Longtime Novato Educators Get Surprise Sendoff

NOVATO, CA —Outgoing employees at two Novato schools were sent off in grand fashion last week.

Olive Elementary School held a surprise celebration honoring the careers of an administrator and two teachers and Hamilton K-8 School held a similar event honoring an outgoing teacher.

On Thursday current and former Olive students and parents lined the streets around the school in a show of appreciation for principal Elizabeth Olinyk and teachers Fran Rozoff and Annie Distad.

Members of the extended Olive community held up balloons and placards as they waved and shouted “We’ll Miss You” to the three as they each drove by in a separate car.

Olinyk and Rozoff are both retiring after dedicating many years serving Novato Unified School District students. Distad plans to continue her teaching career in another state.

On Friday the Hamilton community held a surprise retirement celebration for longtime teacher Marion Hickman with an outdoor party of current and former colleagues to celebrate her retirement.

When asked earlier what she wanted to do after retirement, Ms. Hickman said, “I want to read to children.”

Principal Steve Hospodar presented Ms. Hickman with a large book cover of her favorite book and an accompanying rocking chair to be placed in the school library for the Marion Hickman Reading Nook.

Hickman is retiring after 53 years with the NUSD.