Farewell, Mr. Rivard

Ron Rivard has been a principal at Tess Corners Elementary for six years, but it's evident that his impression on parents, students and teachers will likely last well beyond the elementary school years.

Rivard will be taking a position with the Waterford Graded School District, which is closer to his family, as its Assistant District Administrator and Director of Curriculum.  While he called it a great opportunity, he said leaving Tess Corners would not be easy.

"Every day I'm here, I have looked forward to learning about what our students are involved in.  It has become my extremely large extended family, and a place I'll never forget," Rivard said.

Catching up with parents, students and teachers at the traditional teacher v. fourth grader softball game and yearbook signing, it was obvious the feeling was mutual.

"This school will definitely miss him, as well as the community," said Becka Wypiszynski, a second grade teacher at Tess Corners for the past four years.  "He's really helped us move forward as a school."

Mary Muth, whose sons attend Tess Corners as third and fourth graders, said "our boys adore him.  He recognizes each and every child by name, as well as their parents, and in many cases their siblings who don't go to the school.  He has been such an amazing asset.  It's a tough loss, but we're excited for what's to come for him."

Students said they felt he was "fun," and enjoyed his stints on the top of the school as part of a fundraising effort, and as one third grader explained, "he has a million ties!"

Rivard signed yearbooks for a mob of students, and was called up to bat.  Appropriately enough, he hit a home run, clearing the bases.