This is what I would affectionately call you. I guess it was silly because we never committed a crime but we were a great partnership at Park Street. I spent 6 years of my career working everyday with you and I loved it! You truly shaped my career and to some degree the sort of person and parent I am today. Lots of people think an assistant is just that, someone who helps the teacher. This is not the case when you are lucky enough to come across a rare and invaluable gem like I did in you. Your dedication and hard-working nature would astound me, you never gave anything but 100% and you would always do it with the greatest humour. I have never met anyone who can use reverse psychology so effectively with young children. You would ask them what not to do and strike me down, even at age 5 they would know exactly what you expected of them. It was comical and I loved what made you, you! Every child you have ever taught has just fallen in love with you and that is because you had that rare quality that not many possess. Sparkle.

I am so sad I can't have more time with you; just one more morning when it can be just us and the class, where we can recreate some of those memories I have of you when we would play, 'I can hear her coming' and I would walk into the quietest of classrooms and then chat away to you as if there were no children there, by which time one little one, bursting with excitement, would blurt out- 'we're here!' and then I would have to dramatically exclaim that I hadn't noticed them because they were so silent and fall over aghast!

I perfected 'falling over flat' thanks to you, along with many other rehearsed dramas and Caroline expressions which have filtered into my parenting - 'sputnik' and 'daft banana' being two of my girls' favourites.

I loved your rhymes and ability to brighten up a moment by being there and smiling that beautiful, oh how I wish my teeth were as nice as yours, smile. I cherish the cards you would write and leave for me, always with a funny poem or rhyme in and how once I came across a beautiful poem tucked under my windscreen wiper that you'd written for me when you wanted to cheer me up. I'm sure that was at a petrol station.......

You were always so thoughtful, generous, kindhearted and good fun and the best thing ever was how much time I got to spend in your company, I am the privileged one and I will forever think that. I wish so much I could turn back time and have a little more with you but you were never selfish so neither should I be. All I do know is that heaven will have welcomed a true angel. You will have everyone laughing and all the children flocking around you as you continue to radiate all the warmth, love and kindness that you have always did here.

My goodness I will miss you gal and I do hope, up there in heaven, you will finally believe just how wonderful, how loved and how great you were!

I love you to bits- I always will.

Carly-Jade 

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