JOAN RAU
BECKY HORTON
RETIREMENT + FAREWELL BREAKFAST EVENT HELD FOR DEPARTING TEACHERS As the curtain came down on the 2017-18
workshop with the students and in planting
teaching partners. “For seventeen years my
school year, a number of Sycamore teachers
the seeds of creative writing into the thoughts
co-teacher in third grade was Sheila Hyatt.
also closed out their teaching careers at
of her students. “Whenever I talk to former
Sheila is actually the person who started the
Sycamore, while others are moving on to
students, and even in the end-of-year notes
Poetry Tea before I came to Sycamore, and
positions of leadership and opportunity.
that I get from current parents and students,
many of the other traditions in third grade
the thing that is mentioned most is poetry,”
were started as a collaboration between the
A breakfast event was held in the Bhatia Lab
she says. “Third grade has become known
two of us. I’ve also enjoyed working for many
just before the end of the school year for the
and remembered for the focus on poetry, and
years with Joan Rau and Joanna Jockish,
teachers leaving Sycamore. Whether they
I couldn’t be more pleased about that. The
long-time third grade assistants.”
were here for 20 years or only one, each has
Poetry Tea, where students memorize and
contributed to making the school a great place
recite poems they have chosen, is always a
Reidy says she will devote more time to
for our students, and they will be missed.
highlight of the school year. The students are
writing. Over the last few year, she has
also very fortunate to work with Rebecca Kai
developed a relationship with Highlights
Longtime third grade teacher, Deb Reidy,
Dotlich when she visits third grade each year to
Magazine, and they have purchased and
has headed into retirement after 24 years at
lead a two-day poetry writing workshop.”
published a few of her children’s poems.
Sycamore, to spend more time with her family.
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Without the demands of teaching, she says
As part of her teaching, she was instrumental
Reidy attributes part of the joy she has
in bringing writers and poets to Sycamore to
experienced working at Sycamore to her
she plans to focus much more on writing.
