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Kathy McKale has touched many lives over the past 30 years working as an educator, most recently at Cold Lake Elementary School where she was principal since 2002.
How important she’s been to the local community was made clear at her retirement party Friday, which was marked by a jet fly over coordinated by 4 Wing.
“Talk about a complete surprise when they called me to go outside,” said McKale. “I was crying tears of joy.”
Later that day, CLES staff organized a drive thru socially-distanced farewell party, where parents, past students, former colleagues and other community members dropped by to share their memories and give thanks.
Visitors included the mayor, RCMP and peace officers, as well as her children who had driven up from Edmonton for the celebration.
“I was completely spoiled,” said McKale, who has been busy collecting cards and flowers as the school year came to a close last week for students.
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On Thursday, students visited her in cohorts to say their goodbyes.
Following school that day, CLES staff shared a video with her in the gym that showcased pictures from over the past 30 years, and also included interviews with people sharing their favourite memories.
McKale didn’t become a teacher until later in life, after her youngest son went to Kindergarten.
She began her career working at Grand Centre High School. She taught there for two years before moving over to the middle school where she was a teacher for five years before accepting a job as assistant principal.
She later became principal at CLES, where she’s stayed for 19 years.
“I always want students to know I love them and that they’re special,” McKale said, which is why staff made bright pink shirts—McKale’s favourite colour—that read on the front “Who loves you?”
She asked this question every morning during announcements, and the children would all shout “Mrs. McKale and staff” in response.
On the back of the shirt that Mrs. McKale was given reads “Your staff and students,” as the answer to the question “Who loves you?”
McKale moved to Cold Lake 35 years ago from Edmonton after her husband Homer had the opportunity to manage a trucking company here.
They wanted to move to Cold Lake because they fell in love with the area after McKale’s parents moved here first.
Having spent her whole career in one place allowed McKale to watch her students grow up and enroll their children in McKale’s school.
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“I feel so very blessed,” she said.
McKale went to school every day for 30 years looking forward to seeing the children.
“I always told the kids words and hands are for helping, not hurting,” she said.
Her emphasis as an educator was placed on moral intelligence and character education.
Many of her favourite memories involve singing and dancing with children at assemblies.
But her other highlights include helping with the planning of the new CLES building, which opened in 2016, creating a preschool program, as well as fundraising for the three playgrounds that CLES students now enjoy.
McKale said her career wouldn’t have been possible without the support of her family and staff.
Heading into retirement, McKale plans to spend more time with her children, but she also plans to volunteer at CLES and work as a substitute teacher for Northern Lights Public Schools.
Unfortunately her husband of 44 years won’t be joining her for this new chapter as he passed away on May 10, after a short battle with cancer.
Homer brought joy to students at CLES by setting up model trains in the school.
“He loved seeing the children smile,” McKale said through tears, adding the community really came through for her during that difficult time.
McKale closes her career during a unique time in history—being a principal during a global pandemic.
This has meant keeping up to date with health regulations and rolling along with the opening and closing of the school over the past year and a half.
“I’m really proud of the staff, students and parents,” she said. “We didn’t have one case of COVID at the school.”
Long-time CLES principal says farewell, but not goodbye - Fort McMurray Today
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