Annunciation School Celebrates Retirees
Annunciation School in Evansville celebrated the careers of two cherished teachers on May 22 with an assembly full of music and joy. Students, staff, parents and guests honored Chuck Masterson and Ann Lampkins for their combined 89 years of teaching - Lampkins has served 45 years (30 at the school’s Holy Spirit campus) and Masterson 44 years (31 with Holy Spirit.) They retired at the end of the 2016-17 school year.
After an opening prayer by Annunciation-Holy Spirit teacher Chad Specht, the duo was entertained by the “Spirit Sisters,” staff members dressed as traditional nuns performing in the style of the film “Sister Act.”
Special Education teacher Brandi Coomes read messages from students to Masterson and Lampkins. “First off, Mr. Masterson, you are handsome, suave, debonair, cool, kind, wonderful and bad to the bone. You have been our homeroom teacher, social studies teacher, religion teacher, and overall the sun to our cloudy day. I will never forget the stories you have told or the times you made us laugh so hard we started crying. Mr. Masterson and his real age will always be a mystery.”
“Miss Lampkins, I remember how hard you worked to teach us each and every skill. Thank you for making us as smart as you are, as sweet as you and making something hard seem easy. I remember when I was reading in church, and you were smiling at me and winking. You are the best teacher, and you love us. I hope you don’t forget us, but I know you won’t.”
Special student performances paid homage to the musical gifts that Lampkins shared with her students over the years. The third- and fourth-graders sang “Waiting by the Window,” a song Lampkins shared each year with students during the Advent season. Students of various ages performed, “So Long, Farewell” from “The Sound of Music,” bringing tears to the eyes of most adults in attendance.
After the presentation of gifts, Lampkins and Masterson talked about their long careers at Holy Spirit.
“What a wonderful, wonderful tribute,” Lampkins said. “I appreciate every word that was said. Thank you for being here. The 45 years I have spent teaching have been very wonderful for me. You have been and always will be my kids. This is a very special place, and I hope you know that...when I”m not here, the friendship lasts. This is not goodbye; it’s see you later.”
“Students, I will miss you all,” Masterson said. “You will have great teachers, you will have replacements for Miss Lampkins and I...students, I want to thank you because you are why we are here. Holy Spirit has a great tradition and it will go on with you, your parents and your teachers. They will make our school great. So from the bottom of my heart, I thank you all for a great ride and a great time, and I wish you all the best.”
