The hugs and well-wishes seemed as though they’d never stop. It was almost like Patrice Beverly had just won a major award.

In truth, she had reached a major milestone. After 24 years, she was marking her final day as a teacher at Immaculate Conception Regional School in Cranston and preparing for retirement.

“This school is losing a phenomenal teacher,” said David DelFino, Immaculate Conception’s physical education teacher. “She is, and has been, special in so many ways. Patrice is literally the best teacher in this school.”

Students Nicholas Soccio and Mina Macera and their mothers made a special visit to the school and presented Beverly with several plants during an emotional farewell. Almost all the school’s faculty wore special blue T-shirts reading “B-Squad” in Beverly’s honor.

“Patrice is the quintessential teacher,” said Judy McCusker, a member of the Immaculate Conception faculty and Beverly’s longtime friend. “She is admired and loved by the students, parents, and her colleagues. Her lessons went beyond academics; life lessons, such as kindness, respect, and dedication, were woven into her daily lessons.”

When asked what immediate plans she has to begin her retirement, Beverly replied: “I’ll be spending more time enjoying my family and babysitting my grandchildren.”

Beverly began her career at Immaculate Conception as a middle school language arts teacher, and then became a fifth-grade teacher.

“Being part of a Catholic school community is wonderfully unique,” Beverly said. “The only way I can explain it is that the school is more than an academic community; it is a loving family. Over the course of 24 years, I have been blessed to become acquainted with wonderful students and their families, many of whom I still stay in contact with.”

Beverly, who makes her home in West Warwick with her husband, Clyde Beverly, added: “In fact, I just attended a high school graduation part for one of my former fifth-grade students who recently graduated from Bishop Hendricken High School. He is off to college to study a field he did a career research project for back in the fifth grade.”

“Another blessing of teaching at Immaculate Conception is that my colleagues have become my dearest friends,” she continued. “I could not have asked for more supportive individuals to work along side over the past 24 years.”

Since Beverly’s retirement was announced, many former students have emailed her, sent cards and letters, and even visited her during her final weeks of school.

“I love seeing the amazing adults hey have become,” she said. “They are successful, not only in regard to their professions, but they are wonderful, compassionate citizens whom I am proud to say that they have spent time in my classroom. I cannot imagine attaining a better sense of fulfillment than that.”