For Christmas this year, I am trying to keep all my gifts “green”. My eldest daughter tells me “you’re such a consumer, mom” because my first instinct is to buy! So, I have made a concerted effort to make gifts or find ways to show gratitude for those around me.

Most of the things I am doing for my family will have to wait to be revealed, but I can share the following poem that I wrote for our School District Staff. Our district has incredible people employed and this only touches on a bit of their contributions to our continued success as a School District.

Thank you all and I wish you all the best for a safe and happy holiday. Best wishes for 2013

Twas the Week before Christmas in SD 46

Twas the week before Christmas, when all through the schools
the principals were considering a relaxing of rules
The teachers were teaching with all their might
In hopes students could retain knowledge for the holiday fortnight

The students worked hard and their talent did grow
As they practised for performances and matinee show
how well they could act sing and play,
for their parents, neighbours and Great grandma May

From Port Mellon to Egmont and all schools between
The gyms were alive with many a Christmas or Holiday Scene
Superintendent Bocking drove forth and back
To hear the bands play and watch those kids act.

Even with the Snow, ice and rain and new hires as well
Greg Kitchen could be found in the gyms after bell
And interspersed in the audience in the facilities
Were the seven trustees enjoying the festivities.

With a young witty leader, so lively and slight,
you could tell in a moment it must be Chair White
More rapid than eagles his letters they came,
And he encouraged and moderated, and called them by name!

Trustee Baxter! Trustees Dixon and Pratt,
Younghusband, Mewhort Russell, where are you at?
We shall write To the province! to the minister
Let’s lobby for our district, those cuts are quite sinister”

“Rob Collison needs dollars for the Maintenance department
We will lobby for more than our usual allotment
His team does great work without a full AFG
They keep things humming, and looking great to a “T”

Our SETAs, custodians and admin assistants
Look after our students with no resistance
We are grateful to them and the service they provide
As they help our teachers get students grad-certified

So quick, you would miss him if you didn’t turn ‘round
Down the street Nic Weswick comes in with a bound.

He was dressed all in leather, as he zoomed up on his bike
A Honda brand , that is , not “little tyke”
His Assistant John Pritchard sported a ‘stache
Leftover from Movember’s efforts to raise cash

And in the board office on South Fletcher Road
spirits were bright and positively glowed
All the staff were so happy and joyous for the season
(actually they are always that way, they don’t need a reason)

From Bev and Teresa at your first sight
Such lovely smiles will always make your day right
And Anne at her desk helping out with staffing
And pleasant Colleen with her occasional laughing

With Tara on HR with her great people skills
And Erica has joined us to experience new thrills
Lai Piera and Carol help keep us all paid
Which may explain all the friends that they’ve made!

Deb, Shannon and Lorna help to round out the team
But we can’t forget Di who runs things without seam
Our employees as we don’t need to be told
All have the biggest hearts filled of gold
Which you can see in students that they hold dear
Which is what keeps us in education year after year

This poem may never end up published
Especially from all of the rhymes that have been flubished
But know that we all see how great
Our district is; this it is no act of fate

From our dedicated principals and teachers
Inspiring our students to become far-reachers
Our support staff does whatever they can
To keep our systems humming for success of our clan

On behalf of the board, I wish you a holiday merry
for whatever your days over Christmas may en-tarry
Let it be known that we have little to fix
And we are all quite happy in SD 46

~L. Pratt