IT is a bittersweet time as St Mary’s DSG staff and learners bid farewell to the beloved Carolyn Cuthbertson, the head of junior primary, who took early retirement after 29 years’ service at the school.
Carolyn was born in Swaziland and moved to the South Coast when she was five, where she attended Umzinto Primary School.
She then moved to the Upper Highway area where she attended Hillcrest Primary and matriculated at Kloof High School.
Carolyn studied at Edgewood and obtained an HDE and then taught at Winston Park for four years before focusing on her own children, spending five years as a stay-at-home mom.
Carolyn is a proud mother to Doug, who is a Chartered Accountant living in Johannesburg, and Mandy, a qualified teacher but runs a small business to allow her to be at home with her young children. She is a doting grandmother and is married to Shane, the past executive head of Thomas More College.
Carolyn started her St Mary’s journey in January 1990 as a Grade 1 class teacher. She taught Grade 1 for 14 years before becoming the junior primary HOD (Head of Department). In this role she also taught JP Afrikaans and isiZulu for a number of years.
She was promoted to the head of junior primary in 2010, which she believed was an exciting change. She has loved her work and has always been passionate about St Mary’s and girls’ education.
Carolyn feels there is always room to learn and grow as an individual and, particularly, in her position. She always made an effort to keep abreast of changing trends and took every opportunity to attend workshops and conferences.
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On a personal level, Carolyn feels that St Mary’s has been a supportive, happy and empowering environment, where she has been able to make important decisions for her Junior Primary School.
“I believe in the holistic approach, where the girls are offered a variety of opportunities. They are able to grow and participate wherever their strengths or interests lie – they are inspired. It has been a huge honour to guide these little girls.”
Carolyn has mixed feelings about her early retirement. Although she is excited and looking forward to it, she worries that her days won’t be nearly as full.
While she will miss the staff and St Mary’s community, she feels comfortable that the experienced, stable and strong team will carry on with Wendy Ross at the helm.
A few of the items on her to-do list during retirement include fitting in all her hobbies, like sewing, gardening and playdates with her grandchildren. Carolyn and Shane are wildlife enthusiasts and they can’t wait to do more caravanning, bush trips and travelling.
“We thank Carolyn for her many years of commitment and passion for her work, her nurturing and kind nature towards her learners, as well as her all-encompassing and encouraging leadership style to her staff. Although we are sad to see Carolyn leave, we understand and are happy for her wish to have more family time with Shane and her lovely grandchildren, Ella and Adam,” said the school’s executive principal, Jonathan Manley.
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