After 33 years with the Holy Trinity Catholic School Division, Dwayne Sisetzky is stepping into his retirement shoes — with a cacophony of “we’ll miss you’s” following him.
Sisetzky has been a caretaker at St. Mary School for 30 years, and will be missed by staff and students alike.
St. Mary barred Sisetsky from their gym last Friday, so they could spend almost a week decorating with artwork and goodbye messages for his retirement tea — a note, card, or drawing from every student at St. Mary’s was put up around the walls.
Dubbed “Mr. S” and “Mr. Wonderful,” Sisetsky really made a connection with the students at the school. Running lunchtime supervision allowed him to get to know the students better, and develop inside jokes with them.
One message from a student added a “p.s. I spent a lot of time on this,” to let Sisetsky know that all the times he told that student to “take your time” was heard and understood.
Sisetsky also fondly remembered how the younger kids would excitedly yell, “Hi, Mr. S!” down the hallway upon seeing him, even when they were meant to be quiet.
It will be the students he misses most, Sisetsky admits. His career has allowed him to see several generations of students travel through St. Mary’s walls — kids who’ve now become parents and sent their kids to school there.
“I've always loved being around the kids and everything. They always make my day,” said Sisetsky. “As you get older, you kind of think, it's time to kind of go, after you've done caretaking for that long. Like I say, I'll miss the kids and staff, but I can come back and visit.”
He is looking forward to retirement, which will include spending time with his family and grandchildren and working on some projects he’ll now have more time for.
“Because I work late evenings and stuff here and didn't have a chance to get away as much as I like to, to be up there with [my grandchildren]. It'll be nice to get away and enjoy that part,” said Sisetsky.
And Sisetsky regularly runs into current and past students who know him, and always stop to say hello, so he’s hoping that continues even into his retirement.
All of the hard work Sisetsky put into keeping St Mary School in top shape is greatly appreciated by staff and students alike, and judging by the messages on the wall, Mr. Wonderful will be missed.
“It's very emotional, after 30 years with these kids and the staff at the school for that long,” said Sisetsky. “It's a good feeling, that I'm looked after and they think about me this much.”
