Retirement party

A Legend Retires, Part Two!

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At 3:15, the biggest retirement celebration commenced as friends and family of Harriet Berrier and Judy Branton joined Sevierville Primary School colleagues in the playtorium. Politicians, local dignitaries, PTO, teachers, friends, former students, and a more, joined for laughter, memories, and words of praise.

Here is how it started…

Ready to present proclamations and honor the retirees.

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Mayor Atchley and State Senator Doug Overbey. (And I just noticed that they are also wearing leis for the luau themed retirement party! )

13275112_10204443399324826_623041323_oSPS Assistant Principal,  Dr. Valentine, offers warm greetings and opens the event.

13275140_10204443399484830_1402262404_oCentral Office Supervisors attend, Dr. Jennifer Younger and Dr. Susan Howard. (The Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent’s pictures were blurred so I can’t share them here. The IPad camera was a little sensitive.)

Senator Overbey honors Harriet at her retirement.

 

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First grade teachers applaud.

 

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Mayor Atchley proclaims May 23rd to be Harriet Berrier Day!

 

13282341_10204443403684935_513906134_oSue Wilson recites an original poem about the joys of retirement and what our two friends will be missing—but maybe they can come and sub for us some time?

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The Parent Teacher Organization leaders provided outstanding support in this event.

What out exemplary group of parent leaders this year. Pictured here are Jamie Woods, Misty Townsend, Christal Franklin, Mignonne Coykendall, Crystal VanRensburg, and Camille Allen. Many thanks to them!

13271415_10204443404924966_1866746438_oHarriet expresses thanks and memories. Judy Branton, a well loved teacher assistant will be retiring too. What a calm and happy presence Judy has about her. A sweet smile always ready. I have always enjoyed being around her. We will miss you, Judy!

 

When they said rocking chairs, I didn’t imagine chairs this beautiful. I’ll take one!

13288460_10204443404844964_1858507868_oPTO announces that they want to update the second grade playground. Even more, they are going to name it in honor of Harriet Berrier. What a legacy!

13275040_10204443407325026_2021801863_oEvent Co-Chairs: Amy Ribblet Julian, music and vocal arts teacher; Paula Poole, second grade teacher. Tireless work on hallway art, songs, invitees, student participation, etc. Exceptional results today. Thank you!

13282839_10204443406525006_2072227128_oHarriet’s parents are Cotton and Sarah Berrier.  This is the first time that I have seen Harriet’s father, but I would pick him out as a golf pro as soon as he walked through the door.13272004_10204443406845014_1201683963_oFriends and church friends.

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13282850_10204443408085045_1281966163_o13262348_10204443407045019_1863612030_oHappy Retirement, ladies!

May you always have good tee times and sunny beaches!

A Legend Retires, Part 1

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What happens when you are a legend retiring after 39 years of service?

First, you may have two mayors and a state senator in attendance.

You have a huge event with local dignitaries, friends,  relatives, former students, and colleagues. You may have 800 children singing you a song and your childhood pictures projected on a 30 foot screen. Your faculty will dress as if for a luau, with festive flair.

Even more!

Continue here to see the wonderful retirement ‘send off’ for Sevierville Primary School’s Principal, Harriet Berrier.

This first part, Part 1, shows some highlights from the 1:15 celebration today.

First, a proclamation from Perrin Anderson, representing County Mayor, Larry Waters.

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Next, Dee Dee Trentham tells some nice things about Harriet and her career as an educator. Plus, that she likes Vols basketball.

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Next, she received a nice shirt that expresses what all of us are wishing for ourselves! (Maybe in a few more years for me.) 13288123_10204443398244799_48375062_oWe enjoyed the photos! Here are some more from the 2015-2016 yearbook. (Thank you, Glenda Parrish! Well done.) 13262491_10204443398404803_1118188714_o

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Harriet ‘facts to know’:

She was born in Clarksville, Tennessee. Later, she went to Kindergarten in Sevierville at Mrs. Rambo’s Pre-School. Harriet attended grades 1-8 at Pigeon Forge Primary School and high school at Sevier County High School. She attended U.T. for one year and graduated from Emory and Henry in Emory, Virginia with a B.A. in Education. Later, she earned a Masters and an Ed.S at Lincoln Memorial University.

Jerry Wear was her first principal. She taught 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades, plus a grade 3/4 split class. Harriet was a classroom teacher for 16 years, mostly with third grade classes. She spent six years as the assistant principal with Andy Roe. Harriet has served as a principal for 17 years. She retires with    39 + years of service.

With this new free time, we will probably see her more on the golf course. (I wonder what is her favorite course?) She will have more time for family, the Vols basketball games, sleeping, Captain Jack, and the BEACH!

Stay tuned for Part 2, the afternoon celebration. I will start on that part after I walk my dog.

She needs to get out and about…