A Tribute written and read by Susan Furr, Head of Saltus Primary Department

Such a big part of Jennie's life was teaching young children that I feel that it is only fitting that I remember her teaching life as a teacher of young children should. I will use the letters in her name to help me.

J is for Jewel, Jolly, J(g)entle (that's ok; remember we are Early Years it is allowed!)

Jennie was a JEWEL of a teacher, the kind that everyone should aspire to be

She cared about her students and made sure that each and every one felt important and valued. She took the time to listen to whatever they had to say

Jennie was JOLLY, she was nearly always happy, laughing and smiling. She reminded the children of the sun because she smiled all the time.

When she started at Cavendish 26 years ago, she was the pretty, young, teacher that every child loved and wanted as their Year 2 teacher and it remained that way until the start of her last P2 class in 1998.

Jennie was J(G)ENTLE. She had a persuasive way and could always manage to get students, parents and staff to go along with her because of it. How could you not agree with her when she put it that way?

There was a Gentility about her classroom that included, structure, control and learning as the pupils tried to "catch her eye" by working hard and doing their best.

E is for Exciting, and Example

Jennie's lessons were EXCITING and interesting, there are many adults and children who owe their knowledge of Egyptians, Romans or North American Indians to Jennie's projects. I wonder just how many Egyptian mummies she actually made!

Jennie led by EXAMPLE, she never asked of others what she would not do herself. She was organised, reliable, and thorough in her teaching. Things did not happen in her room on a whim, there was a purpose for everything.

N is for Nice and Neat

Jennie was NICE, sometimes too nice; NO did not seem to be part of her vocabulary and she often went without breaks or lunches to help others.

Jennie was always nice to the children even if she had to reprimand them; they always knew that she liked them.

She also took the time to enjoy them and share a joke with them, as this remembrance of an occasion early in her career at Saltus shows; a boy asked if she would always remember him, and when she assured him that she would, grabbed her hand, gazed into her eyes and asked if she would remember him in ten years time, and Jennie said: "Grant, I could never forget you!" Grant then said "Knock, knock", and Jennie, always ready to play along said, "Who's there?" "SEE, you've forgotten me ALREADY!" said the delighted little boy, rushing off to play. There was always time in Jennie's day to be nice to her colleagues; time for a hug and kind word especially if someone was feeling down or going through hardships.

NEAT and tidy best describe her, order was important to her. Jennie was always well groomed; did she ever have a bad hair day?

N is for Naughty

Yes NAUGHTY, but in the nicest possible way. Jennie loved a joke and could nearly always see humor in situations. She was witty and constantly using a play on words which could be counted upon to keep us laughing. How many have received one of her famous ditties (a poem or rhyme) for a special occasion? These could be both naughty and nice!

I is for Intelligence, Interesting, Inventive, Inspiring,

Jennie used her INTELLIGENCE to make her teaching INTERESTING. She would always be looking for new ways to inspire her pupils and was not beyond inventing her own methods of teaching a topic, while always remembering that there was no sense reinventing the wheel!

How INVENTIVE to invite her 100 year old granny to our 100 day celebrations.

Jennie had a way of INSPIRING those around her, teachers to try new things and pupils to give that little bit of extra effort. How many have received one of her letters or notes of inspiration, often written in time of trouble.

E is for Excellent

Jennie was an EXCELLENT teacher, who believed in excellence at all times. There is no doubt about that and any colleague who had the privilege of working with her knows it. As for her students, hopefully those who have gone on to higher education recognise it, and those who are not yet old enough to know it will hopefully come to realize it. All were truly blessed to have had her in their lives.

I will finish today with Jennie's own words. She sent this to the Staff in the Primary Department at the end of the school year in which she had been diagnosed with cancer. I think it shows the true love she had of teaching and life:

Well you all made it, through another year with all its ups, downs, tears, laughs, stresses, multi-thankless-tasking and classes full of challenges.

Do know that today, your children leave you, enriched, wiser, stronger and ready for the next rung on the ladder to success. No one will fall, because your step was there for them ... and every step plays its part in the overall journey to the top.

I wish you all butterflies of anticipation for September...... for the possibilities of the year ahead.

For, if for nothing else, it is - a year - you have been given.

Enjoy it.

With love

Jennie