Hey Roger

Well, this is not goodbye but we will see you again. You have been a consummate professional, a stellar colleague and a great friend. I wish you nothing less than a happy, restful and fulfilling retirement that you deserve. Please, continue to sing and perform as the world should not be denied your talent. God Bless you on this your new adventure called retirement.

Love you: Adriana Balletta

Roger,

It only seems like yesterday - okay... maybe like last year... well... its been a while ;-) that I was a student sitting in the back of your class at William Beagle Jr. Sec. ... thank you for your caring guidance and support.

From there our paths crossed again at GP. You welcomed me into the Science Department and helped a young teacher get started on a new career. Thank you for your friendship and mentorship.

And from there our paths crossed a few more times at various schools as you supported our Hospital Homebound students. Thank you for the continuity and professionalism you provided to our students and staff...

And finally our paths crossed again this last year at Surrey Connect. Thank you for another warm welcome to another school and for your wise and calm leadership and support. Surrey Connect students have been exceptionally fortunate to receive your wisdom and expertise as they navigate through the world of Distributed Learning.

Congratulations on your retirement Roger! Enjoy time spent with family and friends. We wil be thinking of you as you embark on new adventures... send us photos - visit often!

Ken

Where has all the time gone. It seems like yesterday we were working on the same staff at Guildford Park.

I remember seeing your at the Surrey Arts Centre doing Gilbert and Sullivan and hope you are going to continue with this in your retirement.

Wishing you all the best in your future endeavours - probably coming back to TOC, so may see you again in a different roll.

Joan Shrimpton

Roger,

Congratulations on wrapping up such a successful career and moving on to the next phase. It seems like yesterday, we first met in that prep room at Matheson. One of the many courses that you were responsible for back then was Socials 8 ...maybe 9 as well – not everyday stuff for a senior Chemistry teacher. In those days, you were working out of that cubby hole of an office where Surrey Connect began with Lynn, Jeff, Glenn, Helen Hutton, Tracy Yearsley and a few other souls. Good times.

I'll miss the sage like presence and common sense that you bring to the office. You have a gift for putting things into perspective. The tech tips and care that you put into online education will be sorely missed. Your commitment to students and education is really commendable. I remember the trip we all took to Calgary a few years ago; seeing you on the computer being so active with the students who were back in BC – that was an inspiration for all of us.

I'm guessing the next phase of life will include some trips to warm and exotic locations. When you're in Oahu this September, be sure to stop by at Waimea Bay for me (pictured)…I know you'll be fully enjoying the islands. Your great spirit has served you well during your career with the Surrey School district. I know that you'll carry that great spirit into retirement and make good use of the added free time with friends and family. Mahalo for all of the help you've provided me…all the best to you and the family.

Devinder

Off and sailing!

Roger,

It's been great working with you over the years. I've really appreciated your willingness to drop everything to help me with a webct issue or to discuss some science issue. Your exurberance this year has been contagious and prompted me to make some post-retirement plans also! I hope to stay in touch by attending some of your shows! I'll be looking for the pink hair (a little iphone magic!). All the best to you and MaryAnn.

Karen

Best Wishes!

Roger,
I was looking forward to sharing the sunny, southern side of DEC with you next year! Alas, you will actually be out enjoying the sun and seas as you "sail" into retirement!
I wish you all the best as you "cruise" into your new life!
All the best,
Brooke

Wow, what a lucky guy you are Roger !

Continued blessings to you and your family.

Bill Rogers

Bon Voyage Roger

Roger was sighted shortly after retirement enjoying the beaches!!!

Seriously now....

I will miss you very much. You have been a wonderful colleague, role model and inspiration for becoming a better teacher and person. Since my first day at Surrey Connect, sharing the Science 10 course, you have been supportive, encouraging and always willing to help. I will miss our discussions and informal idea exchange. Your willingness to listen and talk through ideas has allowed me to make some great strides at work.

Enjoy your travels...I will be watching you on Facebook!

Cheers,

Teresa

Bon Voyage, Roger


Dare I say we have been colleagues for over a quarter of a century? How can I forget the days at GP when you taught across the hall from me. We borrowed your skeleton for our Hamlet speech, Act V; you stole my English class and I kidnapped your Science students; you wrote a sonnet and delivered it eloquently to inspire the Lit 12 students to reach an iambic pentameter high; we discussed the biblical origins of great literature, the subtleties of Donne's metaphysical conceits and the public speaking strategies for the literature students competing in the Speech Meets. I watched you guide and inspire beginning teachers. You really are a Renaissance Man and few know the broad range of educational experiences as do you: from Science classroom, to Homebound and Distributed Learning. We will all miss you very much.


Roni

Hi Roger!
Do you know why Chemistry teachers like to teach about ammonia? Because it's basic stuff!! (groan)
Trust me Roger, 'retired' life is the 'good' life, without a tie!!
I wish you all the very best in your retirement - it sounds like you've got some great travel plans.
I remember back fondly when you and Lynn represented 2/3 of the Secondary teaching staff! Your contributions to Surrey Connect over the past years have been significant!
Let's get together in the Fall for coffee!
Do you know what kinds of ghosts haunt Chemistry classrooms? Methylated spirits. Sorry, couldn't resist...laughter keeps us looking and feeling young!
All the very best in your retirement!

Glenn

It always amazed me that Roger could hold down a full time job, have a family and still have time to perform. The time I knew him at Guildford Park, he was always smiling and joking around. I remember a time he came to my Art Room to ask a question. I was sitting on my stool at the front of the classroom and Roger stood behind me. He decided to give me a neck massage. It felt so good, I found myself moaning out loud and saying "this feels so good....(moaning long drawn out sounds). It suddenly occurred to both of us that the students stopped what they were doing and just stared at us. Roger and I leaped away from each other and brisquely stated our business and went on our way. It was funny to realize our innocent action created a totally different reaction from the students.

My only regret is that I never saw Roger perform on Stage. I knew his family was involved and I thought how lucky he was to have his family involved in the same passion for performing. I know he and his family will continue with their passion and I wish him the best of luck in his retirement. It's not really a retirement, it is just another phase of his life.

Myra Morgan

Excuse me..... Excuse me. I'd like to ask a question...... Why does Roger need to retire?

Hey there Roger! I wish you all the best in your upcoming retirement. It's been great working with you. You one of the kindest and sweetiest souls I've met at Surrey Connect. Keep on dancing ....... "because in reality we are accompanied by the whole dancing universe" - (Ruth St. Denis).

Happy retirement Mr. Twinkletoes!

Hi Roger

It has been a pleasure teaching the Chemistry courses with you at Surrey Connect. Thanks for all of your help and patience. You have put so many excellent resources into these courses to help students. I am going to miss working with you this summer.

Have a happy retirement and enjoy your trips around the world.

:) Dal

Roger,

It was a pleasure working with you each and every day.

Some words that come to mind when I think of you - "professional, expert, supportive, kind, friendly, funny."

I wish you all the best as you "cruise" towards the next phase of your life!

Warmest Regards,

Carmie

Hey Roger

First off, you will be greatly missed here at Surrey Connect. The ways you will be missed are too numerous to list, but here are just a few. Your professionalism, leadership, your expert knowledge, your positive attitude and friendly smile {it is getting bigger by the day!!} stood out every day.

I can recall the first day I worked at Surrey Connect, you were one of the first to welcome me and to offer your assistance {which I dearly needed}. That was back in the good old days at Surrey Connect, when we were growing so fast which made for very exciting times. I appreciate your enthusiasm and dedication to teaching as evidenced by your willingness to still be making improvements in your courses right up to the last day.

Not only will all the staff miss you but your students will miss you even more. It has been a pleasure working with you for the past four years, getting to know you made me realize why you had such great kids.

All the best

Brad

I'm glad I got to know you. You have always been so helpful, friendly, and fun. You will be missed. Congratulations and best wishes in your retirement.

Ruby

Things just won't be the same here without you. I will miss your friendly smile. Congratulations on the start of an exciting new time in your life! Wishing you the best,

Penny

Roger,

I wish you all the best in your retirement. I so enjoyed working with you those many years ago. Now, you will have all the time in the world to dress up in your tights and sing and dance!!

Bob Cheyne

Hi Roger,

You are about to embark on an exciting new life. Retirement is bliss. I wish you all the best and hope you enjoy a well earned retirement.

Love, Brenda

Congrats Roger!

Hi Roger,

It's been a long time since we last conversed but I would like you to know that, especially when I was a newer teacher, I always appreciated your encouraging, positive and friendly manner. I'd also like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak to the Hospital Homebound team about the Science 10 Provincial Exam, back in 2004. Experiences like that, early in my career, gave me the confidence to persure my dream of becoming an administrator. I don't think you realize how easily you can influence others.

I wish you excitement and joy in this next phase of life's adventures. Congratulations!

Cheers,
Kirsten Farquhar

ROGER

First I want to say it was great working with you at Guildford Park over 10 years ago. Luckily I got to see you when you came into Fleetwood as a hospital Homebound teacher.

I always enjoyed your happy disposition, and your easy-going manner. You are a great teacher, who is loved by staff and students alike.

I wish you all the happiness in the world in your retirement. It's a fantastic place to be, so I hear!

Chris Trevisan

"Live with your heart WIDE OPEN! It changes you, and it changes the

world!"

Roger,

I am going to miss you very much.

You are incredibly smart and incredibly kind.

I have learned so much from you in the short time we have worked together! I am sad that you won't be here to shed light on all the dark spots that continue to exist in my brain .

Wishing you much happiness in this new phase that you are about to enter.

Happy cruisin'!

June

ROGER NOOOOOOOO!

Roger!! I can't believe you are leaving!! I will miss seeing your smiling face each morning. I hope you enjoy your retirement and take in each and every minute. Keep in touch!

-Julie

goodbye

There's a sad sort of clanking

From the clock in the hall

And the bells in the steeple too.

And up in the nursery an absurd little bird

Is popping up to say cukoo!

Cukoo! Cukoo!

Regretfully they tell us

But firmly they compel us

To say goodbye to you.

So long

Farewell

Aufwiedersehn

Goodnight

I hate to go and leave this pretty sight

So long

Farewell

Aufwiedersehn

Adeiu

Adeiu Adeiu

To yieu and yieu and yieu

So long

Farewell

Au 'voire

Aufwiedersehn

I'd like to stay and taste my first champagne

So long

Farewell

Aufwiedersehn

Goodbye

I leave and heave a sigh and say goodbye

Goodbye!

I'm glad to go I cannot tell a lie

I flit I float

I fleetly flee I fly

The sun has gone to bed and so must I

So long Farewell

Aufwiedersehn

Goodbye--

Goodbye...

Goodbye...

Goodbye...

Goodbye

take care roger - i hope to see you in another production!!

cheers

james

The Real Roger in Retirement

Happy Retirement Roger!

You have always had the most positive and fun outlook - from the crazy Science guy announcements at Guildford to your everyday conversations and onstage performances. I am sure you are going to cruise into a wonderful retirement and I hope you enjoy everyday of it.

Best of luck in the future!

Roger! I can't believe you're retiring and leaving us!! I still remember when I started here that you were one of the first people to introduce yourself to me. You quickly became someone I looked forward to chatting with every day. You will be greatly missed around here! Enjoy your retirement and perhaps I'll see you on a cruise somewhere soaking up the sun! :)

Hi Roger,
Congratulations and all the best for a wonderful retirement. May your retirement be long, happy and enjoyable and may you also experience excellent health so you can do all those things you love to do like...rock climbing, hiking, shopping, crusing, singing, dancing etc....
It has been a pleasure to work with you and I hope it is a very short time until we see you again as a Surrey Connect priority TOC . Be sure to visit us at the DEC building.
Send updates on your acting career and let us know when we will see you on "Glee".
Best wishes and you will be missed.
Cheers
Linda Somers

Hi Roger, Friday lunches won't be the same without you (can I get your unused coupons :-) ). It has been a pleasure working with you here at SC.

All the best in retirement.

Andrew

Roger the Dodger.... 34 years really?....where does the time go?!... Thanks for all you did to help me out with the wrestling team in those early years.. could have never done it without you... Lots of good memories.... I am sure there are many former students who are still looking for 'side hill gougers' in the interior of the province... I must say I was always amazed at how you could get the best out of kids...whether it was in after school activities or in the classroom your ability to captivate students made you one of GP's all time favorites... It was an honor working with you...Wishing you all the best that retirement has to offer....Enjoy!!!!

Best Wishes

Roger!!

It has been a pleasure working with you these past few years.

I will miss your crazy sense of humour, as well as your consistent contributions to the "candy store" ;-)

Keep in touch,

Carla xo

Happy Retirement Roger!

I will miss your cheerful demeanour and terrific sense of humour, Roger! Now you can take your acting career to another level given you will have the time to prove the critics wrong :-).  Enjoy this next chapter of life - I hear one can never get tired of cruising around the world.


All the Best!


Jeff

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to Roger's retirement Blog

In addition to writing a message to Roger, there is also the option to insert a pic by clicking the picture tool on the toolbar when you create a new post...like this one on the left....back in 78 when Roger was working the 'stache and a little bit of the 70's Paul Simon combover :)

And hey, if you want to get even more creative you can insert a video...your chance for some stand up comedy or a retirement ballad perhaps....maybe a group message?...who knows, probably mostly written posts but we do have the technology available :)

If you know anyone that would like to add a post and hasn't already been invited as a blog author then let me know and I will do so.

Roger was my gr 8 home room teacher back in the fall of 1978 at Guildford Park (Paul Simon days)...and when I returned to GP in 1990 as a rookie teacher Roger and many others welcomed me back into the GP family. As everyone knows, Roger is a very warm hearted, welcoming and genuine person.

It has been great working with you again at SC and of course we share great memories of GP. You have many good qualities but I think you stand out as a team player, and a true gentleman who always enjoys a good laugh and of course a good burger every friday!

cheers and all the best,

Mark