After 18 long dedicated years of working at our school, Mr. Costello, our security guard, will be officially retiring. 

It’s a bittersweet moment as we say goodbye to someone who has become a familiar and reassuring presence around our school. His steady watch, his warm greetings, and his unwavering commitment to student safety have made such an impact to our school community. 

Though many don’t realize it, he describes himself as a quiet, laid back person who preferred to observe while still keeping things in order. Despite his calm and observant presence, he said what he will miss more about working here are the students and being able to greet them each morning and simply chatting with some. He said some students still contact him and let him know how they are doing in life and what they are up to. Students are going to miss him. He became a familiar face for many students and always had a smile while greeting them in the morning and watching over their safety while they arrived at school. 

Reflecting back on the last 18 years working here he’s seen a lot of change around the school. In a recent interview he was asked, “How has the school changed since you started?” and he answered, “The school became more relaxed, less disciplined than before. Students were not allowed to have their phones throughout the day including break and lunch and also the dress code was more strict.” 

Originally Costello wanted to become a coach but he knew that coaching positions were often filled from within which made it tough to break into. Wanting to stay connected to the school environment and still be around students, Costello found his path in school security. It turned into a role where he could make a real difference building relationships, offering support, and being a steady presence on campus every day. 

As Costello heads to retirement, he’s looking forward to new adventures, especially travelling across the United States in an RV with his wife. May their road ahead be full of joy, adventures, and RV travels across the country and we want to say we’re grateful for his years of dedication, kindness, and protection that he gave us. We wish him nothing but the best as he begins his well earned retirement!