I was finally about to sink my teeth into some delicious leftovers right at the end of lunch recess when the intercom blared, “Mr. Bakker, please call the office!” So much for sinking teeth into food, as a sinking feeling fell on me. I knew what was coming. Mr. Van Eerden was away at a [...]
I still remember his name – Ivan – and every time he looked at me, he seemed to look straight into my soul. He was maybe 5 years old, loved playing soccer, quiet and reserved. He wanted to hang out with me and be my friend. Even though he was dirty, his clothes hadn’t been [...]
Every year for the past five, I have set myself a goal on my birthday; I try to run as many laps around the track at Robert Bateman Secondary School as I am years old. (I have to give credit to Vince Van Dyk for this idea.) Since passing the “half-century” mark, this is becoming [...]
About an hour drive outside of Guatemala City, we arrived at Bethel school in Patzicia. As usual, we were welcomed warmly into the school by the administrators, but also by the children as they were having their break. We exchanged many handshakes, high fives and fist bumps. During my trip to Guatemala at the end [...]
Expectations. We've all got them. In fact, we often have high expectations; especially of ourselves and the ones we love most. Expectations can be great. They have the power to motivate and kick us in the butt. They push us to do our best. Like when my boys look to the bench and see the [...]
At 7:50 am, I hug my son and daughter and bid them farewell. I watch them walk down the street and head towards our school. I close the door, breathe deep, and smile. Yes, my kids walk to ACS every day. Saving Time or Sanity? In actuality, if I drove them, it would take me twice [...]
“Can I get your autograph?” This was different. Pig tails, braids, smiling faces, toothless welcoming grins reached out their pieces of paper towards us. “You’re the government! Can we get your autograph? ” I stifled a laugh, smiled back, looked over at my newly met colleague, shrugged, pulled out a pen, and signed away. I [...]
Last April, I introduced my older brother Michael to our learning support staff at one of our meetings. He was visiting me from Toronto and I introduced him as my inspiration for working as an Educational Assistant (EA). When Michael was three years old, he and my mom were visiting family in Germany and they [...]
It has literally been 20 years since I coached soccer. So when Koenraad Beugelink texted me about helping him coach our Knights boys team, it took me a minute (or two) before responding. But given the fact that I have two boys on the team, and the fact that in of all the things I’ve [...]
BY: SALLY VAN GEEST, GRADE 6 TEACHER I am not a musical person. I can’t clap to the beat, piano lessons were lost on me, I never learned to play the recorder, and I just don’t get rhythm. Musical rhythm, that is. What I do understand is the rhythm of the school year. It flows [...]
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