A LONG-SERVING teacher has bid farewell to the classroom after more than two decades of nurturing youngsters.

Susan Ross, who joined Kells Infant School in 1998, walked out of the school gates for the very last time after her lengthy career.

Miss Ross was described as a dedicated teacher who had worked through some 'very tough' times, especially during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The assistant headteacher has seen many changes in her time at Kells, including changes to the curriculum, local area and staff over the last 23 years and has worked alongside three headteachers during her tenure.

For several years, she successfully entered pupils for the Whitehaven Music Festival, where the school saw many success with recitals and singing.

There are many past pupils of the school who are now parents themselves and they have shared their fond memories of the popular teacher, adding that they were grateful that their children would share those memories too.

Pupils have made lots of suggestions of what Miss Ross can do in her retirement and during a presentation of gifts, a collection of ideas for her retirement activities was shared.

Miss Ross and the staff at Kells Infants were entertained at the thought of a retirement filled with ‘watching Disney movies, going to Flamingo Land or Blackpool, climbing a mountain and going to the beach’.

She will be enjoying time at live sporting events starting with the Open Golf Competition and will be looking forward to Wimbledon next year, along with enjoying many holidays in term-time.

Jo Jones, headteacher at Kells Infant School said: “We will all miss Miss Ross and I know that past and present colleagues have joined us individually, collectively and virtually in wishing her the happiest of retirements.”