It is with sincere regret that the school recognises Stevie Douglas’s desire to retire from teaching after a long and dedicated career as new entrant teacher at Twizel Area School. Stevie in her forty years plus has taught many of our Twizel community members. Her love of reading and language has inspired many life-long readers. This is evidenced through the sustained community use of our well-stocked library. Stevie’s generosity of spirit helped nervous new entrants to not only feel welcome but enthusiastic for their learning. Her whole-hearted holistic approach to learning ensured she kept pace with current curriculum trends and changes, not only for the students but also for extending her own knowledge and interests. Digital technology is an area in which she has become particularly proficient and put to effective use in the classroom. Stevie loves to share her students’ work with colleagues, it is rare that a visitor to her classroom was not given the opportunity to appreciate what her students had just completed.Stevie has been a strong supporter of all the school’s endeavours as well as in the Twizel community. She has been an advocate of the arts (drama, visual art and music), instructor in the swimming club programme, working bees at Huxley Lodge, an enthusiastic member of Ruataniwha House, a keen dresser-upper on ‘book days’ and a supporter of worthy causes.We will miss her cheerful, positive and optimistic outlook and her miaowing pussy-cat clock!We wish you well Stevie for a happy retirement.