Friday, January 23, 2009

Sometimes There are Days Like This......


This week has been one of those weeks at school. It is hard to put into words the way some things play out, even in one day. I always say that we are one incident away from the front page of the newspaper or the "blah, blah, blah happened at ? elementary school. Hear the full story at 10:00!" There was one day a couple of years ago that we were a "good news story" and a "bad news story" all on the same day, but that is for a different post!!

Yesterday morning when I got to school a little after 7:00, there was an email forwarded to me from one of my teachers. It was from a former student who is in high school now. He had emailed her from Mexico. His family had to go back to Mexico and he was really sad about this. He is such an incredible young man and he has so much potential, but his family circumstance is such that he may not be able to come back and finish school here. I know this teacher and her husband would take him in if they could possibly do so.

A little later our school nurse came in to talk to me about one of our mom's who has terminal cancer. She is almost a single mom as her husband travels and is gone most of the time. She has four children, two of whom are at our school. There is also a younger one still at home. They are alone here as there extended family does not live here. The teachers who have the children have done so many kind things for this family quietly out of the goodness of their heart. They have taken her to doctor's appointments, helped provide a Christmas for the family, and many other incredible things. Our nurse wanted to make a home visit. When she came back, she sent an email out to our staff asking for help with meals and gift cards, and the like. I am sure the response has been overwhelming from all of the generous people at our school.

It was time for school to start and our morning live news program. After the commentators did the news, one of our teachers came on to talk about donating hair to be made into wigs for people undergoing chemotherapy. She explained this process to our students. She told the kids about how long the hair had to be for it to be acceptable. She then introduced some young ladies who had donated in the past. They were third and fourth graders who had done this. The children all came on to the camera with t-shirts on about being a "Hair Hero." Our teacher then had one of the IA's put her hair into two pony tails. The two news commentators (one of who is her son) then cut her hair on the television news. Wow! That brought a tear to my eye.

And all of these events happened before 9:00 a.m.!!! I always say one of the hardest parts of my job is having to go through all kinds of emotions in a very short time and still maintain!!

Our school is so much more than a place for children to learn academics. We do an excellent job of that, but more importantly, we show children what it means to belong to a community. I am so proud to be a part of this wonderful school!!!!!!

2 remarks:

Susie of Arabia said...

What a wonderful sense of community and helping those who need it. It's so important to instill this into the children in your school so they will grow up knowing how good it feels to be able to lend a helping hand. Wonderful post, Cheela!

Anonymous said...

My first comment must be in cyberapace . . . just told you how wonderful all of this was and how proud I am to be part of the Gilbert El. team.
Love & hugs,
Nancy