This week, our students had a couple of big events. Mr. Parker and Mrs. Johnston's classes went camping to Evans Lake, the Grade 7 French Immersion students spent three days at Camp Summit, and about 50 students in grades 3 - 7 participated in the District Track and Field meet.
I was able to join the kids at Evans Lake for a morning and was so impressed with the setting, the counsellors, the activities, the parents who volunteered their time, and with the students themselves. When I arrived, one group was practicing archery. I remember hearing a story about the actress Geena Davis. She was not very athletic growing up, but picked up a bow and arrow at the age of 41. It turns out, she was so talented that she almost qualified for the Sidney Olympics. She placed 24th of 300 and did not qualify for the team, but participated as a wild-card entry in the Sydney International Golden Arrow competition. What if one of our students had such a skill that might never be uncovered if they did not have opportunity!
Another group of students was rock climbing. This is another sport with seemingly unlikely heroes. It is not the fastest, the strongest or the most coordinated person who is often the best climber. In fact, it's more likely to be the quiet, but most thoughtful and flexible one. As I watched Mr. Parker, Mr. Hinchcliffe and Alison belay the kids, I wondered who might carry on with the sport in high school, where they have indoor climbing walls. We live in such a climbing mecca: it is so important that our students have the opportunity to try it out for themselves.
A third group of students were canoeing. I was disappointed to have missed my chance to join them. Not being a strong swimmer, I have not really enjoyed boating in the past. But last summer I signed up for a four hour kayak lesson with my daughter, and I was so nervous! I could not sleep the night before. I do not really know what I was afraid of, but with the excellent coaching of our instructor, I managed to get in the kayak, purposely tip out of it (!) and get back in. Then we paddled around Deep Bay on Bowen Island and I so enjoyed it. Being able to take a risk and face a fear can be a life-changing experience. Every student needs a gentle encouraging coach beside him or her, to take those risks and live to tell the tale.
I wish I could have attended the Track and Field Meet, but Mrs. Yates' class and I had our last visit with Baby Jacob, our Roots of Empathy Baby that afternoon. However, when Mrs. Fanzega and the students came back, they showed me their ribbons and shared their experiences. Two stories from the day gave me goosebumps. The first was about Luke, who, during the 800 m race, saw that his friend Ryan was really struggling. Rather than leave him to finish alone, Luke slowed down and encourages Ryan all the way through the finish line. It gives me goosebumps again just typing this.
Another anecdote was from Mickey, who was in the lead in the grade 6 boys 100 meter race. Unfortunately, the grass was slippery and he fell. The boy who won the race (from another school) gave Mickey his First Place ribbon. Can you believe it?
It is an awful lot of work organizing for a track meet and getting ready for a multi-day camping trip. Sometimes we wonder it is all worth it, but I know it is. Who knows what small experience might change the life of a child, give them the courage and the confidence to take on even larger challenges? Thank you to the teachers, the parents, and the students themselves for creating these opportunities to shine.
