Junior School teacher Rosario Murillo arrived at Hawthorn School for Girls in 2003. Introduced to our school by an HSG parent whom she’d met at Mass, she visited Hawthorn, began supplying for short and long-term leaves, and was quickly invited to become one of our permanent JK/SK teachers. As she looks back in wonder and delight over her 22 years here, ‘Rose’, as we affectionately call her, says that Hawthorn is her beloved second home, something that she cannot describe in words; and yet, she has so much of beauty and importance to say about it.
Q: What do you love about teaching at Hawthorn?
I think it’s the people; the dedication of the amazing teachers with whom I have the fortune to work with. We really love our students. We care for each one of them. At the end of every year, I think ‘I will miss this class more than ever!’; and then the next year, it’s the same! My colleagues and I are involved in changing students’ lives in a good way. It makes me work more and more.
Q: What is an important lesson that you hope to give to your students?
They should enjoy every single thing that they do, even if it’s hard. I teach them to always look for the beauty and the best in all that they do. I tell them that they should always be proud of what they do. Our students start JK as babies and finish SK as students. It’s wonderful to help shape them into good, happy people who have cherished memories of their school years.
Q: When you look over your career, do you think you’ve changed as a teacher?
I think I’ve always been strict with myself as a teacher. When I started, an experienced teacher told me, ‘You need to do your best in order to give your best.’ I’ve always remembered that. I need to give the best example for my students to follow.
Q: What do you think is the greatest challenge facing students today?
Children need to walk on solid ground and that’s up to us, the loving authority figures in their lives. A child feels safe with me because I know what to do and I can say to her, ‘Don’t worry.’ Consistent routines are the key. Many times, we have to decide for them, to be the leader in their lives. If I say something, I mean it – and they know it. Hawthorn teachers practice discipline with love – and a good sense of humour! Our students know that we love them. With love you can change a life, with discipline and structure in a good way. We always explain why we are going to do something, and they understand beautifully. We have no screen time at all in JK/SK because we know the benefits of developing fine motor skills through a lot of hands-on activities at a young age. After COVID, many students had lost the strength to deal with hard work; we’re here to help them regain that strength.
Q: Outside of teaching, what do you like to spend time doing?
I play guitar – I love music! I love to read, to walk with my dog, to golf, to spend time with my family. Now, I love cooking, but that wasn’t so when I first came to Hawthorn. I learned to cook here from sharing recipes at lunch with my colleagues when we all had the same lunch time. But really, I feel so at home in my classroom.
Q: Finally, what would you say that your students have taught you?
Kindness.
To see life through their eyes. Every single thing is a world to them; simple things we take for granted are wonderful for them.
Their pure thanks to God.
They’re so observant. They know me.
Their happiness and sense of fun.
It’s not easy to learn, but we all work together to do our best and we love what we do.
I don’t know how I’ll be able to stop teaching; it’s something that I cannot describe in words.
Thank you, Mrs. Murillo, for your generous, thoughtful, uplifting spirit. But especially, thank you for all that you do to nurture life and learning at Hawthorn; we are truly blessed by your teachings!
