Sterling pond named after beloved teacher

STERLING, Mass. (WHDH) -- After three decades of lessons in nature and nurture, a beloved Sterling teacher is retiring.

But before calling it quits, her students and the community had a special surprise.

The local pond where she taught so many lessons over the past the decades is now called “Peg's Pond” in her honor.

Jumping rock to rock, Sterling kindergartners were on their way to a special lesson by the pond behind their school.

Their teacher, Peg Spaulding, has been bringing her students here for years, learning nature's lessons up close.

“It was Peg that would always prod me about getting kindergarten children down to the pond and explore and appreciate nature,” said Tony Cipro, Houghton School principal.

After 30 years of teaching, peg's retiring this year. The town where she taught for 24 of those years honored her, by naming the pond "Peg's Nature Pond."

“A little overwhelmed, quite overwhelmed. I love being here, I love school, I’m ready to retire, I know it's the right moment,” said Peg Spaulding.

And her students say they'll never forget her lessons about frogs, turtles, trees and flowers.

“It's beautiful like Mrs. Spaulding,” said Marlise, a student.

“It's named after our teacher and it's really cool to have our teacher’s name in this pond,” said Lily, a student.

Parents will miss her too.

“It's very sad for a lot of us that she's retiring, but she's earned it,” said Laura Casalinuova.

Peg says she'll never stop teaching, telling her students that she'll be back to volunteer, and also to just enjoy.

“And when my family visits from everywhere they live, they will be dragged to the rock,” Peg Spaulding said.

Many are calling the renaming of the pond a fitting tribute to a great teacher.