Pupil then teacher, Claire retires from Bangor school
By Ruth Dowds
EVERY pocket she had was filled with tissues as Claire McAlorum prepared to hold back the tears on her last day as vice principal of St Malachy’s Primary School in Bangor.
Claire has been with the school as both pupil and staff member since it opened its doors for the first time in January 1975.
Back then she was a P5 pupil entering a brand new school. Nearly half a century later, she made her final exit last Friday, having had a positive influence on thousands of young lives.
“I just hope that I can go away thinking I’ve done some good,” she said on the morning of her last day.
Claire was given her reply in the multitude of cards, flowers and presents she received to mark her retirement.
“All I ever wanted to do was teach and when I got a permanent post here in 1990, that was a big day,” she says.
Claire qualified at St Mary’s Training College on the Falls Road in 1988, and then worked as a substitute teacher for two years before she was offered her dream job at her old primary school.
“I always wanted to have my own classroom of boys and girls but I never thought, as that child in P5, that I would become VP,” she says.
Claire counts herself lucky to have been, as she says, ‘blessed not just with a job but with a vocation’, adding that she considers herself to be one part of, ‘a very strong and dedicated senior leadership team’.
She has made many friendships through the school, not just with other staff members, but she also met her best friend during her own schooldays at St Malachy’s.
It is not surprising that Claire’s decision to retire was made with a heavy heart but it was done so that she could spend more time with friends and, in particular, family.
Of all the things she will miss about her role, it is her pupils she will find hardest to leave.
“When you have the children five days a week from 9am – 3pm you build up a tremendous relationship and you get to know them very well,” says Claire.
“No matter how you are feeling, the children lift you. It’s extremely hard work but it’s well worth it.”
Pointing to the qualities she believes make a good teacher, Claire saidL “Patience is a big one, a sense of humour, dedication, commitment, being willing to work hard and knowing every day that a parent, guardian or grandparent has entrusted one very precious piece of them into your care.
“That is always your focus. No matter how tired or weary you become, that one individual is somebody else’s whole world and you have to make that individual yours.”
She added: “You are always mindful, in every aspect of life, of everybody’s journey. It might not be as you think. I try not to judge that because I don’t know what’s happened to somebody that day or last week or last year. Be mindful.”
It gives her particular pleasure when she bumps into past pupils and sees for herself how their early years at school have helped to shape them as adults.
“I see all these lovely people and I think to myself, isn’t that wonderful, to be making a lovely contribution to society and that’s what we want. I do love to meet the past pupils.”
As a special educational needs co-ordinator, Claire is particularly proud of the inclusivity to all needs which is evident at St Malachy’s.
“We are very inclusive here as a Catholic maintained school for all other religions and beliefs as well, which is something we are very proud of and that our parents are very pleased with as well,” she said.
“The children just get on together and it’s just lovely watching them. We find our boys and girls so accepting.”
Over the years Claire has taught every age group but she particularly enjoyed the P3 year when the children make their first confession at the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Sacrament of First Holy Communion.
Now done in P4, she says first communion is her favourite day of the school year.
“There is something about that day which is just beautiful,” she said. “Then you get to P7 and you can have a bit more banter and wit with them and I don’t know how many years I’ve been to the Share Centre in Lisnaskea, about 26 years.
“You see the children come into their own then because you are seeing them out of the school context and growing and showing a bit more independence. We call it Share Week and that would be another favourite time of the year for me.”
There is no doubting that Claire’s retirement marks the end of an era at St Malachy’s but she has every faith in the ongoing strength of the school community.
“Everyone who works here makes it and I’m not just talking about pupils and teachers and classroom assistants. There are our brilliant office staff, our caretakers and the kitchen staff are my favourite because the meals are outstanding and made on site.
“We’ve had ups and downs, as everyone does, but we are a strong school community and we are blessed,” she says.
That community paid tribute to Claire last Friday with a special assembly for the whole school with invited special guests.
