By Tasha Atwood

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – With colorful springtime decorations and a mountain of refreshments, St. Timothy’s Preschool said goodbye to founding members Kathy Massett and Melanie Pillotte. A surprise farewell and garden party was arranged by the school to send them into retirement after 25 years of dedication and service.

Students of past and recent years were encouraged to join the celebration and bring photos and letters for a slide show that was shown during the celebration. A scrapbook was also laid out for everyone to sign and give their best wishes to the teachers.

Masset and Pillotte each had a beautiful cake with “We love you” written on top. Also, the teachers had flower-covered hats to wear as crowns and ceiling-to-floor backdrops made from construction paper.

When the honored guests arrived to find all their friends and students, they couldn’t believe their eyes. Walking through a crowd of people hugging and shaking hands, Massett and Pillotte had tears in their eyes.