resilience, collaboration skills, and a love of learning that went far beyond the standard curriculum. Her work in this area enriched our school’s provision for all abilities and showed her commitment to nurturing every child’s potential, no matter where their strengths lay.
Deirdre has always been the consummate professional - reliable, thoughtful, and completely sincere in her convictions. She approached every aspect of her work with quiet excellence. But what people remember most is her warmth. She is understanding and compassionate, the kind of colleague who makes the staffroom feel brighter just by being there. She remembered the little things - a child’s interest in a particular book, a colleague’s personal challenges, a family milestone. She offered wise advice without making a fuss and brought fun and lightness to the everyday work of teaching.
As news of her retirement has gone around, I’ve overheard so many lovely things from staff that capture her impact better than any formal speech could. “Hard to imagine the school without Deirdre,” one teacher said with a sigh. Others have spoken warmly about her friendship, her wisdom, and the countless ways she made our school brighter. “How are we going to manage without her?” they wonder. There have been heartfelt thanks for all the chats over cups of tea, the practical support during busy times, the shared laughs that eased difficult days. “We loved working with her,” “Missing her presence already,” “She’s been a wonderful friend and confidant,” “The school won’t be the same without your lovely smile and positivity,” and “A comforting colleague” - these words keep coming up again and again. They speak to the deep bonds Deirdre formed over the years. She wasn’t just a colleague; she was someone you could turn to, someone who made the hard work of teaching feel more human and more joyful.
To the children and families who have known her directly, Deirdre has been that special teacher who made them feel truly valued. Parents often tell me how their children spoke of her with real affection and respect. In our diverse school community, where children bring such rich and varied experiences, her ability to connect across backgrounds has been so important. She celebrated each child’s story, listened to their perspectives, and helped them feel they truly belonged here. Whether supporting a newcomer through the EAL programme or stretching a gifted child with an engineering challenge, Deirdre met every pupil where they were and helped them grow. Her unconditional positive regard created classrooms where mistakes were seen as part of learning, differences were respected, and every child could flourish in their own way.
On a personal note, working with Deirdre has been one of the real joys of my time as both a teacher and Principal. Her integrity, her passion for literature and language, her creativity in supporting gifted learners, and her daily example of caring, relational teaching have inspired me and all of us. She has shown us what teaching can be when it comes from a place of deep respect and genuine love for children.
We will miss her greatly - her presence in the school yard each morning, her thoughtful ideas, her laughter, and that warm way she had with everyone. The school will feel quieter without her energy and compassion. Yet we also celebrate with her. Grandparenthood brings a special kind of joy, and Hazel is lucky to have Deirdre’s stories, her patience, her creativity, her love of books, and that beautiful smile in her life. I can already picture Deirdre enjoying quiet mornings with a good novel, family outings, perhaps some travel, time for hobbies she has had to set aside, and all the freedom that comes after years of giving so much to others. She has earned this time fully.
Deirdre, from all of us at Muslim National School - staff, children, parents, past pupils, board members, and the wider community , thank you. Thank you for the EAL programme that will continue as your lasting professional legacy. Thank you for the gifted children whose talents you nurtured through inspiring challenges like those bridge-building projects. Thank you for the countless children whose lives you brightened and whose confidence you built. Thank you for showing us every day what it means to teach with unconditional positive regard. You have left the school warmer, brighter, more inclusive, and better because of your time here. Your friendship, wisdom, warmth, and positivity have touched so many hearts.
With sincere thanks and warmest wishes for a happy, fulfilling, and well-deserved retirement,
John Mc Donnell
