The Magic Behind the Canvas: Ms. Nancy Fletcher Retires from Glenlyon Norfolk School

Since September 2010, Nancy Fletcher has been inspiring creativity and fostering imagination in our students as the Junior School Art Teacher. A highly talented and innovative educator, Nancy is known for finding unique ways to engage young learners, gently guiding them in producing truly beautiful work. Collaborative, supportive and deeply caring, she is a gentle spirit who prefers to avoid the spotlight. However, as she prepares to hang up her smock and retire this year, there is no doubt that the magic of Ms. Fletcher deserves to be celebrated.

From jumping in to support art components in school musicals and assemblies to leading special community projects, Nancy has helped countless students appreciate art and their own unique abilities over the past 16 years.

Nancy’s teaching journey began with a lifelong love of creating. Growing up in a household where her father was constantly building and repurposing materials, Nancy learned early on the value of hands-on creativity.

She later pursued Design Art at university, finding a perfect fit in the combination of industrial and graphic design. When it came time to complete her graduate diploma in education, she studied a unique combination of teachables: biology and art.

After teaching in Ottawa and taking time as a stay-at-home mom when she first moved to Victoria, Nancy eventually took on a role teaching art at her son’s preschool. “He would call me ‘Miss Mommy,'” she recalls fondly. When the teaching job here became available, a GNS parent suggested she apply.

“I just thought this school was magical,” Nancy says. She remembers that “As soon as we moved to Victoria, I would pass by and see all of the kids playing on the beach. I always knew it was a magical place and I was fortunate enough to be hired on.”

Nancy’s unique background in both science and art made her an incredible asset to the IB Primary Years Programme. She thrives on collaboration, using her planning sessions with classroom teachers and specialists to build a rich, multi-sensory program.

For Nancy, art is fundamentally a form of communication, and her classroom has always been a safe space for trial, error and discovery. “I don’t like to hear anyone label themselves as ‘I’m not artistic’ or ‘I’m not creative,'” she explains. “I always tell the students that there are no mistakes in art, so I try not to have pre-made things too much. I believe in doing it in the moment so that I can show the students that I have challenges too and make corrections. They can learn from that and think, ‘Well, if I make a mistake, it’s not such a big deal. There’s usually a solution.’ Sometimes that challenge is something you can springboard off of, and it turns into a really cool revelation.”

Witnessing this growth is what Nancy considers the most rewarding part of her career. Her favourite memories are born in the moments when a student, previously frozen by perfectionism, finally blossoms, broadens their perspective, and becomes willing to take creative risks.

While Nancy prefers to operate as a behind-the-scenes leader, the impact of her work is front and centre across the GNS campus. Her colleagues are quick to shine a light on her immense contributions. Mrs. Crystal Shea, Junior School Principal, is quick to note how Ms. Fletcher “Always puts the student experience at the heart of everything and jumps in with both feet to make events feel extra special.”

Our Head of School, Mr. Chad Holtum, highlights Nancy’s gentle spirit, endless imagination and caring heart. “The ‘magic of Nancy’ is woven into so many parts of GNS, from the beautiful art on the walls to the sets of our school musicals. She means so much to this community and it has been an absolute joy to watch the way she inspires creativity in our students.”

When reflecting on her time here, Nancy is quick to highlight the extraordinary nature of the community. From memorable field trips learning about kelp with Grade 5 students, to participating in teacher skits and Friday Morning Lives, to watching Mr. Gavin Bowers cycling on the roof of Rattenbury House to raise money for the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the spirit of GNS has left a lasting mark on her.

“I’m really going to miss the creativity of the kids. It inspires me,” Nancy shares. Teaching has also profoundly shaped Nancy herself. It has deepened her appreciation for diverse ways of learning and the absolute necessity of building strong relationships to understand and support each individual student.

As she looks ahead to retirement, Nancy is excited to trade her art smock for hiking boots and a passport. Her plans for the future include accompanying her husband on more work trips and travelling around the world. She is also looking forward to finally having the time and energy to work on her own artistic creations.

While Ms. Fletcher does hope to remain connected to the GNS community (potentially even returning as a Teacher on Call!), she is ready for this well-deserved transition.

When asked how she hopes to be remembered, true to form, Nancy replies, “I’d rather just fade away, actually! But I hope my colleagues remember me as collaborative, dependable and really caring about the kids. And I hope the students come away feeling that I truly care, because I do. I’m just really grateful for having been here. It’s a pretty special community.”

Thank you, Nancy, for everything you have brought to GNS. We wish you a wonderful and highly creative retirement!