May 26th was the final day of school here in Georgia for the 2005/2006 school year. Following are emotional and inspiring comments from a few of our dedicated BookPALS who participated in the Atlanta BookPALS Program this year. Enjoy!
Jane Bass
McLendon Elementary School
Dear Cindy, I read at McLendon for the last time this year this morning. This was my first full year with BookPALS, and it has been incredibly rewarding. The kids in my Special Ed class had made cards for me and had written poems which they had gathered into a book for me. We read "Charlotte's Web" in the fall and "Sounder" for the last several months. I don't know if you're familiar with "Sounder," but it is a very powerful book dealing with all kinds of heavy issues such as racism and economic oppression, but in a child-centered way. It's very well-written. I had read the ending to myself before reading it to the kids because I cry easily and I didn't want to mess up the ending for the kids. They had chosen that book out of three that I gave them to choose from and they had listened very well.
As it turned out, I had not inoculated myself well enough against strong emotion, because when I got to the last couple of pages, I just couldn't keep reading for being choked and blinded by tears. The teacher took over and finished the last part of the book, and the kids were just hushed. Several of them were sniffling, too.
The cards and collected poems of those kids mean a great deal to me and I feel privileged to have spent the time with them. I definitely want to go back to McLendon next year. I think a lot of the principal and of the learning atmosphere there.
The kindergarten, of course, was always fun and the kids were delightful. We had learned several Shel Silverstein poems together and today we went through them all, some of them more than once because they like them so much.
This summer, I'll be at Crossroads in Stone Mountain Park telling stories four days a week, so come out and see me sometime and bring children! Jane
Paul Carden,
Winner of the Cherokee FOCUS Volunteer of the Month Award! (March 2006)
Hasty Elementary School
Dear Cindy, Thank you for your encouraging correspondence this year. I made my last appearance of the school year last Friday. I think it is important that SAG retain a high profile even though there are few projects now. Hopefully, that will change, but I am getting more and more rumors about non-union, independent films. Too many people are willing to work for free. Keep up the good work! Paul
Stuart Culpepper
Tull Waters Elementary School
Cindy - I had the time of my life reading to my two Tull Waters classes this year! It gets better every year, (or maybe I get better at it every year, or both)! It really helped to have extraordinary teachers in the classes. I have been blessed! If the union never does anything else worthwhile in life, it at least created an awesome force for education and a love of books! My kids improved their reading skills and really wanted to learn faster because we had so much fun reading. Other teachers would come down the hall and poke their heads in the door when they heard all the laughter pouring out of the rooms. They'd say, "Well, I thought it was Mr. Culpepper reading again!"
Leslie Holt Dunn
McLendon Elementary School
Dear Cindy, Your tireless work for the SAG Foundation BookPALS and your dedication to the performers who instill so much joy to the children here in the South is incredible. I hope you know how much you are appreciated! Appreciated not only by the performers, but by the kids who have no idea you are behind the scenes making it all possible. I am quite sure if they knew, you would be hugged by little aspiring thespians and storytellers, and future doctors and lawyers everywhere you go. You are kind of like Santa Claus working hard all year for a tiny bit of glory! I love you, kiddo! Keep up the good works! Leslie
Elizabeth Omilami
Brown's Mill Elementary School
Dear Cindy, That was a great experience and I would like to adopt that school for next year! It's right around the corner from my home and the people are so nice! I also arranged for my daughter's dance company to perform at their Arts Festival! They did an hour of dance for pre-k through first grade. Elizabeth
Doug Kaye
Burgess-Peterson Academy
Dear Cindy, I've just returned from the kingergarten graduation ceremony at Burgess-Peterson, and forgive me if I take a little pride in the large number of students who got to step up there and accept special certificates for oustanding reading skills.
I am so glad that I offered to take on all four kindergarten classes this year, for it was at last year's ceremony when I saw the other classes look enviously at the one class I did read to, that I decided that kindergarten was the best place for me to start them off on reading appreciation, and spoke to the principal about doubling my commitment.
My face was dripping with tears as I stepped up there to accept their little thank-you to me after Ms. Johnson waxed glowingly about my presence in their classrooms to the assembled parents. Before she even mentioned my name, she started, "And now, I'd like to thank one special volunteer who spent many hours with our children..." As she continued, the kids caught my eye, pointed at me, and nodded, beaming. Principal Carter told me after I sat down how enthusiastically the kids were applauding me when I went up there, and afterwards, some of the parents came up to thank me personally for making their child's year so special.
Okay, I'm dripping on my keyboard now, so excuse me while I sign off and hurry to the Dollar Store to pick up trinkets for my 70+ wunderkinds. Doug
Heather Place,
Winner of the Smyrna Mayor's Education Award! (May 2006)
Norton Park Elementary School
Dear Cindy, It has been a wonderful year at Norton Park! I read to about 100 kids on Read Across America Day! I read different Dr. Suess books, including "Cat in the Hat," which is always a favorite. I've also read all the classic fairy and folk tales to the kindergaren and first-grade classes such as "Kate and the Beanstalk," "The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig." They love hearing a new spin on this old tale! Heather
BookPALS
http://www.bookpals.net/content/article.php?story=20060527121100399