The end of 2022 saw the farewell of Mrs McLaughlan from Canowindra Public School.
After her graduation from Mitchell College in Bathurst, Mrs McLaughlan was doing some casual teaching work in Sydney. Donna reluctantly took a full-time casual position at Canowindra Public in 1982.
During that year, Donna met her husband Owen, (or Dr Mac as he was called, a renowned Agriculture teacher at Canowindra High School). Donna worked on and off as a casual teacher for about 15 years and had three children before securing a permanent placement.
Donna also spent many years as a learning support teacher and introduced many successful programs that improved the learning outcomes of all the students.
Donna always did the best for every child not just in her class, but across the entire school and had a particular affinity for children who struggled and those with additional needs.
Mrs McLaughlan took on Assistant Principal responsibilities well before she was officially in the role, including team teaching to give her an opportunity to focus more on leadership activities. Donna stepped up for such things as organising sports carnivals, swimming school, staff development days, endless excursions and award-winning choirs. Donna was officially appointed AP in 2007 and has continued in this leadership role until her retirement.
Donna has given 40 years of public service to the children of CPS. She has always felt that she had a personal obligation to the kids of Canowindra and nothing was too much trouble. It was never “just a job.”
The staff and students of Canowindra Public School and the community of Canowindra with Donna a very happy retirement.