Between them, principal Peter Nugent, assistant principal Di Walkowiak and religious education co-ordinator Therese Hooper have 120 years of teaching experience.

It is with mixed emotions that the trio say their goodbyes, but all agree the time is right to go, to enable them to spend more time with their families.

Mr Nugent, as he is known to his charges, was appointed school principal in 2001.

During his 14 years at the school he has achieved many milestones, but said, without a doubt, his proudest achievement was educating children.

“The successes, the achievement of goals; we are the privileged ones and should never forget it. Who else is charged with the task of shaping minds of future generations, to get them to strive for excellence, live good lives and contribute to the common good?”

Mr Nugent was also instrumental in the expansion of the school’s infrastructure, including the school’s fencing, building the school hall extension, establishing the school’s reflection garden for its 60th anniversary and the development of the Diocesan Diagnostic Intervention and Assessment Centre this year.

He is equally well known for developing sport within education, and was the first coach/ manager (rugby) for the MacKillop region.

Mr Nugent sat on the inaugural committee for the establishment of Catholic Primary Schools [CPS]; ran the CPS rugby trials for 15 years; ran the CPS knock out from its inception until now, and was the first Catholic teacher to be named on the PSSA Honour Roll.

Testament to his dedication to the sport, the Australian Rugby Union named a Regional Sevens tournament after him.

Di Walkowiak, who joined the school in 1987, also had to undertake many hours of soul searching to reach her decision to retire but, again, she said “the time was right”.

One of the many highlights of Mrs Walkowiak’s teaching career was her nomination for the National Excellence in Teaching Award. She accepted the award, a crystal apple, at Old Parliament House in Canberra.

Like Mr Nugent, Mrs Walkowiak says the greatest joy is seeing the enthusiasm of her students.

“That magic light bulb moment when they get the concept, and the personal growth in the students,” she said. “These are my true treasured moments.”

Mrs Walkowiak said she has experienced incredible support from the Catholic Education staff, The Assumption executive, colleagues, students and parents.

“I’ve enjoyed being part of the enrichment program; being ICT co-ordinator; curriculum leader; mentoring for the NSW Institute for Teachers; on the Assumption Band Committee; student council; directing and coordinating whole school concerts; diocesan and Polding team manager in cross country, the list goes on,” she said.

Mrs Walkowiak said she and the other two members of the executive leadership team – Mr Nugent and Mrs Hooper – had worked well together, adopting the view Assumption was a child-centred environment giving students the opportunity to succeed.

“I am passionate and dedicated about curriculum development and have been so privileged to work with an incredibly professional and innovative staff,” she said.

Mrs Hooper, who began at Assumption in 1975, has taught a second generation of pupils, and said she feels privileged to have taught so many fine young people.

“It has been a joy to work with such wonderful staff, and view student development,” she said.

Mrs Hooper’s contribution to Cathedral Parish and the school has been enormous.

She has taught all classes at the school and for the last eight years has been a member of the school executive as religious education co-ordinator.

In addition to her work on the executive, Mrs Hooper has also been heavily involved in school, regional, diocesan, Polding and PSSA carnivals. She has been a dedicated member of many Diocese of Bathurst sporting teams and convener of diocesan carnivals.

Mrs Hooper organised choirs and entrants in the Bathurst Eisteddfod; managed street parades for the bicentenary year and race weekend and has been involved in organising spellathons, walkathons, fetes and many other fundraising activities for the Assumption School and MacKillop College P and F.

Like Mr Nugent and Mrs Walkowiak, if it benefited her students, she was involved.

All three said they simply don’t know where the years have gone, and said they all feel very proud to have had an association with the Assumption School.

Summing up their careers, Mr Nugent described their journey as a mission.

“It’s not a job. it’s a mission, it’s about serving the community,” he said.

“I would tell you lies if I said it had all been plain sailing, but I have also seen the bright side – the success, the achievement of goals, the enjoyment, the thrill of the chase.

“Has it been worth it?

“Absolutely, because it’s all about one thing, educating children.

All three also thanked their families, who were part of their journey, saying “we couldn’t have done it without them”.

As they hand over the reins to a new generation of leaders, they said they have enormous confidence in the future.

“Our job is about developing the next generation to take over, and we are all confident Assumption School will continue to shine,” they said.