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Dear Patrice,
I am so excited for you to start your next adventure. You deserve nothing but the best in life. Continue to spend quality time with your kids and Tommy. Be sure to visit Birchwood, so I can give my friend a big hug.

Love you lots,
Deanna App

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Dear Patrice,

I am so happy for you to start your new adventure! I will miss your hallway heels and your upbeat, happy spirit! You were always so kind welcoming to me! I will always remember your music battles with Sean and loved being on the second floor to hear it! Enjoy your time with your family and make sure to come back and visit your BW Family! Best wishes for the best time!

Love,
JLO

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Dear Patrice,
I am so happy for you during your retirement! Although we don't know each other well you have always been a friendly and supportive friend during this school year. Your clicking heels down the hallway will be missed. Enjoy your well deserved retirement! <3
Love,
Natalie Munafo

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Dear Patrice,

Thank you for being so welcoming to me when I first joined 5th grade. I will never forget the memories we made as a grade level that year. I enjoyed being your neighbor (although only for a short time) and I think of you whenever I hear windchimes or change into my "hallway shoes". Enjoy your retirement with your family and friends!

Wishing you all of the best today and always,
Dolores Rufrano

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Dear Ms.Fitzgerald
Thank you for being my teacher ms.Fitzgerald.I hope you enjoy your retirement and  get more time to spend with your family. I hope you get better soon Ms Fitzgerald.

from,
your student Miguel Campos. :) :) :)

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Happy Retirement and thanks for a great year!!!

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Happy Retirement and thanks for a great year!!!

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Dear Mrs. Fitzgerald,

Thank you for a great year. I will miss when you ring the bell. I will miss when you screech and call us Tootsie Rolls. I hope one day you get a phone call from Hollywood. Ill always remember when you say Ishkabibble! to quiet us down. I'll miss the great way you will read Fish in a Tree. My favorite part of 5th grade was when we went on the Captree boat trip and went fishing. Thank you for a great year and happy retirement!

Sincerely,
Lucas Rodriguez

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Dear Mrs. Fitz,

"No one else sharpen their pencils up here!"
Remember when we were doing stations and everyone was sharpening their pencils right next to your poetry station and you said that no one else can sharpen it up there? Well, after that, Ms. Nieroda told me to go up and sharpen my pencil just to annoy you, and we were all hysterically laughing because you got so annoyed! I'll always remember that and every time I think of it, I just randomly start laughing! I'll miss hearing your heels tapping and clicking up and down the hallway! Enjoy Hollywood!
Love, Maddie

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Congratulations! You are the best teacher. You taught me how to add and subtracting in a fun way.  I loved doing small groups with you. You make learning fun.  I love when you say, "Ishkabibble!" You are the BEST! I will miss you.

Love,Emely

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Dear Mrs.Fitzgerald,
Happy Retirement!!!
Thank you for screeching during every lesson in class and your an amazing teacher.
I'm going to cry without you ringing the bell every morning for our lunch.
Thank you for teaching me the month's poem!
Love you always Marie Lauture

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DEAR MRS. FITZ,

I am so sad that you are going to retire :( I will miss you so much! My favorite part of 5th grade that I will remember the most is when someone calls you and you say "It might be Hollywood!" It would always make us laugh. Or when you put on your  Lip gloss and you drink your tea after and it stains your tea cup. I will miss you  when you call us tootsie rolls. Thank you for teaching me how to sign my name in cursive. It makes me feel proud. When I go to 6th grade my whole class will miss you.
Love,
Oriana Saravia Barahona

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I hope you have some of the best years of your life. My favorite part of 5th grade is when you taught me cursive.Something fun is when you say ishkabibble!!!!

Love.
Michael

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Dear Mrs. Fitzgerald ,
I am very happy for you to start your next adventure! I will miss the bell every single time you did lunch count and the infamous wind chime by the door. I liked hearing it ring every time we walk in the classroom. Each time the phone rings you would say "It might be Hollywood!" I remember when you got excited you would screech. I'll remember when you read Fish in a Tree. The ending was pretty heartwarming and sad. You would always call us tootsie rolls. I really loved the book "Esperanza" because of the way that Esperanza changes. You make learning so much fun and every time we did a test you would wave your wand, say some words, and scream at the top of your lungs. I always thought your glasses were so funny. And you would always look at mirrors to make sure you look good. I hope you get a call from Hollywood sometime soon!

From,
Sebastian

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Dear Mrs Fitz,

I am so happy for you and your retirement! Thank you so much for everything you have helped me with like helping me grow in my reading and being more of a deep reading into a book! I'm also going to miss your heels clicking and you have tea in your hand.Thank you also for always making me laugh with your screeching and your funny wand tricks! That made me calm before a test.
I will always remember you for your mirrors lip gloss and funny voices you did for Fish in a Tree. Happy Retirement Mrs. Fitz . Thanks for making learning so fun. I'm going to miss you so much

From,
Jaxon

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Dear Mrs. Fitzgerald

I like the bell ,the Ishkabibble ,and Hollywood. I love the friends in my 5th grade class. Have a good Retirement.

Love from,
Billy.

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Dear Mrs Fitzgerald,

Everyone will miss you even the teachers and i'm about to tell you why they would miss you!They will miss your lip gloss,high heels clicking in the hall,Hollywood calling, ishkabibble and  last but not least your really really loud screeching.Thank you so much for being so welcoming on the first day and soon coming to an end.I hope you enjoy your upcoming adventures!Hope you make the  most about your. My favorite memories are before we started iready diagnostic i think we can all remember the wand and your crazy high kick.Have a great retirement.:)

From,
Katrina H

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Tiffany "The Budgetnista" Aliche is an award-winning teacher of financial education and is quickly becoming America's favorite, personal financial educator.

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Dear Mrs. Fitz,

Happy Retirement! I will miss you. I loved when you say Ishkabibble  to us or call us tootsie rolls. And especially the wand. Thank you for teaching us math and making learning fun.
Love,
Jordyn

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Dear Mrs. Fitzgerald,

Happy Retirement. I will miss when the bell rings for lunch count and attendance. I will also miss Fish In A Tree when you would say Tootsie Roll or Ishkabibble! I will miss all of the mirrors in class. I love when you would drink you tea and put on lip gloss at dismissal. Before we had a test like the N.Y state test, you would wave the magic wand.to help us do well. It always worked! Thank you so much with everything you helped me with. You helped me understand some of the tricky math. Your an amazing teacher.

From, Madison

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Thank you for making me a better reader and teaching me how to do cursive. I really appreciate you.I love how you call us tootsie rolls. We will miss you so much and thank you for the best school year ever! thank you!!

From
Jared

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Dear, Mrs Fitz,
I hope you have a great retirement. Thank you for letting me have a great fifth grade. Make sure you drink lots of tea while reading different books. Also make sure you sleep in all the time. My favorite part of fifth grade was when we learned about our states and made our trifolds. I will definitely remember having to go to the computer five times a day in a good way. I'm sorry i can't help you when you retire but you'll get the hang of it. Thank you and I hope you have a great retirment.

From,
Jafer

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Dear Mrs.Fitzgerald,
I will always miss when you go to the phone and we always think it is Hollywood. The wand was always so funny but helpful at the same time because it would give us confidence to try our best. You also can't forget the bell because there has never been a day that you have missed it. Last but not least LEARNING you always make learning so fun and enjoyable like when you do Esperanza reading or Fish in a Tree. I've learned how to have a much deeper discussion when reading a group book.  I hope you have a wonderful experience spending time with friends and family. Best of wishes!!!! 🥰🥰   Love,
Samantha

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Dear Mrs. Fitz,

Hi! It's me Kanika wishing you a happy retirement. You helped me with so much this year. You helped me with my vocabulary, cursive, and lots more! Thank you for being the best and funniest teacher in the world. Happy Retirement!

From a tootsie roll in your class named,
Kanika

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Dear Ms. Fitz,

5th grade was the best year ever. The things I most enjoyed about you were the Earth Day Projects and reading Fish in a Tree. And don't forget about the lip gloss too. The screeching was very loud.  Thank you for helping me with math, I got better. The bell will always remind me of lunch count. You make learning as fun as possible. I think Hollywood will call you one day. Have a happy retirement!!

Sincerely,
Stylianos

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Dear Mrs. Fitzgerald,
Thank you for your help, now I'm ready for 6th grade!
I enjoy your hugs they made me feel good. I also loved the bell, poetry, the wand and heels clicking. I hope you have a Happy Retirement, I'll miss you

From a tootsie roll in your class named,
Kaytie

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Dear Mrs. Fitzgerald,
I hope you enjoy your retirement. I will miss you after this year. I loved doing cursive with you. I loved when you read Fish In a Tree,  and Esperanza Rising. When you do math with us, it's fun. You made me learn a lot of cursive. Thank you for helping me learn more math than I used to know. I remember the math lab and it was fun. I loved the Earth Day project too. I hope you get a call from Hollywood!

From your tootsie roll,
Evelyn

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Dear Fitzy,
My early morning arrivals at Birchwood will never be the same! The time that we would spend chatting each morning, when you were in the math lab were some of my favorite conversations.   I will also miss the "Fitzgerald Residence" phone calls that I love so much!  I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to teach with you but also to call you my friend! You are 1 in a million, and Birchwood will not be the same without you!
I wish you the most wonderful retirement!  I hope this next chapter is filled with family, friends, fun, relaxation, travel and MONTAUK!
Love you Fitzy!
Love,
Jill Hewlett XO

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Dear Mrs.Fitzgerald,

Thank you for being my 5th Grade teacher.  You're the best teacher ever! I love your smile when you are having fun with the class.  I love my morning hug. You helped me learn English.

Love,
Steph

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Dear Patrice,

Thank you for welcoming me to Birchwood with open arms! It was always nice to see a smiling face walking down the hall at the crack of dawn on band mornings. I am so excited for you and I hope retirement is amazing. Sending you all my best!

Love,
Shannon Z

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Patrice,

Wishing you a very happy and relaxing retirement! You will be missed very much here at Birchwood!

Love, Christine Sepe

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Dear Patrice,

While I'm so excited for you on your retirement, I'm also in denial that I won't be able to see you each day at school anymore!

I'll always remember our 5th grade lunches, laughs, and sharing crazy stories. You welcomed me and showed me you cared from day one! I will never forget how comfortable you made me feel and I will always have a special place in my heart for you.

I'll also never forget our 5th grade trip to the Sweet Hollow Dude Ranch...You almost fell off of the horse-drawn wagon and I had to save you. Well, I'm glad I saved you :)

Now go enjoy your retirement and have some FUN!

Love always,
Ian Denson

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Dear Patrice,
I will miss seeing you in the hallways of Birchwood. Your upbeat personality and positive spirit can put anyone in a good mood. I hope your retirement is full of all the things you love. You deserve nothing but the best! Congratulations!

Love,
Danielle Giannuzzi

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I'm so happy for you! I have so enjoyed working with you and learning from you! You are such a caring and loving person. I always think of you where I hear the word "Fabulous" and I probably always will. Wishing you much happiness in the next chapter of your life. You will be missed at Birchwood!

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Dear Patrice,
I will miss seeing you around the halls of Birchwood! You are an amazing educator and you have touched the lives of so many students! No one rocks "hallway heels" better than you! Wishing you a retirement filled with lots of relaxing times and special moments spent with family and friends. You will be missed!
Love,
Melissa Vultaggio

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Patrice,
You were the very first teacher I met when I was hired at Birchwood. I found you in your classroom, relaxed and ready for a new year. You made me feel calm, and let me know that I could come to you if I ever needed anything. Since that day almost 10 years ago, I have looked up to you and viewed you as the mama bear. Your smile and hellos walking through the hallway always put me in a good mood. Fifth grade lunch with you and your fancy plates and cutlery will always live in my heart. I wish you nothing but happiness, relaxing on your porch, and many of glasses of wine. You deserve it! I will miss you immensely!
Love,
Jen

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Hello to my beautiful friend! HAPPY RETIREMENT!  I am so very happy for you. You will be able to enjoy each day, take in the beauty of the day and save on gas!
I am so thankful to have met you last year and spend the year together. You have taught me to reflect on my teaching, to laugh at the little things and, most of all, to bring a little sunflower 🌻 sunshine into each day. Thank you for our talks, thank you for the morning music, thank you for the book recommendations and thank you for being you. You are one of the kindest, most generous (and humble! You know what I’m talking about!) and, loving people I know. Keep dancing and singing to your music, keep making people happy and laughing, and, most of all, keep your soul young! You are FABULOUS 💕! You hear that?….Your porch chair and wine glass 🍷 are calling you! Love you to pieces….muchos besos y abrazos siempre, Ivia Negron

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Patrice,
I am so happy for you! We’ve know each other since high school and you are a beautiful person. You can go to the beach and no alarm clock to set…Montauk and spending time with your family. I will miss you but we will get together. Birchwood won’t be the same without you, but you deserve this!!
Love you,
Debbie

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Dear Patrice:
Your presence in the BW main office for me has always been appreciated as you always knew how to read the room. You were sensitive to what was going on and chose to have chat times wisely. As a harried secretary, that meant a lot!
Really, though, Patrice, you have always shown me your kindness - really, yes! and your sense of class and style will be missed by me. I am certain that the lives you touched over the years by the students will carry forward in many, many positive ways for many years to come. What an accomplishment! You should feel so fulfilled. Many happy years of retirement - I'll pass by that porch one day for a toast!
With love,
Linda Ude

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I hope your retirement is filled with friends, family and all the wonderful things you love to do!  I will certainly miss your positivity and smiles here at Birchwood.  I wish you many wonderful things in the newest chapter of your life :)

Best wishes always,
Michelle Liegey

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Patrice,
I can not believe this day is finally here for you! Enjoy every second of this new adventure. I will always remember your kindness during my first year of teaching, how classy and elegant you are! BW will not be the same without you.  Enjoy your family and friends, you deserve it!
xoxo Melissa Gomez

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Wishing you all the best in your retirement!  Enjoy all the time off with your family and friends!  I will miss your smiles and countdowns at the end of every year.  LOL  We always could count on you to get us through to the end of the year!  Hope you get to spend time out in Montauk enjoying the sun and sand. Cheers to you! You will be missed very much!
Hugs,

Tanya

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I am very excited for you! I wish I had meet you sooner but at least I met you. You are a very positive person and that I will miss the most! Enjoy retirement and don't be a stranger!!

Best wishes,
Sherley Ortiz

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I am so happy for you on your retirement! I did not get the opportunity to work with you here at Birchwood for very long. However, what I have heard and your kindness whenever I see you has not gone unnoticed. Hope you enjoy every moment!
Love,
Karissa Koerner

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Patrice,

It has been lovely walking the halls of Birchwood with you. You are a sweet, kind soul that will be missed very much. I wish I had more time with you, but I am thankful for the time I did have! Continue to shine your light in retirement, and enjoy! I wish you the best.

Love,
Samantha Levy

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Dear Patrice,

Happy RETIREMENT my beautiful friend !! So happy for you !! You earned it ! Patrice, you have had an amazing career at SHUFSD! You , my dear friend are a truly inspiring teacher who has given her whole self ( and more !) to every student who walked through her classroom doors ! I loved being your
“ neighbor”  the early years and then during some of our later ones (lol ) at Birchwood . More important,  I am blessed with the friendship that we have developed through the years ! Love our girls dinners, although it will be fun not worrying about when we go out now that we don’t have to concern ourselves with work constraints🤣 !! Beautiful , kind , and loving Patrice now it’s your time !! Wine… yes , wine down and relax ! Love you !!
❤️❤️Brenda

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Dear Patrice,

I hope you know how much we will miss you here at Birchwood. You are a ray of sunshine ☀️. You are an amazing teacher and I am sad for the hundreds of kids who will never get to experience your warmth and grace! It is bittersweet, really, because I also think of the hundreds of kids who do know just how special you are! Thank you for all you have done for your students and colleagues over the years. I will always remember you fondly, especially when I hear wind chimes!

Enjoy time with your family and friends!

Love,
Sandy Daniels

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In my eyes, you are a BW Icon and a teacher I aspire to emulate!  You embody everything I believe a teacher should be:  loving, nurturing, creative and classy. BW will miss your flowy blouses going up and down our halls and your reminders to appreciate the little things.  I loved all our one to one chats, your genuine advice, and the laughs we shared.  I truly hope that your retirement is full of all the things you love.  And I look forward to hearing about all your relaxing days ahead!  Congrats on reaching entering such a great phase in life!

-Helma

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Dear Patrice,
I will miss hearing your lovely voice on the other end of the phone saying, " Fitzgerald's residence " when you answered your classroom phone. I will especially miss our conversations in the hallways  before school in the mornings. I hope you enjoy every second of your retirement!!!!!
Love,
Linda Stauder

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Writing a simple retirement sentiment to you feels as impossible as a day with no hours. However, I know in my heart that the time that we have spent together in Birchwood is invaluable, because in that time, we have nurtured a friendship that fills each of us with an indescribable energy every day. I cherish us, and I cherish the place that brought us together. Cheers to you, and cheers to us.

Love,
Liz Correll

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Patrice,

What a great word - you are fabulous, and I will forever think of you when I hear it!  I feel so lucky to have become your neighbor many years ago when I was moved to Room 204.  You are a breath of fresh air, always ready to bring a new perspective to the craziness of motherhood and teaching... I always appreciated your kind words and your advice on keeping the balance (or trying!!) One of my favorites... Don't wait for the weekend! Enjoy each night..go out to dinner on a Wednesday! You will be SO MISSED, but I wish you happiness and relaxation with your husband and beautiful family. Congratulations on your retirement!
Love,
Kelli Roth

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You are going to be soooo missed in these hallways! BW wasn't the same last year when you did that stint in Kindergarten, but now it's permanent and you're not coming back.....  You have always been a brilliant ray of sunshine, so whatever you choose to do with your days from here on I hope you continue to share your light with others:) Enjoy your free time, afternoon glasses of wine, and late mornings in pj's and a cup of coffee!
Love, Carolyn C

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Dear Patrice,
Wishing you a retirement filled with many good times, laughter, and fun! Your warm and bubbly presence will be missed at Birchwood! I'll always remember how you made math fun while in Math Lab and the way you made all the kids feel while under your care! Enjoy this special time and some well-deserved relaxation!
Fondly,
Tom

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Dear Patrice,
I’m so lucky that I got to see you everyday at Birchwood.  Im sad to think I won’t see your beautiful face walking down the hallways but I’m so happy for you to begin the next chapter in your life.  Hope you enjoy spending quality time with your family and  relaxing time in Montauk. 😄Wishing you nothing but the BEST!!!!
Love you
Andrea 🤬❤️

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Dear Patrice,
My first Birchwood neighbor! (Back when the portables were in their prime! 🤣) I am so happy for you and wish you all wonderful things for you and your family - but I'm so sad for us. We will all sorely miss your always loving, kind, nurturing presence - not only with your students but with your colleagues too! You have touched the hearts of so many of us - adults and children - along your journey as an educator, and we are all blessed and so very thankful to have been a part of that adventure! Happy retirement, my friend! ❤ 🍾
Love,
Steve Corbellini

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Best Wishes for a wonderful retirement! Thanks for being a good listener. You are such a kind and caring soul. You have touched so many hearts over the years! Now it is your turn to sit back and relax and continue being fabulous. I am going to miss you!
Come back and visit!  😊Tracey

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Hoping your retirement looks just like this picture! You are such an amazing teacher and beautiful person. I will miss my neighbor! Wishing you sunshine and seashells in this next chapter...
Love,
Kristen Ging

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Dear Patrice,

Congratulations on your retirement! It has truly been a blessing to know you and teach alongside you. You are the kindest, most graceful person. Your wonderful spirit radiates positivity. Wishing one of the most beautiful people (inside and out) that I have ever met the best that retirement has to offer. Let's keep in touch!

With love,
Brittany Vilar

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Dear Patrice3,

Congratulations and best of luck to you!  I will miss your kind words and emails next year.  You are always so sweet and upbeat.  Such a pleasure to work with.
Enjoy your summer.

Love, Anna Maria Cipriano

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Dear Patrice,

I am so glad you got to spend your last year at Birchwood and with my dear friend Kristin.  I have enjoyed all the years of laughter, tears and talking.  I loved learning what I was in for with children since yours were older than mine.  I loved our many conversations about life in general.

Now is the time to truly shine and have a fabulous life in retirement.  The world is yours for whatever you want it to be.  I look forward to joining on the porch some time to talk and enjoy life while everyone else works.

Love you to pieces,

Beth

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PATRICE! I am so sad that you are leaving, but also so thrilled for you to start this new chapter. There are so many moments, so many memories that I cherish! You have always been there for me. There are just too many words to write, so I will keep it simple. Your true friendship means the world to me! You lift me up and inspire me. I love you forever! Now get on the porch and have a drink! Congratulations!

Love and admiration,
Kristen Tohill

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Now I will have to stalk you through your windows while having your peaceful morning coffee to photo bomb you!!  Seriously, your presence will be missed here at Birchwood.  I am so glad I returned this year to be able to work together for your last year!  Enjoy this next adventure with you and your hubby!!

:) Kim Caracciola

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Dear Patrice,
Congratulations on your retirement!! Best of luck to you in the future! :)
<3,
Gina Kearon

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Dear Patrice,
From the first day I met you I have always said what a classy lady! Then I got to know you and that all changed haha! JUST KIDDING You will be greatly missed as an educator and an integral part of the BW family. ENJOY!!!! you deserve it.

Love,
Russ

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Dearest Patrice,

I am a little sad that I won't be seeing you in the hallway, my beauty, but I'm actually more excited for you than anything else! I wish you a happy, healthy and long retirement with Tommy, your beautiful kids and growing family. I know that you will live every day with the style and grace that you did here at Birchwood.

With lots of love and admiration,
Michelle Gruttadauria

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Wishing you the best on your retirement!  Enjoy the time with family and friends! Hope you can do all the things you want to do!

Love,
Karen Stangl

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Dear Patrice,

What is happening?!?! I am so grateful that our paths crossed last year at Oakwood and that you were apart of my journey in getting my own classroom! I learned so much from you in such a short amount of time and cherish the year we spent together in K Dual Language. Our belly laughs, shared looks, and wild stories will be so missed! Anytime you are missing the “little darlings” feel free to visit my classroom 😂 I hope you enjoy endless cups of tea and sleeping in late because you deserve it! I’ll be seeing you soon 💜 I know your retirement will be FABULOUS just like you!!! Xoxo

Love always,
Kiera Savitz 💜