A headteacher who is believed to have died after a short illness had a " sharp sense of humour" and "infectious laughter".
The death of Catherine Morris was shared by the staff at Holy Rosary Catholic Primary School in Aintree, with staff and teachers heartbroken after the loss of the headteacher. Since the death, staff members at the school have made a touching tribute to the 54-year-old.
The tribute from staff said: "Our school community are shocked and saddened at the passing of our beloved Headteacher Catherine Morris. Catherine spent 16 years here at Holy Rosary Catholic Primary School. She joined initially as head of our Infant department in January 1999, then became our Deputy Headteacher. She secured her first Headship at St Julie’s in St Helen’s before returning to us to take the helm as our Headteacher in 2015.
READ MORE: Prison officer 'laughed' as police raided her house after affair with inmate
"As Headteacher, she embodied the very essence of excellence in Catholic School leadership. Holy Rosary has thrived under her commitment to living out the Gospel values and the desire to provide the best educational opportunities for all. Catherine’s values and vision shaped this school; anyone who ever met her knew that every ounce of her being was dedicated to help all of us flourish and grow, as individuals and as a school community. She truly lived our school mission statement – together as a family, we love, learn and grow in the presence of God.
"As a staff family, we feel privileged to have worked with her and she will be greatly missed; she was an inspirational leader and mentor and we will continue to uphold everything she stood for.
"Catherine thought of Holy Rosary as her second home and often said that if she was cut down the middle it would say Holy Rosary right through her like a stick of rock. Her sharp sense of humour and her infectious laughter brought the school corridors alive, our ‘adopted scouser’ from Wigan will be greatly missed.
"The school community’s thoughts and prayers are with Catherine’s family, and we will work with her husband Paul, her two sons - Joe and Robert, of whom she was immensely proud, to ensure a fitting memorial at the school.
"While Catherine may no longer be with us, she will forever be a part of the Holy Rosary School family, as our much-loved headteacher, colleague and friend."
Sefton Council also paid tribute to the dedicated teacher, with the local authority praising her passion and dedication. A spokesperson said: "Catherine was extremely passionate about ensuring all pupils received the best quality education they could not just in Holy Rosary but across the family of schools in Sefton.
"She was very supportive of sharing the expertise of teachers in her own school so that schools facing challenges could develop and flourish. This included regularly working with the school improvement team in Sefton and working with early career teachers/newly qualified teachers.
"Her attitude was very much ‘let's get on with it and we can do it’. Her lively, positive northern manner was infectious. Catherine was actively involved in her school cluster and had many friends across Sefton schools and the council.
"She will be greatly missed by colleagues in her own school, the family of schools and Sefton and the officers of Sefton Council."
READ NEXT:
Unearthed hidden room in bombed out church led to incredible discovery
Mum of six knocked innocent woman's veneers out by stamping on her face
Mum dragged to court and fined £1,000 over car she didn't own
Businessman stole £800,000 from hotel to pay off debts
Skip hire owner was at 'top of the tree' of Class A drug trade
