April 22

I left Saskatoon at 9:30 am and was in Tisdale by noon.  An old family friend, Jenny Fritshaw, joined Mom and me for lunch at a swanky Greek restaurant.  Okay, the restaurant wasn't swanky, but the food was good.  I can order off the senior's menu now.  Sweet.

After lunch, we went back to Mom's apartment for angel food cake topped with ice cream and strawberries.  I love my mom!

My oldest brother, Vince, and his wife, Loretta, arrived around 2:30.  They brought along two other rowdy couples from Regina. 

I left the party around 4:30 and returned to Saskatoon.  Vince sent a picture of Mom blowing out her 88 candles.  Luckily, the sprinkler system was not activated.

The following is the Principal's Message from September 2010.

During the last school year, Prairie View students learned the ten core virtues of hard work, gratitude, wisdom, justice, self-control, love, positive attitude, integrity, fortitude, and integrity.  We had such a positive experience learning the core virtues that we have decided to dig deeper into one of the core virtues over next ten months.  We are going to be examining the virtue of justice.  The themes we will explore are fairness (the Golden Rule), respect for others, self-respect, responsibility, honesty, courtesy/civility, and tolerance (respect for freedom of conscience legitimately exercised).

               I have done a lot of thinking about justice over the last two months and I have thought in particular about fairness.  When I reflect upon fairness I think of the best teacher I ever had.  She was fair.  She treated her students the way they deserved to be treated appreciating the dignity and value of each student.  She commanded respect, but she also treated us with respect. Her expectations were clearly stated and upheld.  She realized every student had a unique learning style and aptitude.  Even as an egocentric teenager who saw many things as unfair, I couldn’t help but acknowledge that she was fair.

               Thomas Lickona, in his book Character Matters reminds readers that millions of people do not enjoy conditions that support human development and dignity.  Our children are inheriting a world with global problems such as AIDS, poverty, terrorism and violence.  There are varying opinions about how to combat global issues, but Lickona states there is agreement among people of conscience with the principle, “If you want peace, work for justice.”  As part of our efforts to promote justice this year, every classroom will be involved in a service learning project to allow students to use their influence for justice.

               Without a doubt, most parents have uttered the statement, “Life isn’t fair.  Get over it!”  Indeed, life isn’t fair, but I am convinced we can all be fair.  We can hunger and thirst to do the right thing in the world and I am convinced that those who hunger and thirst to do the right thing will be satisfied.  Although it may seem at times that those who follow the rules lose the game, the real winners are the just.

               If children learn to stand up for justice, fairness, and respect as students they will be more likely to pursue the same ideals as adult citizens.  According to Lickona, the two main ways students can demonstrate character in school are by doing their work diligently and treating others respectfully.  We need to help students use their intellectual skills to find creative ways to improve the human condition and use their brains to benefit others not just themselves.  Teaching virtues isn’t something else we have to add to our mission, it is our mission.