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At the end of Ringuette Way

At the front desk of Eleanor Hall School in Clyde there’s a green traffic sign that reads ‘Ringuette Way.’ That’s to indicate who has been behind that desk for 29 years.
Janette Ringuette
Janette Ringuette, a fixture at the front office at Eleanor Hall School in Clyde, is retiring after 29 years on the job. The school held an event June 18 to honour her.

At the front desk of Eleanor Hall School in Clyde there’s a green traffic sign that reads ‘Ringuette Way.’

That’s to indicate who has been behind that desk for 29 years. Janette Ringuette, who, over the years has seen generations of students, parents and school staff come and go and is now going herself, retiring the street name and making room for someone else.

Ringuette gives very short, straight-up answers to questions.

What was the favourite part?

“Everything!”

What’s it like being around such small kids?

“Great!”

This quality of hers, to be blunt and kind at the same time, is what has kept her at the heart (and helm) of the school for so long.

“She’s the keeper of all the information,” says principal Nadine Marchand, who arrived at Eleanor Hall three years ago and found invaluable help in Ringuette’s experience.

“She’s the glue that holds this whole place together,” agrees associate principal Dale Erickson.

There’s a consensus at the school, amongst staff at least, that Ringuette is Eleanor Hall School, and vice versa.

For the kids she’s like a grandmother.

“Kids know who really loves them and cares about them … and they immediately know that about her,” said Marchand.

Security in love exists exactly where there’s honesty, and sometimes a harsh reality or a pointed question are critical, necessary displays of care and affection. Just ask any of the past students who are now parents of students.

“She’s not scared to say anything to anybody,” said Marchand.

That includes words of kindness, support and love as much as it does the honest truth.

Throughout the years, there’s been good and bad alike. More good times, definitely, but sometimes the bad is not short-lived in memory. What’s left to say after so much time?

“I hope that anybody can find a job like mine, that they love,” said Ringuette.

Here’s the culmination of so many years behind that same desk: the certainty in that statement.

There was a tea on June 18 at the school to honour and recognize her hard work over the years, but it wasn’t much of a surprise for Ringuette.

“It’s pretty hard to keep anything from me.”

Although music teacher Malorie McNelly might have proven otherwise with a personalized retirement message from Ringuette’s favourite singer, Daniel O’Donnell.

As for the future, there was some chatter about camping at Clear Lake, some tending to the flower garden, but she’s been doing that forever in the summer.

“I’ll have to figure out something to do for the winter,” she said.

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