Hello Partnership Educators,
I shared the first story below about five years ago and I thought it was appropriate coupled with another story I heard this week.
It was a late afternoon when the young couple walked into the Bonny View office. The light conversation between them was playful but respectful to the office environment. They waited patiently while the staff helped others with their needs. The light caress of their hand holding felt a bit like newlyweds. The principal, Mrs. Mosier, approaches the youthful pair and asks, "Can I help with something?" Slowly and ever so tenderly the young girl starts to explain why they are there.
"This is my fiancee and we are from Missouri. I went to Bonny View some time ago and I wonder if I could take him around and show him where I went to school?" Mrs. Mosier is a bit perplexed but agrees to take them around and show them the school. As they walk the halls the young girl is reminiscing with her partner about details of her childhood while at school.
"I was in this room for Kindergarten. You go out to the playground here. Mrs. Lord was wonderful as a teacher." A picture of her in the classroom. "Wall Ball was the best. We used to play that game all the time." Picture of them near the wall ball court. As they walked the halls, Mrs. Mosier watched and listen to the interactions of this cute young couple as she shared her life with her loved one. She could tell by the explicit details of her memories that there must be more to this story. As the tour continued the young girl starts to ask if any of her teachers were still there. Mr. Moser was my fifth-grade teacher. No, he is at Sequoia now, the principal there. Mrs. Benoit was my second-grade teacher she says as she produces a picture of Mrs. Benoit, the girl's mother, and the girl as a second-grader at Bonny View School. Mrs. Mosier slowly grins as she tells her that Mrs. Benoit is still here and then suggests they go visit her classroom. As the three adults walk into the 2nd-grade classroom, Mrs. Benoit and her current students greet them with a pleasant hello. Mrs. Mosier explains that this is a former student and Mrs. Benoit perks up and asks, "Oh, what is your name?" Mrs. Mosier watches as the veteran teacher makes her way to this young adult girl and gives her a huge hug upon hearing the name that was uttered. The long embrace sealed the fact for Mrs. Mosier that this was a special story. A story that wasn't just about growing up in Redding and going to Bonny View. No, this was a story about what makes us who we are. Actually, who are the people in our lives that help to make us who we are.
After the tours were over and the goodbyes had been said, the girl explains why she wanted to bring her beau to this spot. When she was in 4th grade her mom became very ill and died of cancer. Then in fifth grade, her father died as well and she had to move back to Missouri to live with other relatives. She explains that when she thinks of her family, of her childhood, or her life before St. Louis, all of those memories are mixed up with the blue and gold school called Bonny View.
As amazing of a story as the above one is in demonstrating the impact we have on our students that we might not even know, I couple that with a story that I just heard this week.
A young man at Sequoia Middle named Vincent just won the Elks writing contest about why drugs are bad. Not only did he win the local contest he also won the state contest. That in of itself is a grand celebration and I know that there were proud congratulations given for his accomplishment. But this is a story about how we make an impact on the lives of our students. You see, this student is in Mrs. Olivers SDC class and was placed in Foster Care over a year ago. In his essay, he explains that both of his parents were hooked on drugs and he and his little sister watched the police take them away. He was able to bring us through that experience, within his writing, on how those events changed his life.
Our students look to us for more than just academic support and evaluation. They look for acceptance, love, and a caring understanding about who they are. These are two stories about a family of individuals at a school who came together and supported students in ways that went beyond teaching them to learn. Thanks to the Sequoia employees who took the time to know their students and listened to how to make their lives a bit better each day. Obviously, the safety felt by Vincent is what allowed him to tell his story in writing comes from the caring and loving support given every day over this past year of change.
Thanks to everyone in our partnership. These types of stories are played out every year because of who you are and why you choose to be part of this family of schools. Making a difference in the lives of our kids is the fuel that drives us to continue.
Have a great weekend,
Rob