After 30 years of teaching at Mararoa School, new entrant teacher, Susan Ibbotson has left to retire with her family on a lifestyle block just north Kaikoura. 

She has a son and three young grandchildren living in the coastal South Island town and she said she was excited to be able to spend more time with them. 

But the end of her teaching career wasn’t quite the ending that she was expecting. Mararoa School principal Mary Baigent said they had a special farewell planned for Ms Ibbotson to be held at the end of term, but it never went ahead. That's because last Monday, schools all around New Zealand were ordered to close their doors, in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. 

Amidst the chaos, Ms Ibbotson said her first thought was still her students, who have held such a special place in her heart all these years.

“When the children left on Monday… I wasn’t worried about it being my last day and didn’t want to make a fuss. I just wanted them to get home safely.” 

“It’s not about me. I wanted to put them first,” she said. 

Ms Ibbotson said teaching was what she had wanted to do from a young age. 

“I decided to become a teacher when I was 7 years old… I enjoyed learning so I thought I could help other children do to it too.”

So, at 16 years old she left high school to pursue her dream and attend Teachers' College in Dunedin.

After graduating, she got her first job at Alexandra primary. She then taught for two years in Lumsden and after that taught at St Teresa’s School in Bluff before settling down in Manapouri where she started teaching at Mararoa primary.

She loved it there so much that she never left. 

Ms Ibbotson said the “sense of family” at Mararoa School was what she had loved the most about working there. 

“Everyone knows you so well and you know them so well, the children, parents and the teachers.”

“It’s been such a major part of my life, it’s been interesting and challenging,” she said. 

She’s even taught two generations of some families, so she said she knew some families very well indeed. 

Mararoa School Board of Trustees member, Kate Slee said hers was lucky enough to be one of those families. 

“She taught me as well as my kids, she’s got a couple generations in her class.”

“She’s extremely good with the kids. They just want to learn from her… she gives them confidence as they begin their schooling,” she said.

Ms Ibbotson said she had learnt that the three qualities you must have in order to be a great primary school teacher were patience, a good sense of humour and of course, you have to love children.

Mararoa School principal Mary Baigent has been the principal at the school for the last 21 years and said these qualities came naturally to Ms Ibbotson. 

 “She’s been an outstanding teacher and will be missed by everyone. She has a good sense of humour and is very relaxed… she’s leaving some big shoes to be filled.” 

Ms Ibbotson said she hoped teaching in New Zealand would continue to put children at the forefront of learning, where they were encouraged to be the best versions of themselves every day. 

 “I’d love to see that teaching is still respected as it today and that it evolves to keep changing needs of the children,” she said.

She said it was important to let children take on new challenges on their own and she had enjoyed encouraging her students to be creative and be comfortable taking risks.

“What I’ve enjoyed recently is giving children the opportunity to take risks and have adventurous play outside… there’s a programme called “Down the Bank” [at Mararoa School] and that’s where children can climb trees, make huts, take risks and engage in imaginative play… I think that kind of managed risk taking is good for children where they learn to understand their own boundaries, be brave and have a go.”

The legacy Ms Ibbotson has left will continue to be remembered at the school. When school resumed, Ms Baigent said they planned to host a proper farewell for their beloved former teacher. 

But for now Ms Ibbotson is settling into her new home, and is looking forward to four weeks of down time with her family.