The Stawell 502 Primary School principal is entering her final days in the role, 52 years after she first began her educational journey at the same grounds.
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Robyn Jones has announced she will be stepping down from her job as the Stawell 502 Primary School principal after seven years at the helm.
But her association with the Stawell 502 Primary School goes well beyond her time as principal, with Mrs Jones a student at the school since her year as a prep in 1969.
Mrs Jones' family lived close by in Stanton Street, with her three younger sisters also attending Stawell Primary School.
After teaching in schools around Victoria from 1985, she returned to Stawell to work towards her goals of developing the school she grew up in.
"I had two goals returning to Stawell," she said.
"Firstly, to finish my career at 502, the school that started it all for me.
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"502 will always be close to my heart. It was a great school for me as a child and that's what I wanted for the current students.
"It is about family, traditions and the fact that our school building is just such an important part of Stawell.
"You can look up to the bell tower and know that you are entering a special place."
Mrs Jones said she had decided to step away from her role as principal because she wanted to create a better work-life balance.
"After 36 years in education, I have decided to move towards retirement," she said.
"It has been a difficult decision to end my career, but I feel that the time is right for me to finish at the end of this year.
"Over the past two years the importance of family and having a realistic work-life balance have become very important to me.
"Life is short and we really should make the most of what opportunities we have and enjoy them.
"Teaching is my passion, it has been my career and my life.
"I am proud of my achievements and hope that over the 36 years I have been able to help many students and even teachers be the best they can be."
Mrs Jones also said she was proud to have helped make some educational improvements to teaching in the Northern Grampians area.
"My second goal in returning to Stawell was to give back to education in my home town," she said.
"After so many years teaching and being a principal, I felt that I could use my experience to further develop education in Stawell."
And that she did, with Mrs Jones helping to form the Stawell and Surrounding School Network (SaSS).
This team of principals helped to create a whole-of-town approach to education, instigating new initiatives in both the academic and wellbeing areas of education.
"The way our Network operates is unique and I am very proud to have been a part of it," she said.
"Incredibly, we are now inclusive of all the schools in the Northern Grampians Shire, including both St Arnaud schools.
"It has been a huge achievement and one that I hope continues to grow for years to come."
For Mrs Jones, all that matters in her future is health and happiness.
She said she was taking some time away from working and was open to all kinds of new opportunities as her career winds down.
Mrs Jones also shared a heartfelt thank you and a departing message to those in the Stawell 502 Primary School community.
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"Two words spring to mind- 'thank you'," she said.
"Thank you for giving me the honour and privilege of being the principal of 502 for the past seven years.
"Thank you for your support and thank you for working with me and the staff to make our school an even better place.
"I certainly wish Scott Rathgeber all the best for his new role as acting assistant principal.
"I would particularly like to thank both Tammie Meehan and Di Stainsby for being two of the greatest assistant principals I know.
"In reflection, I am so proud of our teamwork, our achievements and the fact that both have moved to fantastic career opportunities.
"We will have several new staff members starting in 2022 which will be exciting.
"I will leave with the best memories of wonderful students, outstanding teachers and staff and a great community.
"I will always have the memory that I was given the privilege of being the principal of my own primary school."
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