Leongatha teacher retires

LEONGATHA Primary School held an assembly on Friday to say farewell to vice principal Grant Kuhne, who is retiring after a teaching career of 37 years.
He shared fond memories with the students, including challenging students to “sock wrestle” each other, using his “magic chalk”, for which he would not share the recipe, and playing a prank on a previous principal involving dog biscuits in the staff room’s biscuit jar.
Mr Kuhne taught at two schools during his career, spending 10 years at Leongatha Primary School and 10 or 11 years at Mirboo North Primary School before returning to Leongatha Primary.
He began as a classroom teacher and rose to acting principal before deciding he wanted to be vice principal and look after the children.
Mr Kuhne had taught many of the parents present at his farewell assembly.
Principal Rob Higgins spoke of Mr Kuhne’s patience and focus on helping students, parents and teachers with their problems.
“Mr Kuhne will be remembered mostly for helping people,” Mr Higgins said.
“On behalf of the school and school council, all the best for your retirement and continue to have fun.”
Mr Kuhne said goodbye to the students, staff and family members who attended the assembly.
“I have had a long career. It’s been a really good career,” he said.
“I have had a great career but you can’t do that on your own.”
He thanked his family, especially his children – because he said it is difficult having a teacher for a parent – as well as students, parents and teachers.
He said he would miss the students’ smiling faces, seeing children achieve things they never thought they could, and the friendship and support of the teachers.
The students, in turn, will miss the magic tricks Mr Kuhne regularly performed to entertain them at school assemblies.
He said he would perform his final trick at the end of the day and disappear.

By Laura Gibb

Farewell, Mr Kuhne: Grant Kuhne (second from left) on his last day at Leongatha Primary School, surrounded by his family, from left, Lucy Kuhne of South Yarra, Molly Kuhne of Hawthorn, Margaret Kuhne, Alex Kuhne of Inverloch and Phoebe Kuhne of South Yarra.

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Posted by Laura Gibb on Mar 3 2015. Filed under Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry