May 16

I must apologize for not being consistent in making blog entries.  I have been too busy doing not much.  After tomorrow, I will only have one more bus meeting before I am finished my contract as Conveyance Safety Officer for Prairie Spirit School Division. 

Haley, Dustin, Mary, Morgan, and I had our weekly get together tonight.  Hey, Morgan what are you doing tonight...Gonna do some chipping and putting out at the Legends...Oh, is that why you are wearing a shirt with a collar...No, it was the only clean shirt I have left.  That's pretty much the nature of the conversation.  Then Haley gives us the latest updates from "Marny, the Dog".  Just Google: Marny, the dog.  We certainly have fun when me meet.

Tonight was also church council meeting.  I chair the meetings and I like to "Get'er Done!"  We finished a very productive meeting in 65 minutes.  That's how it should be done.

This weekend, Haley, Mary, Aunty Audrey, and Michelle are flying to Kelowna for Mary's stagette.  They will be joined by my sister, Paulette for a winery tour and some fine dining.  Should be fun.

Principal’s Message

            My father was born in Poland and immigrated with his father to a Saskatchewan homestead in 1928.  His father lost everything to a questionable land company and then the “Dirty Thirties” presented even greater hardships.  My father’s family relocated to Fosston, a small village in north eastern Saskatchewan where there were other Polish immigrants.  The family of six were squatters on a railroad allowance and my grandfather made a living working for farmers in the area for whatever the farmers could spare.  My father could not speak English when he started school so he spend two years in grade one.  The teacher of the one room school house was a caring soul who probably received a very meagre salary, but she knew my father needed immediate dental work and she knew my grandparents were very poor so she took my father and his older sister to the dentist in Wadena.  Not only did she pay the bill, she billeted the two children at her parent’s home before making the return trip to Fosston.  After learning to speak English, my father actually completed two grades in one year and continued to excel in school because of Miss Webber’s dedication and sacrifice.  Her actions made a difference in my father’s life.

Teachers can make a difference.  Being a teacher presents daily opportunities to make a difference in the world.  I have seen teachers go above and beyond the call of duty to make a difference in children’s lives.  Yes, teachers can make a difference, but I am going on record saying: we can all make a difference.

My friend attended the presentation made by Bill Clinton, former U.S. President, who was in Saskatoon not long ago.  Mr. Clinton described how non governmental agencies around the world have been able to respond to needs in the world more efficiently than governmental agencies.  He encouraged people who have a passion to make a difference to not wait until governments decide to dig a well, inoculate for disease prevention, or feed refugees.  People should respond to needs as individuals.

I have learned recently of a book titled Me to We by Marc and Craig Keilburger.  The book explains how one person can make a difference by reaching out to others.  Sometimes children look at the world and hear bad news about things such as wars, disease, pollution, and the energy crisis and they feel hopeless and powerless.  Other children look for meaning in life and do not realize the answer does not lie in self indulgence; the answer lies in reaching out to others. They feel empowered and hopeful when they are part of the solution rather than feeling like part of the problem.   Children need to believe little things can make a difference and if they are faithful in little things, they will be a part of greater things.

We have a young man at our school who is truly concerned about the amount of paper that is ending up in the garbage cans at the school.  Rather than complaining to the school about the lack of recycling, he has worked with the school to provide boxes for every classroom to collect recyclable paper.  Furthermore, he has collected the paper and recruited his parents to deliver the paper to the recycle bins in Saskatoon every week.  The same lad has organized a fundraiser with his peers to raise money used to feed an endangered animal. 

This is just one person.  What would the world be like if everyone person decided they were going to make a difference?  I believe we all want to have a purpose and I believe we would all be happier if we made the world a better place.  Encourage your children to look for little ways that make a big difference and get ready to be amazed by the contagion that will begin.