No one has cleaned and bandaged more scraped, bloody knees than Mrs. Emily Morris.

It is a safe bet to say that nearly every family at St. Mary School is familiar with the warm smile that sits behind the front office doors. Since 2003, Emily Morris has been the welcoming Office Manager and Admissions Director. After this current school year, she will be retiring.

“It’s definitely bittersweet,” Emily says. “I’ve been involved with SMS as a parent, grandparent, and employee. Retirement is both exciting and frightening to me.”

Looking back at her tenure at SMS, Emily reflects, “I’ve been extremely privileged. I’ve witnessed so many happy moments with families. From a family beaming with pride as they drop their daughter off to school on her first day in kindergarten, to a family bursting with joy and honor as their son graduates from 8^th grade. I’m grateful to have been a part of these special days.”

But it’s not just the milestones that Emily holds near her heart. The everyday relationships are just as important.

“To me, it is crucial to know each student. To know each parent. To know each teacher. To really understand each person, and to know his or her story. Every person has a story,” Emily shares.

“I am proud that, here at SMS, we teach our students to not only grow academically, but to also grow into compassionate human beings. To have compassion, you need to listen to and embrace others’ stories—not just your own. And we teach that here at SMS.”

Emily is most fond of the morning assemblies at SMS. “It impacts me every morning. Our students get to honor both their freedom and faith, as we start each day with a prayer and the pledge of allegiance. I hope that SMS continues to be a strong influence in Gilroy, inspiring our youth to the highest standards of academia and faith.”

Emily is looking forward to a Hawaiian vacation this summer. Longer term, she can’t wait to take on more projects around the house, more traveling, and spending time with her family.

Of course, Emily promises to be a familiar face around SMS after her retirement. “Oh definitely! I plan to volunteer and help wherever and whenever I can.”

And to you, Mrs. Emily, we thank you for every hug, every word of comfort, and every helping hand you have provided to each student and each parent over the last 23 years. Thank you for sharing your story with us.

-submitted by Marcia Loggins