Who is your hero?

I started the class off by asking the intermediates, "Who is your hero?" I told them to think about it for a moment, and to not say a TV star or Blake Sheldon. Many of the students said their parent(s) were their heroes. You might be a hero in someone's life and not know it! After everyone gave me the name of their hero, I told them that my hero is my Mom, but that we also have many heroes throughout our lives.

I showed them the book cover that I was sharing with them that day. It was a biography called "Helen Keller : Courage in Darkness" written by Emma Carlson Berne. I read a couple of quotes from the book and shared with the students some of the special moments in Helen's life. One of the very inspiring moments was when she graduated from Radcliffe College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1904. Everyone in the audience gave her a huge applause and I'm hoping that Helen felt the vibrations on her glorious day.

This young lady named Helen had insurmountable hardships and with the help of Annie Sullivan (a teacher/angel) and her own strength, humour and faith, Helen lived a very successful life. She helped others, was a political activist and proved to the world that nothing was impossible.

Dream Snow

The Grade 1 class listened to one of my favourite books of all time. The books is called "Dream Snow" by Eric Carle. It is about a farmer that is a thoughtful, generous man who loves his animals and wants them to experience the surprises of Christmas morning.

Grateful to All

The Scholastic Book Fair has been packed up and the library is back to it's original form. It is my pleasure to announce that this year's book fair was the most successful one at St. Luke's yet!

Every year since I began working here at St. Luke's, the staff and students and families have supported this annual event. It is wonderful to be part of a small school that is so very generous. I have a large box of books that were 50% off and profit sharing that provides funds for future purchases within the school.

Scholastic Book Fair is here!

It is marvellous to see the excitement in the air when the library transforms into a book store for one week every November. All of the children are peering in the window, wide-eyed and smiling, with anticipation and excitement to see what's going on inside. 

Similar to an old-fashion circus rolling into town, the Scholastic Book Fair is set up for a few days every November at St. Luke's. Everyone gets to view, shop and enjoy, and then it is packed up and the library is back to normal again. The book fair ends when the last trolley is closed on Friday morning.  

Everything in our world is a lesson, even the book fair. Some children buy books; some children don't; some children need to budget and can't always buy what they had wanted to. It is my hope that with the success of the book fair, I can add many great new books to our shelves for all the students to enjoy! 

A big "Thank You!" to all of the St. Luke's families who continue to support their school library!

May We Never Forget

History was shared once again with my intermediate grades, when I played a YouTube video called "Poppies at the Tower of London - A Blood Swept Land and Seas of Red."

It is difficult for young people who have only experienced war from afar, and mostly through what is reported by the media, to wrap their heads around the large numbers of losses. When you see a creation of this magnitude, you visually experience the enormous loss of lives.

We Must NEVER FORGET! All of our history is important; we learn so much and must give thanks for the generations before us.

Little rabbit helps a bear see stars

This week, I read-aloud one of my all-time favourite books to the Grade 1 class. The book is called, "Gruff the Grump" written by Steve Smallman and illustrated by Cee Biscoe. It tells the story of a grumpy bear whose attitude is changed when he rescues a rabbit and receives a small thank you gift. Rabbit is desperately trying to catch all the "fallen stars." The story ends with Gruff the Bear smiling and covered in autumn leaves (the fallen stars) from his new little friend Rabbit.

Isn't it wonderful to be able to imagine a yellow leaf turning into a star? Books can transform our moods the same way that they can transform their characters lives!

Remembrance Day Service

It was wonderful to be part of an audience that celebrated our Veteran's today. All the children from JK-8 participated in individual presentations, either through music or sharing thoughts of how We Will Never Forget. It certainly touched my heart and a tear rolled down my face as a wreath was laid and a veteran sat solemnly in the audience watching.

It was a time for all of us to reflect on the sacrifices that all soldiers endured to give us freedom. I personally thought of the many people that I've lost in my life: my Mom and Dad, my Mother-in-Law & Father-in-Law, my Step-Father and many others. They all had stories that they kept hidden inside of the horrors of war. I pray that our world will see peace again.

The staff worked very hard with the students over the last couple of months to arrange this memorable service. Thank You!