Congratulations on your retirement, Ms. Cordeiro
Submitted
The English Department at Fairhaven High School will most assuredly miss the presence of Ms. Donna Cordeiro, a 25-year veteran of the school, as she retires this spring from teaching after 33 years in education. Throughout her career, Ms. Cordeiro made a positive impact on the lives of thousands of students. Students often remarked that while she held them to a high standard, Ms. Cordeiro also created a classroom environment that was welcoming and encouraging.
Some say that the mark of a good educator is that they have left a lasting impression on their young charges as they make their way into the world. As a teacher of multiple grade levels over the years, including seniors, Ms. Cordeiro has certainly left that mark.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Ms. Cordeiro is known throughout the department and the school as an avid reader. She has often shared the titles of books that she loves with her students, the English department, and her colleagues at Fairhaven High School. For many years, Ms. Cordeiro also hosted a book club for students as an extracurricular activity in which students chose books that interested them. In this role, Ms. Cordeiro was open to reading anything and hosting a discussion as long as it was student-driven.
It should be noted that Ms. Cordeiro is a discerning reader — the mark of a true bibliophile.
If a work that she read didn’t pass Ms. Cordeiro’s measure, she would say something like, “Meh, I didn’t like that one.” And that was that.
But if she did love a book, and if that book seemed like a good fit for English class, one could rest assured that it would be recommended for the curriculum.
In addition to the many books she reads, Ms. Cordeiro’s passion for the written word extends to creative writing. After taking the Buzzards Bay Writing Project in 2011 and becoming a teaching consultant, she interjected creative outlets in all units for her students. Reading with a writer’s eye, she gleaned many mentor texts as a base for student creativity. Because of this work, students had space to express themselves genuinely without the fear of being assessed or judged. Instead, they felt free to write what they felt in their hearts.
Throughout her career, Ms. Cordeiro amassed a trove of materials for each unit she taught. As a new teacher, one would likely receive a large file from Ms. Cordeiro for any module that she had taught previously. The file had everything a teacher might need to begin their planning. Often, her collection included articles from recent events that Ms. Cordeiro would seamlessly tie into the units of study that she developed, ensuring that students recognized the relevance of and connections to the real world with the works of literature that she was teaching.
The English Department at Fairhaven High School will miss Ms. Cordeiros’s wit, insight, experience, wisdom, sense of humor, and, most certainly, her book recommendations!
On behalf of the faculty and staff at Fairhaven High School: Congratulations, Donna! And as always, happy reading.
Congratulations on your retirement, Ms. DeCosta
Submitted
Linda DeCosta announced her retirement this year after serving the Fairhaven Public Schools for 33 years. Dedicated, patient, meticulous, caring, and helpful in all ways are just a few of the words that come to mind when thinking of Linda. Her work ethic is unmatched. Always humble in her approach, Linda simply gets the job done and does it well.
The main office will not be the same without her. We will miss her organization, her deep understanding of the function of the school, her funny stories, her compassionate heart, her passion, her love of everything purple, and hearing about the adventures of her grandchildren, children, and husband, all of whom she adores.
Family is everything to Linda. How fortunate are we, that she has always treated the Fairhaven Public Schools as family? She has given us her best, every single day.
We will especially miss the way Linda always helps others in need. Whether it is a student, staff member, or family in the community, Linda is the first person to step in and help —always. She is selfless in every way. Often, Linda will help others behind the scenes, never demanding attention or thanks. She will quietly hand a bag with a winter jacket in it to a student who doesn’t have one, will bring flowers to a staff member who has experienced heartache, or she will give the best inspirational speech at exactly the right moment.
We hope that in her retirement, Linda can find time to honor and celebrate herself in the same way that she has always been a champion for others.
Linda, you are so loved! We can’t thank you enough for all that you have done for the Fairhaven community over the years. You have truly made a difference in the lives of so many. Your work has had a profound impact on the success of the Fairhaven community.
Purple is the color of LOVE
It’s the color I’m dreaming of
Purple is the color of PASSION
Purple is always in fashion
Purple is the color of DREAMS
Purple is the best is seems
Purple is the color of ME
Purple is the best you see
J. Howell
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