November 16

I had breakfast this morning with the beautiful ladies who taught with Judy at Valley Manor School.  I was the only rooster among the hens, but they treated me nicely.   I also played my second game of hockey this week with my new team.  I had to defend against a player on the other team who I am sure played in the WHL, if not the NHL.  Surprisingly, I even scored a goal.  That always gives me a boost.

Principal's Message from 2006

At one time during my teaching career, I ran a basketball club with over 50 boys and girls. At the end of the season, our club hosted a Saturday tournament with 12 teams playing on three different courts. I entered three teams from my club. Parents volunteered to run a concession booth and two parents volunteered to coach. Referees were in place and we were ready to go

            Unfortunately, there was a mix up and only one referee arrived. At the last minute I recruited a grade seven boy to referee and I was forced into action as a referee. I also had to coach in games I was refereeing. If you are keeping track, I was coaching a team, refereeing a game, finding a key to the concession, directing traffic, supplying locker rooms, serving soup, assigning scorekeepers and developing a nervous twitch.

            After five whirlwind hours of multitasking, I as refereeing a game and a parent from another town was watching a game that I was refereeing and took time out of her busy day to inform me I missed an “out of bounds” call. I could have gone ballistic, but I bit my tongue. Didn’t she know that I was having a rough day, the tournament was for fun only, I was not spending the day with my own family, and I was not getting a cent for all I was enduring?

            That night, I felt incredibly sad; however, my sadness could not compare with an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for the volunteers who showed up. I sat down and wrote each person a letter of thanks for “stepping to the plate.”

            No one can appreciate the work of volunteers like a volunteer. Over the years, I have observed the busiest volunteers being the most thankful for other volunteers who stand up and deliver. Secondly, I have also noticed how volunteers make you feel they are the lucky ones because they have the privilege of helping others. Another thing I have witnessed is the incredible hurt that results when people who are not volunteering criticize the efforts of those who do volunteer without offering to help.

            Ten lepers were healed and only one person came back to say thanks. Saying thank you is important.