Last day of school: students in St-Laurent say goodbye as their favourite teachers enter retirement

It’s the final day of classes at Gardenview Elementary School in St-Laurent, and beloved teacher Paula Cohen's last day at work before retirement.

It’s the final day of classes at Gardenview Elementary School in St-Laurent. The gym is full of happy students yet this milestone is bittersweet because some cherished teachers are retiring.

After 35 years in education, Paula Cohen is calling it a day.

“It’s a second home, so it’s hard to say goodbye. But hopefully I will be back to sub occasionally,” the longtime teacher said Friday.

In her French class, almost all her Grade 4 students are sad to see her go, except Giuseppe Zezzie who says she gave too much homework. But Madame Cohen thinks his comment is funny and she’s good at “rolling with the punches.”

After all, she’s been performing in front of a live audience for decades and thinks retirement might be the time to go professional.

“If there are any producers or directors watching, I would love to be in a comedy, a small part in a comedy. I would never say no,” she said jokingly.

Down the hall, in her kindergarten class, it was graduation day. The event is extra special for teacher Elaine Kindlein, who is also retiring.

“Miss Elaine is nice to me, respectful, and she helps me learn as big as my heart,” one student told CTV News.

Retirement means more kayaking for Kindlein, who also says she’ll be back as a substitute teacher.

Kindlein says her plans are outdoorsy: “I’m going to do kayaking and things to be really healthy and then I hope to come back and see all of these wonderful kids.”