l Hawkes taught core French at St. Mary's in Trenton and before transferring to Sacred Heart in Batawa. For the next decade, she taught half-time while raising a family of three daughters. She fondly recalls a three-month stint during the 1987 academic year where she taught elementary at Batawa in the morn- ing and Nicholson Catholic College in the afternoon. Hawkes spent four years as an educa- tional consultant with the former Hastings- Prince Edward Catholic School Board, another three years as vice- principal/teacher at St. Michael's in Belleville and one year at St. Peter's in Trenton. She was appointed principal of Sacred Heart in Marmora in 1996 and served another two years as principal at St. Mary's before transferring to St. Theresa in 2002 as vice-principal. She was acting principal there for four months earlier this year. "They have been 32 wonderful years in Catholic education and I still feel fortunate that when I need a fix, I can supply teach or do an administrative replacement," she said. "I have been blessed more by my career than I think I blessed others, at least I hope I blessed others." Hawkes plans to keep busy in retire- ment. She will be spending more time with her husband and daughters, one of whom is getting married in less than year's time. "I will be sewing her wedding dress," she said proudly. She wants to travel and do a lot of gar- dening, embroidery and sewing. Hawkes considers herself a lifetime learner "and I'm happiest when I'm learn- ing." So she plans to write and publish more children's plays. "I already have four written and pro- duced one while at St. Mary's. I have also written articles for professional periodicals and I hope to continue that as well." Hawkes plans on volunteering more extensively with her church, St. Francis of Assisi in Frankford. "I just put my name in to do more visit- ing with shut-ins and hospital patients," she said. As a lay church member, she has already done junior liturgy, extraordinary minister of the Eucharist and liturgical readings in her church. Hawkes and her husband will continue to serve as the pre-marriage course co- ordinators for the western deanery of the Archdiocese of Kingston. The weekend course is a requirement for engaged cou- ples "and the intent is to help prepare them for the sacrament of marriage." St. Theresa is the host location for the weekend program held twice a year and which attracts about 100 couples. She is also interested in making educa- tional presentations to Catholic teachers to help them on their own journey. "My favourite subject is teaching with soul, or using the dimension of spirituality to enhance teaching," said Hawkes. Contact Henry Bury at: newsroom@intelligencer.ca ; -- r : •