Emotional farewell to beloved St. Anthony’s School principal

It was an emotional day for students and staff, Friday, at St. Anthony’s School in Kincardine, as they bid farewell to their beloved principal, Samantha Pitre.

A teacher, vice-principal and then principal at the school since 2001, she has also been an instructional coach and literacy consultant. In September, she is slated to become principal at Mary Immaculate School in Chepstow.

“Today we congratulate Mme Pitre and give thanks for her 23 years of service here at St. Anthony’s,” said vice-principal Darryl Henhoeffer, “especially the past six years as our vice-principal and principal.”

Each class in the school presented Pitre with a token of appreciation, including plants, pictures, and lots of drawings and booklets, as well as songs, poems and dances in her honour.

On behalf of the students and staff, Henhoeffer presented her with a framed work of knitting, since Pitre loves to knit. The school has also named its renovated learning space, “The Learning Pitre,” in honour of Pitre and as a throwback to the pit area that used to be located in the library.



St. Anthony’s School principal Samantha Pitre conducts Fitness Friday with the students and staff at the farewell, held Friday, in the school gymnasium

Staff members then took to the floor, one group after the other, performing song after song in a Flash Mob, much to Pitre’s delight.

Following all the accolades, Pitre stood at the front of the gym and attempted to thank the students and staff for making her years at St. Anthony’s so wonderful.

“All of you have made me what I am today, and I thank you all,” she said. “I figured I would have trouble saying goodbye so I wrote a song and recorded it, with the help of Michael Grant, and I’m going to try and sing it.”

She then sang “Part of My Heart” (below); video courtesy of Michael Grant



As the farewell wrapped up, Henhoeffer turned to the audience and said that Pitre’s favourite lunch is hot dogs, so everyone was having hot dogs for lunch Friday at the school, courtesy of the Knights of Columbus.



Samantha Pitre, St. Anthony’s School principal, thoroughly enjoys the Flash Mob performed by her staff at the farewell, Friday