By Connie Nolen / Community Columnist

While a new year brings lifestyle changes for many, a few faces that have been in Pelham’s Schools for years will be adapting to retirement after the holiday break. From Pelham High School, ESL Interpreter Sylvia Allen, Cafeteria Manager Catherine Murray, and Cafeteria worker Vickie Pruitt are retiring from Pelham High School. Teacher Nell Haley retires from Riverchase Middle School.

Vickie Pruitt reports that she has two jobs lined up and plans to continue working. Catherine Murray says that she plans on traveling. Murray also reflected on her twenty-nine years and eight months at PHS thanking supervisors, coworkers and students.

“I didn’t call them the students; I called them my babies,” said Murray. “I would like for the students to know that they played a big part in my journey at Pelham High School with all the joy they brought into the cafeteria. I’d like to thank the parents for trusting their children in my care. Finally, I thank the entire community for their support over the years. As I leave PHS, I want everyone to know that I will always be a Pelham Panther.”

Murray began her service at PHS working alongside Mrs. Betty McWilliams, original PHS Cafeteria Manager. Murray experienced enormous changes in the job that she began almost thirty years ago. “From the supervisors and managers, I have learned extensively about the Child Nutrition Program from both Shelby County and Pelham City Schools.”

PHS also bids farewell to ESL Interpreter Sylvia Allen. Allen has cleared confusion through the years by overcoming language barriers for students, parents and teachers. “The ESL Department is sad to see Sylvia leave PHS,” said ESL teacher Jennifer Gonzalez.

“During the past seventeen years at RMS, I hope my students know that I truly loved and cared about them,” Teacher Nell Haley said. “I tried to instill the most important lesson: always be kind to others.” Haley went onto say that her colleagues at RMS have been a teaching family who she will miss seeing daily. Haley said, “I hope that PCS becomes all that it has promised to be.”