Buck bids farewell to Bracken High after 38 years

After nearly forty years at Bracken High School, veteran teacher Cheryl Buck is retiring, leaving a legacy of passion, purpose and deep connection.

What began as a temporary path while she considered her future became a calling that defined her professional and personal identity.

“I vowed never to be a teacher,” Buck says with a laugh, recalling how playing ‘school-school’ as a child never matched the thrill of cowboys and Indians outdoors.

But life had other plans. After completing her final teaching practical at Bracken High, she simply stayed.
“It was home,” she reflects.

Over her 38 years at the school, Buck became more than a teacher; she became a pillar of the Bracken community, a mentor, a motivator and a safe space for countless learners and colleagues.

Through changing education systems, growing class sizes and cultural shifts, she stayed grounded in her core values: connection, relevance, compassion and play.

Moments that mattered

Of all the memories she treasures, one school trip stands out for its chaos and fun.

“It was the Grahamstown Schools’ Festival,” she says, chuckling. “Eight girls, a Toyota Venture, a deserted road, arctic temperatures at 02:00, and we lost the gearbox.”

What followed, Buck recalls, was a group of unimpressed but spirited girls pushing the vehicle off-road, singing I’m a Survivor.

But her proudest moments weren’t always tied to grand adventures. Buck recalls her work with choral verse as one of her most meaningful achievements.

“It became a vehicle for empowerment,” she says.

“It gave the shy child, the socially awkward, the underperformer a chance to shine and belong.”

Equally significant were the staff plays she wrote and directed.

“One had every staff member, including ground staff, on stage. It built friendship, trust and community.”
No talent agents came calling, but the experience deepened bonds within the Bracken family.

Teaching the whole person

Buck taught various subjects throughout her career, but English First Language and Life Orientation allowed her to connect with students on a deeper level.

“With both, you tap into the hidden stories students carry. You teach the person through the subject,” she says. “There’s power, direction and healing in that.”

She believes teaching is about more than content. It’s about seeing students, making them feel heard and helping them grow.

Her mantra, “Be better than you feel like being,” is something many students carry beyond the classroom walls.
Former students who returned years later to express gratitude touched her.

“It’s humbling. It reminds me we’re vessels in God’s hands if we allow ourselves to be. And I hope they know they’ve impacted my life, too.”

The changing classroom

While students remain fundamentally the same – curious, eager, rebellious and ambitious – Buck notes that teaching has evolved.

“It’s less authoritarian and more collaborative now. Students are more expressive and spontaneous. There’s real value in giving them a voice.”

Yet, with larger classes and increased demands, teaching has become more challenging.

To new teachers entering the field, her advice is refreshingly honest: “You will cry in the first week and the first year.”

“The expectations, deadlines and busyness will shock your system, and you’ll rethink your career choice. You’ll cry on tough days when your model lesson falls apart, feel frustration marking into the long hours of the night, and wonder if you were ever really in class at all. You have to be brave, resilient and truly believe in the cause.”

Legacy and retirement

As Buck steps away from the chalkboard, she has no plans to return to education in any form.

“If I wanted to stay involved, I’d have stayed at Bracken,” she says firmly.

Instead, she’s embracing the unknown with open arms and a light heart.

“I have no plan. I’m going where the wind blows, if my new management team, a three- and five-year-old, allow,” Buck jokes, referring to her grandchildren.

She’s looking forward to painting flowers or maybe picking them from a field in Vietnam.

“The prospects are invigorating,” she beams.

Though she won’t miss technology glitches, which she jokingly admits plagued her, she’ll miss the people and the sense of purpose.

“The staff turnover is low, so friendships are strong. You can get anything done once that’s in place.”
She’s especially grateful for the space she had to grow.

“I taught seven subjects, coached multiple sports and took part in cultural activities. I never felt boxed in or limited.”

From the school

Simone Bartlett-Wilson, one of the school’s staff, shared a heartfelt tribute on behalf of the school, “After 38 years of dedicated service, you’ve earned a well-deserved retirement. Your passion for teaching has touched countless students, and your wisdom has enriched us all as colleagues. We’ll deeply miss your presence, insights and unwavering commitment. May your retirement be filled with joy, relaxation and all the adventures you’ve dreamt of. You’ve built a legacy to be truly proud of.”

Always Bracken at heart

As a former deputy head girl of Alberton High and a Wits graduate who once studied teaching just to “buy time,” Buck ultimately found her life’s calling in education.

She is a proud mother to Danielle and Nathan and a loving grandmother to four young grandchildren who, she says, now “fill her world with colour.”

Buck leaves Bracken High with a rich legacy and a heart deeply loyal to the school community.

“Thank you for being home through good times and messy times,” she says in her farewell message.

“For the love, friendships, support and purpose. My heart is red, black and white. I will always be proudly Bracken.”