The halls of Englefeld School are going to feel quite different come September, with the announcement that Englefeld’s principal Patsy Knafelc will be retiring.
Englefeld School and the community of Englefeld came together on May 18 to celebrate Knafelc and her 36-year teaching career.
The celebration featured students and staff from Englefeld School, as well as members of the community, many of whom had been taught by or had their children taught by Knafelc.
“If you can make a difference in one life that’s what matters. And when I see all these people here today and know that I’ve made a difference in a life somewhere along the way, that’s quite a legacy to leave behind,” noted Knafelc.
The celebration also included video tributes to Knafelc, which gave the students a platform to talk about their retiring principal, many in a funny way.
“Ninety per cent of those videos probably captured who I am. The little bit of humour, the love of dancing, the safe and caring and wanting kids to be the best they can be were all wrapped up in those videos.”
One of the final moments of the celebration featured Englefeld’s school choir perform a rendition of the song “Perfect,” before the curtains opened up and the rest of the students joined in.
“What began as a trickle became a river of tears.”
Knafelc’s career started in Englefeld in 1982 at the old one-room cottage school.
That fall Knafelc moved to the larger Englefeld School, where she taught grades 5 to 9.
Knafelc remained at Englefeld School until 1989, when she moved to Watson School.
In 1998, with Englefeld looking to form their own school division, Knafelc moved back to Englefeld School, forming the “original seven” in the new Englefeld Protestant Separate School Division (EPSSD).
Knafelc remained a teacher at Englefeld until 2012, when she was hired as the school’s new principal following the retirement of Charlie Biemans.
Biemans was another of the “original seven” teachers who returned to Englefeld following the creation of their new school division, and has been teaching alongside Knafelc for more than 20 years.
Biemans says Knafelc has been “awesome” over the years, saying she will do whatever needs to be done.
“If you give her a class to teach, she’ll pick it up.”
Deanna Miskolczi has been a member of EPSSD since its inception as well, serving as both a board member and board chair, and says it has been a pleasure working alongside Knafelc.
“Patsy has always been a teacher who has lots of energy, very enthusiastic and really cares about the kids and wants to do what’s best for them… We just wish her all the best and thank her for her years of service.”
With school winding down for the year, staff at Englefeld have just a few more weeks left with Knafelc wandering the halls full-time at Englefeld and come September, her absence will be felt, says staff member Jeff Burton.
“That’s a big footprint. The saying is always shoes but… it’s a foot print that’s going to be tough to fill but we’re going to work our best. She’s brought together a good staff and we’re going to do our best to honour that legacy that she’s set forth.”
With retirement on the agenda, Biemans, who retired only to return to teaching part time, says the key for Knafelc will be to do what she loves.
“Patsy loves teaching and she loves kids and I can see her coming back part time if there’s a job available. But she just has to learn to relax and appreciate her family and grandkids and travel whenever she gets a chance.”
Knafelc admits she is not sure how retirement is going to go, but says summer vacation starts in July.
“I plan to enjoy it and I will allow what happens to happen and then I’m just going to follow the path where I’m led… I’ve got lots of things that I’d like to do but I’m not sure where that journey’s supposed to go right now. But I’ll find it.”
