Pupils and staff at Emmaus Catholic and Church of England Primary School, Sheffield, gathered to give thanks for the work Helen Simmerson on her retirement as their headteacher after twenty years of service to the school. She was the first Deputy headteacher when the school opened in September 2006 and went on to become the headteacher in September 2012. Before coming to Emmaus she taught at St Mary’s High Green, St Thomas of Canterbury, and Hucklow School. She began her teaching career at St Winefride’s Catholic Junior School in Bootle Merseyside.
In the story in Luke’s Gospel, two disciples are walking the road to Emmaus on Easter Sunday, sad at Jesus’s crucifixion. The risen Jesus joins them and talks to them about Scripture, but they do not recognise him. They have a meal together and recognise Jesus when they break bread together. During Helen’s twenty years at our school, she has followed the example of Jesus walking with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. She has done all that she can to share knowledge and understanding for all the children in our care, walking with them, and sharing her faith and fostering their faith of staff and pupils. We are incredibly thankful to her for all that she has done to help us all to walk with Jesus. We all wish her the very best on the start of this new chapter in her life.
At the celebration Helen said ‘It has been an absolute privilege to be the headteacher of Emmaus, it is a lovely school to work in, the children have always been a complete joy to behold, the parents supportive and a welcoming staff. As I retire, I am looking forward to spending time in my garden and catching up with family and friends.’ Simon Collis
