Northern Bay College Peacock campus principal Sharon Biggins retires

SHARON Biggins has spent 40 years teaching students in Norlane. She retired, to much fanfare, on Friday.

Northern Bay College’s Sharon Biggins is thanked by student Kijana Vasic. Picture: Glenn Ferguson

WHEN the school bell rings on the first day of term four, Sharon Biggins won’t quite know what to do with herself.

For the first time in close to four decades, the retiring Northern Bay College Peacock campus principal won’t be returning to the school grounds.

The beloved veteran educator was farewelled by an adoring group of pupils during a final “lap of honour” on Friday. Mrs Biggins was gifted flowers and given bright, handmade signs bearing the words “we will miss you”.

Mrs Biggins spent most of her teaching life educating children in Norlane. She worked at the former Norlane West Primary School for years before becoming an instrumental figure in the Northern Bay College development.

Mrs Biggins fell in love with school on her first day of prep and vowed to become a teacher at the age of five. She began teaching in Laverton and Bacchus Marsh before settling in Norlane.

“I love this community. I love the diversity of the children and the families. And this is a community where education can be really important,” Mrs Biggins said.

“Seeing the children work hard and see them achieve their personal best is so rewarding.”

Grade 6 pupil Faith, 11, said she would miss the friendly principal who always took the time “to say hello”.

“I’ll miss everything about Mrs Biggins — her beautiful smile and always greets us,” Faith said.

Assistant principal Kathleen Nardi said staff could not imagine the school without Mrs Biggins.

“Sharon has been fantastic and I can honestly say every single child has mattered (to her). She is caring and has made a positive impact on so many families in the 3214 postcode,” Ms Nardi said.

Mrs Biggins -who staff said has “held every job at the school except the cleaner and the canteen lady” — is not quite sure what her retirement will bring.

“The plan is to have no plan — I hope, at some point to travel,” she said.

Originally published as Northern Bay College Peacock campus principal Sharon Biggins retires