Oxford Area School bids farewell to Marie Mehrtens

by Amy Riach

The students and the teachers of Oxford change a little every year, but there are always certain constants. Some things are perfect just the way they are, and once a year every year, Yr 6 camp takes off to Hamner, the A and P show commandeers the school field, and the Houses battle it out at Athletics.

For the last 43 years, Marie Mehrtens with her smiling face and high-heeled shoes has been one of Oxford’s most treasured constants, and now as she steps down, we all bid her a most heartfelt farewell.

Marie is retiring from her “second family” to spend more time with her first one, saying that “while teaching has been a life-long career the thing I have loved most is being a mother, and now a grandmother”. She goes on to tell me that “my family is and always will be the most important thing in my life”, and it’s clear with every word she says, just how proud she is of her two children and her brand new grandbabies.

The love Marie has for her family is a love she has always brought with her to Oxford, and without fail, at the start of every year Marie would tell her classes “I will be your school mum”. She tells me that it always got them laughing, but she absolutely meant it, and the young students of Oxford will sorely miss having Mrs Mehrtans as their teacher.

In fact, Marie Mehrtens will be missed by everyone at Oxford, and the whole school, students and staff alike, took part in what was a very special farewell.

As she left the Oxford Hall, Marie was greeted by a full school haka, performed and dedicated to her alone, and it is with tears that she tells me, “I’ll never forget that as long as I live”, saying, “I’ve never felt so special in all my life”. With a tribute from the school, Marie is saying farewell to OAS, but she is certainly not saying goodbye to Oxford.

This town is her forever home, and when she recalls first arriving in Oxford more than 40 years ago, “I can remember saying ‘I’d never live here!’

Famous last words, example no.1!” Famous last words indeed, because now Marie just can’t imagine living anywhere else.

After all, she has a garden to tend to, and she will forever love running into Oxford students about town. She tells me that “being a teacher is better than being a movie star (except for the salary!)

But where else would I hear, ‘Mrs Mehrtens, Mrs Mehrtens!’, as I walk down the street!”.

Marie has worked with a wonderful team of teachers, and she gives a heartfelt thanks to Barbara Kelly, Rochelle Welch, Andrea Shaw, Heather Nimmo, and Deborah Covert, as well as to Rachel Taylor, who will be stepping into her position, “and will do an absolutely fantastic job”.

But it is the children that Marie will miss the most. Her kitchen bench is covered in felt tip cards and gifts from students, and Marie can tell me who each gift came from, and what her students are best at. Someone who wrote a lovely goodbye message has such good handwriting, and someone else who decorated their own card will make a wonderful artist.

Not one student was ever just a name.

Marie has plans to make all the wee things her students have made and drawn into a book, and she says “every little piece means so much to me”, adding, “I will treasure these things always”. The syndicate teachers also put together their own treasures for Marie, and it is with great pride that she shows me a kete that every student from Yr 1-3 helped to weave. Every single student also added their own message to one giant card, which Marie says “melted my heart completely”.

As Marie steps down to spend her time with a much beloved family, Oxford says goodbye to a much beloved teacher. We all wish her nothing but the very best, and I hope she will always know what a huge impact she has made. After spending her life in education, people will often ask what she might do, if she could have her time again. And Marie says unequivocally, “I certainly wouldn’t change it”.