Showing posts with label fall. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fall. Show all posts
New School!
Everyone’s new at Crossroads School
By Jeff Bolichowski
Released in the St. Catharines Standard
September 7, 2011
Suddenly, everyone was the new kid in a new school Tuesday morning.
It left 12-year-old Frank Boese, a Grade 7 student at the new Crossroads School in Virgil, caught between admiration and nervousness. He'd been a student at Virgil School until his student body combined with Colonel John Butler School's to populate the newly-built school on Niagara Stone Rd.
Nervous or not, though, he'd made a couple of new friends by noon. And he'd found plenty to like about his new digs.
"I think it's really great that we have lockers and we have classrooms with smart boards," he said. "They really help us learn."
The newly-built school was not entirely finished when it welcomed students for the first time Tuesday. It's the new home for kids who once attended the nearly 140-year-old Virgil School and the small Butler School, both of which closed in the summer.
Some kids know each other, principal Marian Reimer Friesen said. But with two student bodies together in a new building, everyone got the new-kid experience of finding their way around and learning who's who — even the teachers.
"That moment this morning, when the buses arrived and all my kids stepped off the same bus. My Butler kids, my Virgil kids, the new kids, that was an incredible feeling," she said.
While some are getting lost, she said, that happens on the first day.
The transition, she said, has been rougher on the adults than the kids. "They're so adaptable," she said.
"The new kids say, 'What a great year to be new.' Nobody knows where the washrooms are. Nobody knows where the staff room is. Nobody knows how to get to the main office, so we can all experience it together."
The kids stepped into a school quite different from their former academies. Crossroads, a two-storey school, gleamed Tuesday, its corridors coloured in subdued tans and greens and blues.
Students have lockers now, which Reimer Friesen said has sparked a great deal of excitement. And the building houses a learning commons featuring plush chairs for reading plus books and computers, a hybrid of library and computer lab and discussion space.
It's even got that new-school smell, Reimer Friesen said.
A few things aren't finished. The gymnasium remains a mess of tools, its bare floor still lacking hardwood. And a couple of interior walls near the entrance, intended to eventually house a display case, aren't done yet.
The school holds 410 students, 20 teachers, three early childhood educators and two education assistants.
Grade 1 teacher Vinciane DeBrouwer, who taught for 10 years at Virgil School, said she's fascinated with what else her classroom holds. She was quick to name her favourite aspect of the room: "Storage." Everything, she said, has a place.
She said she spent about a week setting up her classroom. Displayed along the walls and bulletin boards, cutouts of cartoon monkeys introduce kids to months and colours.
The students, she said, got comfortable quickly. For her, it was a bit tougher.
"It's scary," she said. "But it's nice because everyone's in it together."
Grade 7 student Britney Goertz marvelled at the scale of her new school. She said it's a huge change from Butler and its 130 students and eight staff members.
"This is so big," she said. "Such a big change for me.
"I got to kind of get to know a lot of people. You don't know very many of them because Butler was kind of a small school."
The size and amenities are a big change for Reimer Friesen, too. She said she didn't have access to such amenities as principal at Butler and Virgil
"It's incredible to be able to answer the questions that parents have with, 'Yes, we can help you with that.' "
Also on Tuesday, regional council's public works committee voted to recommend lowering the speed limit on Niagara Stone Rd. in front of Crossroads at certain times when kids are around.
If council green-lights that, flashing signals will indicate a speed limit of 40 km/h in front of the school from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
By Jeff Bolichowski
Released in the St. Catharines Standard
September 7, 2011
 |
| My nephew, Rowan, and some of his friends getting off the bus on their first day of classes at the new school. |
It left 12-year-old Frank Boese, a Grade 7 student at the new Crossroads School in Virgil, caught between admiration and nervousness. He'd been a student at Virgil School until his student body combined with Colonel John Butler School's to populate the newly-built school on Niagara Stone Rd.
Nervous or not, though, he'd made a couple of new friends by noon. And he'd found plenty to like about his new digs.
"I think it's really great that we have lockers and we have classrooms with smart boards," he said. "They really help us learn."
The newly-built school was not entirely finished when it welcomed students for the first time Tuesday. It's the new home for kids who once attended the nearly 140-year-old Virgil School and the small Butler School, both of which closed in the summer.
Some kids know each other, principal Marian Reimer Friesen said. But with two student bodies together in a new building, everyone got the new-kid experience of finding their way around and learning who's who — even the teachers.
"That moment this morning, when the buses arrived and all my kids stepped off the same bus. My Butler kids, my Virgil kids, the new kids, that was an incredible feeling," she said.
While some are getting lost, she said, that happens on the first day.
The transition, she said, has been rougher on the adults than the kids. "They're so adaptable," she said.
"The new kids say, 'What a great year to be new.' Nobody knows where the washrooms are. Nobody knows where the staff room is. Nobody knows how to get to the main office, so we can all experience it together."
The kids stepped into a school quite different from their former academies. Crossroads, a two-storey school, gleamed Tuesday, its corridors coloured in subdued tans and greens and blues.
Students have lockers now, which Reimer Friesen said has sparked a great deal of excitement. And the building houses a learning commons featuring plush chairs for reading plus books and computers, a hybrid of library and computer lab and discussion space.
It's even got that new-school smell, Reimer Friesen said.
A few things aren't finished. The gymnasium remains a mess of tools, its bare floor still lacking hardwood. And a couple of interior walls near the entrance, intended to eventually house a display case, aren't done yet.
The school holds 410 students, 20 teachers, three early childhood educators and two education assistants.
Grade 1 teacher Vinciane DeBrouwer, who taught for 10 years at Virgil School, said she's fascinated with what else her classroom holds. She was quick to name her favourite aspect of the room: "Storage." Everything, she said, has a place.
She said she spent about a week setting up her classroom. Displayed along the walls and bulletin boards, cutouts of cartoon monkeys introduce kids to months and colours.
The students, she said, got comfortable quickly. For her, it was a bit tougher.
"It's scary," she said. "But it's nice because everyone's in it together."
Grade 7 student Britney Goertz marvelled at the scale of her new school. She said it's a huge change from Butler and its 130 students and eight staff members.
"This is so big," she said. "Such a big change for me.
"I got to kind of get to know a lot of people. You don't know very many of them because Butler was kind of a small school."
The size and amenities are a big change for Reimer Friesen, too. She said she didn't have access to such amenities as principal at Butler and Virgil
 |
| My friend's daughter busy in her new class at the new local school. |
Also on Tuesday, regional council's public works committee voted to recommend lowering the speed limit on Niagara Stone Rd. in front of Crossroads at certain times when kids are around.
If council green-lights that, flashing signals will indicate a speed limit of 40 km/h in front of the school from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
cancer shouldn't happen to kids :(
I went to Bible school with Shari (Emmalee's Mom). To see an update click here.
Dealing with leukemia difficult for three-year-old and family
By Greg Vandermeulen
05 November 2010
It's a battle no one should be asked to fight. But at the age of three, taking on cancer seems like an insurmountable task.
Not even a month from first diagnosis to present, three-year-old Emmalee Chubaty has undergone more medical treatments than many people do in a lifetime.
Diagnosed on Sept. 30 with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Chubaty has been on a rough road toward recovery.
As Ridgeville area farmers and parents Wayne and Shari try to adjust to their new reality, Emmalee is in the fight of her life.
On Oct. 26, Shari Chubaty talked about how far her daughter had come. "She's responding the way they hoped she'd respond," Shari said.
Because her ability to fight infection is compromised, Emmalee hasn't been able to go home until now.
"They've given us the green light," Shari said.
Because of Emmalee's fragile immune system, renovations had to be hurriedly completed on the home, including ripping out the carpets, having the ducts and the entire furnace system inspected and cleaned.
Shari said doctors told them they could not engage in renovations anytime soon, once their daughter's home.
"It has to be done now or not for three years," she said.
Changes to their farm house are the least of their worries for the last few weeks.
With Emmalee, her troubles began in early August when she fell off her bed. "That kick-started her pain," Shari said. "She didn't want to walk after that."
They took her to the doctor and was told there was nothing wrong and that she was faking.
Two weeks later they brought her to a different doctor who thought she had possibly sprained her ankle.
Emmalee started walking again shortly after, but that only lasted a week.
Shari said they brought her to Altona where the doctor expressed concern for her paleness. "Her lips were white," Shari recalled.
Blood work was done, and that's when the Chubaty family's lives changed.
"Before I got back to my car, (the doctor) told me to take her to Winnipeg for a blood transfusion."
Just how serious her condition actually was, became apparent quickly, as instead of feeling better, Emmalee felt much worse.
"She had minor heart failure because her body wasn't used to white blood cells and oxygen," she said.
That day in Winnipeg will never be forgotten. As Emmalee had various tests, Shari said they received the news. "By 3:30 p.m. there was an oncologist in the room telling me she had cancer," she said.
Although she wasn't allowed to jump on the bed, Shari said that action, and the subsequent fall, may have saved her life.
"The oncologists had told us that her fall was the best thing that could have happened to her, that if she hadn't shown those signs of pain prompting us to persue things further, she would have lasted until December, and that we could have easily lost her with how low her counts were," she said.
Since then she has had five bone marrow aspirations, a spinal tap and chemotherapy. A control line has been put in her chest for chemotherapy.
And the formerly friendly and outgoing little girl is now afraid of everyone.
Shari described it as horrific, saying Emmalee doesn't know why all this is happening.
"She started to say no more," Shari said. "She started telling me she would stop doing bad things if I made the pokey things stop."
"She won't speak to people anymore," Shari added. "She was my social butterfly."
Her physical appearance has also changed. Her hair is cut short, (to help prepare her for hair loss), her face is puffy, and she has gone up four sizes in clothes thanks to steroids and chemo for one month. "She doesn't look at all like the same little girl," she said.
Emmalee had a word for people she thought of as heroes. To her they were all "superman".
"I call her my superman," she said.
But Shari and Wayne also have a one-year-old son, who is being looked after by friends during all of this.
Shari said there has also been a trust fund set up at Scotia Bank in Emerson, and D.D.'s Country Kitchen held a fundraising breakfast on Oct. 30.
Not from the area (she grew up in Regina but Wayne is local), Shari said she is stunned by the support.
"It's been incredible, absolutely unreal," she said.
Although at first they greeted news of the trust fund with mixed feelings, Shari said they have come to appreciate what has been done.
"You don't think that would ever be something we need," she said.
Shari said they are thankful that Emmalee has made it through the first part of treatment and are optimistic for her recovery, since the type of leukemia she has is the most curable.
But she recognizes the next three years are going to be tough ones. "It's going to be really hard for a long time," she said.
Dealing with leukemia difficult for three-year-old and family
By Greg Vandermeulen
05 November 2010
 |
| Emmalee Chubaty pictured at her uncle's wedding where she was a flower girl in mid-August. Although she was not yet diagnosed, which happened after her fall, the cancerous cells were present in her body. |
Not even a month from first diagnosis to present, three-year-old Emmalee Chubaty has undergone more medical treatments than many people do in a lifetime.
Diagnosed on Sept. 30 with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Chubaty has been on a rough road toward recovery.
As Ridgeville area farmers and parents Wayne and Shari try to adjust to their new reality, Emmalee is in the fight of her life.
On Oct. 26, Shari Chubaty talked about how far her daughter had come. "She's responding the way they hoped she'd respond," Shari said.
Because her ability to fight infection is compromised, Emmalee hasn't been able to go home until now.
She started telling me she would stop doing
bad things if I made the pokey things stop.
- Shari Chubaty
"They've given us the green light," Shari said.
Because of Emmalee's fragile immune system, renovations had to be hurriedly completed on the home, including ripping out the carpets, having the ducts and the entire furnace system inspected and cleaned.
Shari said doctors told them they could not engage in renovations anytime soon, once their daughter's home.
"It has to be done now or not for three years," she said.
Changes to their farm house are the least of their worries for the last few weeks.
With Emmalee, her troubles began in early August when she fell off her bed. "That kick-started her pain," Shari said. "She didn't want to walk after that."
They took her to the doctor and was told there was nothing wrong and that she was faking.
Two weeks later they brought her to a different doctor who thought she had possibly sprained her ankle.
Emmalee started walking again shortly after, but that only lasted a week.
Shari said they brought her to Altona where the doctor expressed concern for her paleness. "Her lips were white," Shari recalled.
Blood work was done, and that's when the Chubaty family's lives changed.
"Before I got back to my car, (the doctor) told me to take her to Winnipeg for a blood transfusion."
Just how serious her condition actually was, became apparent quickly, as instead of feeling better, Emmalee felt much worse.
"She had minor heart failure because her body wasn't used to white blood cells and oxygen," she said.
That day in Winnipeg will never be forgotten. As Emmalee had various tests, Shari said they received the news. "By 3:30 p.m. there was an oncologist in the room telling me she had cancer," she said.
Although she wasn't allowed to jump on the bed, Shari said that action, and the subsequent fall, may have saved her life.
"The oncologists had told us that her fall was the best thing that could have happened to her, that if she hadn't shown those signs of pain prompting us to persue things further, she would have lasted until December, and that we could have easily lost her with how low her counts were," she said.
Since then she has had five bone marrow aspirations, a spinal tap and chemotherapy. A control line has been put in her chest for chemotherapy.
And the formerly friendly and outgoing little girl is now afraid of everyone.
Shari described it as horrific, saying Emmalee doesn't know why all this is happening.
"She started to say no more," Shari said. "She started telling me she would stop doing bad things if I made the pokey things stop."
"She won't speak to people anymore," Shari added. "She was my social butterfly."
Her physical appearance has also changed. Her hair is cut short, (to help prepare her for hair loss), her face is puffy, and she has gone up four sizes in clothes thanks to steroids and chemo for one month. "She doesn't look at all like the same little girl," she said.
Emmalee had a word for people she thought of as heroes. To her they were all "superman".
"I call her my superman," she said.
But Shari and Wayne also have a one-year-old son, who is being looked after by friends during all of this.
Shari said there has also been a trust fund set up at Scotia Bank in Emerson, and D.D.'s Country Kitchen held a fundraising breakfast on Oct. 30.
Not from the area (she grew up in Regina but Wayne is local), Shari said she is stunned by the support.
"It's been incredible, absolutely unreal," she said.
Although at first they greeted news of the trust fund with mixed feelings, Shari said they have come to appreciate what has been done.
"You don't think that would ever be something we need," she said.
Shari said they are thankful that Emmalee has made it through the first part of treatment and are optimistic for her recovery, since the type of leukemia she has is the most curable.
But she recognizes the next three years are going to be tough ones. "It's going to be really hard for a long time," she said.
Dad's 60th Birthday
On October 16th, Dad's 60th birthday was celebrated in style. Yup, lots of meat, friends, fun and games. 60 may not seem like a huge milestone to some, but in the Wiens family it is a big deal. My dad is the first male in his family to reach that age and it's big because his parents and oldest sister didn't make it out of their 50s.
harvest time
This is a crazy time of year when you still pray for the weather to co-operate, you still want the co-operation of the government and the wineries and you still need the birds and bugs to stay away. The difference is that now you're also out there for hours at a time getting the "liquid gold" off the vine, into the harvesters, onto the trucks and to the wineries where it's tested for sugar content before being used to make wine.
Yup, a lovely, crazy time of year.
food for thought
Yup, it's that time of year again! I know, it's crazy how the time flies. In a few hours I'll be thoroughly enjoying a yummy turkey dinner with ALL the fixin's. The table will be laden with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn, gravy, squash, salad, bread, cranberry sauce and probably a couple of things that I'm forgetting right now. And then, as if that's not enough, for dessert there'll be pumpkin pie and Obst Moos (a cold fruit soup, for those of you who don't know what Obst Moos is). My mouth is already watering in anticipation as I'm writing this.
It's funny how often Thanksgiving is associated with food. Right now, sure, we're taking time to be thankful for family and friends and all the good things in our lives. But at any other time, if we think of Thanksgiving we usually think of turkey. Hmmm... just a little food for thought.
Onkel Jash
KLASSEN, Jakob - Peacefully, at Niagara On The Lake Hospital on Friday, September 24, 2010, Jakob Klassen, aged 82 years. Beloved husband of Anna Enns. Dear father of Ferd and Muggs, Gita and Bill Durksen, Fritz and Grace, Dieter and Julie, Doris and Harry Wiens. Opa to Mike (Lauren), Matt (Bev), Tim, Mark, Emily, Robert, David, Abigail, Kristen, Michelle, Harrison and Olivia and great grandchild Nathan. Brother of Peter and Else, David and Tina (2010), Paul and Edith, Werner and Lydia. The family will receive friends at the Scott St. Mennonite Brethren Church, 339 Scott St. on Monday (today) 2-4 and 7-8:30 p.m. Private family interment service at Victoria Lawn Cemetery prior to the Funeral Service to be held at the Church on Tuesday, September 28th at 10:30 a.m.
here we go again
That's right ladies and gentlemen... I am going back to school, again. And it feels like my academic journey to become a teacher has turned into me a career student. I guess it sucks to be me - at least as far as my lovely school, Brock University, is concerned.
 |
| This is the Schmon Tower at Brock University. |
My classes are ok, my professors are pretty good and I've spent far too much money on text books and photocopying mandatory readings for classes. I don't mind photocopying some stuff sometimes, but 3 or 4 articles (minimum 15 pages each) for every week in just one class seems a bit excessive. Although I am glad that we don't have to buy even more textbooks or, even worse, prepared course packages.
Just kick me! Yup, that's what it feels like most days. I know it'll be worth it in the end - when I'm holding that ever-so-important little piece of paper that tells the world I'm a teacher. But until then, I think I'll just grumble a bit more.
But only a little bit :)
I love Autumn! All of the gorgeous colours. The crisp, juicy apples and hot apple cider. They coyotes howling at the full moon. The sweet, sticky grapes straight off the vine. The honking geese flying south. The buttery, smushy squash. The squirrels racing around to stash their goods. The gentle breezes that rustle the leaves. The crunch under your feet when you walk. Yup, really do I love Autumn.
Today however, is an extremely gusty and blustery day. I almost feel like Piglet - ready to be blown away by the wind. Not quite exactly what I like, but that's ok. And, yeah, I don't need to rake the leaves, so that's fun too :P
Today however, is an extremely gusty and blustery day. I almost feel like Piglet - ready to be blown away by the wind. Not quite exactly what I like, but that's ok. And, yeah, I don't need to rake the leaves, so that's fun too :P
school :S
I usually look forward to the end of August with sense of eager anticipation because I know it means school is starting again. Yes, I know what I just said. I am one of those weird people who actually enjoys going to school... well, usually. This year has been a bit different. I am not looking forward to this school year.
The reason is quite simple, this year I've been told I have to repeat a class for the third time. No, this wasn't my choice and I don't have a choice if I want to graduate from my program because it is a mandatory course and I can't take any 4th year courses until this course is complete. This adds a full year to my university course and I'll have to pay for it... AGAIN! But because the school's decision was so late in the summer, I can't get the necessary police check documents on time so that I can do the placement portion of the class.
Talk about frustration! I won't go into details because I'm still quite angry about what's happened, but here's what I think I'll do. I won't be at the university but will register for the French as a Second Language program at the local college. I have wanted to continue my French education for quite some time and this will be useful when I actually start looking for teaching positions (plus the local college is WAY cheaper than the university).
The reason is quite simple, this year I've been told I have to repeat a class for the third time. No, this wasn't my choice and I don't have a choice if I want to graduate from my program because it is a mandatory course and I can't take any 4th year courses until this course is complete. This adds a full year to my university course and I'll have to pay for it... AGAIN! But because the school's decision was so late in the summer, I can't get the necessary police check documents on time so that I can do the placement portion of the class.
Talk about frustration! I won't go into details because I'm still quite angry about what's happened, but here's what I think I'll do. I won't be at the university but will register for the French as a Second Language program at the local college. I have wanted to continue my French education for quite some time and this will be useful when I actually start looking for teaching positions (plus the local college is WAY cheaper than the university).
breathtaking
I can't believe how gorgeous this fall has been. We've had great weather and now we have beautiful colours. Now it has gotten cool enough that we run our furnace during the day (but it is almost November already). Going for a walk or a drive is a lovely thing as you see the leaves changing colours and displaying their glory. Yup, I love the breathtaking beauty of fall.
2 actual posts in one month - wow!
I'm quite impressed with myself - 2 posts in one month (quite a feat, eh?).
So, our family got together for Thanksgiving on Monday. I helped mom in the kitchen throughout the day and was so happy to be done and off my feet, it didn't even dawn on me that my sister-in-law wasn't taking pictures and I wasn't taking pictures. So, now what am I going to use to scrapbook with? I'll probably cheat and use other photos of family and some fall pics, but I'm kicking myself that I didn't take any at the meal. What kind of scrapbooker forgets to take pictures?
Anyhow, our family has also started a new tradition (which my nieces won't let us forget) - we sing "Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow" instead of saying grace at mealtimes when we are all together. Both my nieces (ages 5 3/4 and 4) sing along too. It sounds pretty good as we can get 4 part harmony when we are all there. However on Tuesday that was not the case - there was my dad (who sings bass), my nieces, my nephew and me - that's it. I'm not a soprano, but had to sing the melody - quite a foreign concept for me these days. Anyhow, we managed, but it felt weird.
Some one told me to make a list of what I am thankful for so here is a good start:
Mom, Dad, Wes & Briar, Kaityn, Berlin, Rowan, Sabrina, Gary, Oma W, Jim & Tina, Dan, Lee & Marion, Dennis & Mardi, Karen, Nancy, Lisa, Frank & Vittoria, Harry & Jolene, Lory McMullen, Dave & Mikol, Renee... the list can go on for quite a while so I'll stop here before it becomes so extensive that someone will feel insulted if I leave them out. But, well, I hope the point is made, the things I am thankful for are the people that God has put in my life and the relationships I have with them.
Until next time...
So, our family got together for Thanksgiving on Monday. I helped mom in the kitchen throughout the day and was so happy to be done and off my feet, it didn't even dawn on me that my sister-in-law wasn't taking pictures and I wasn't taking pictures. So, now what am I going to use to scrapbook with? I'll probably cheat and use other photos of family and some fall pics, but I'm kicking myself that I didn't take any at the meal. What kind of scrapbooker forgets to take pictures?
Anyhow, our family has also started a new tradition (which my nieces won't let us forget) - we sing "Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow" instead of saying grace at mealtimes when we are all together. Both my nieces (ages 5 3/4 and 4) sing along too. It sounds pretty good as we can get 4 part harmony when we are all there. However on Tuesday that was not the case - there was my dad (who sings bass), my nieces, my nephew and me - that's it. I'm not a soprano, but had to sing the melody - quite a foreign concept for me these days. Anyhow, we managed, but it felt weird.
Some one told me to make a list of what I am thankful for so here is a good start:
Mom, Dad, Wes & Briar, Kaityn, Berlin, Rowan, Sabrina, Gary, Oma W, Jim & Tina, Dan, Lee & Marion, Dennis & Mardi, Karen, Nancy, Lisa, Frank & Vittoria, Harry & Jolene, Lory McMullen, Dave & Mikol, Renee... the list can go on for quite a while so I'll stop here before it becomes so extensive that someone will feel insulted if I leave them out. But, well, I hope the point is made, the things I am thankful for are the people that God has put in my life and the relationships I have with them.
Until next time...
a bit of local flavour
James Street Night of Art
Oct 17th @ 7:00 PM
Come out and enjoy the 3rd annual event from 7-10pm. Held on James Street between King Street and St. Paul Street. The street and sidewalks will fill with visual art, media art, dance, music and theatre in participating stores.
national do not call list
Hey there,
If you hate telemarketers interrupting your dinner as much as I do, take literally less than 180 seconds and register your phone number on Canada's National Do Not Call List. Apparently, it went active on September 30, and the sooner you register the sooner you can eliminate those annoying phone calls...
www.LNNTE-DNCL.gc.ca
If you hate telemarketers interrupting your dinner as much as I do, take literally less than 180 seconds and register your phone number on Canada's National Do Not Call List. Apparently, it went active on September 30, and the sooner you register the sooner you can eliminate those annoying phone calls...
www.LNNTE-DNCL.gc.ca
time flying by... again
So, I love to read other people's posts, but consistently don't take the time to update my own blog. Shame on me! So, here goes (sorta)...
I can't believe Thanksgiving weekend is already here! It's absolutely crazy how the time goes by so quickly. I have no classes on Thursdays, so I am volunteering on Thursday mornings at a local school in a Grade 1 & 2 class. I have volunteered with this teacher for 2 years already and I think we get along really well and she has been an amazing resource. I also LOVE working with the kids in her class - they keep me sane and give me hope. I often get discouraged in my classes because they are very much theory based. We learn all about how the brain works, how children develop, and what makes them tick, but we never actually see or do anything in real life with real kids. That is one of the most discouraging and disheartening things about university classes. But being able to spend time in a classroom totally re-energizes me.
Anyhow, there is so much more to say, but it's already past midnight and I need to get up early (I'm about as much of a morning person as a bear is during winter-hibernation). So I'll go for now, and hopefully you'll get another update (or at least another post) soon.
I can't believe Thanksgiving weekend is already here! It's absolutely crazy how the time goes by so quickly. I have no classes on Thursdays, so I am volunteering on Thursday mornings at a local school in a Grade 1 & 2 class. I have volunteered with this teacher for 2 years already and I think we get along really well and she has been an amazing resource. I also LOVE working with the kids in her class - they keep me sane and give me hope. I often get discouraged in my classes because they are very much theory based. We learn all about how the brain works, how children develop, and what makes them tick, but we never actually see or do anything in real life with real kids. That is one of the most discouraging and disheartening things about university classes. But being able to spend time in a classroom totally re-energizes me.
Anyhow, there is so much more to say, but it's already past midnight and I need to get up early (I'm about as much of a morning person as a bear is during winter-hibernation). So I'll go for now, and hopefully you'll get another update (or at least another post) soon.
prayer update
My aunt just wrote this in an e-mail. Thanks so much for those of you who have been praying for my cousin.
------------
Last week Thursday we had the Occupational Therapist from Chedoke McMaster come to assess our house for suitability for Jesse to come for visits. Though our house is not completely wheelchair accessible she did not want us to make to many structural changes. She and the Physical Therapist have a very positive outlook for Jesse future. We have 2 ramps and have moved Jesse's room to the main floor and moved a TV & Computer to our main floor also. At this point the bathroom and backyard from our kitchen are the only non accessible areas for him.
The strength in Jesse's left leg is about a 4.5/5 and 2/5 for his right leg. We still do not know how much if any permanent damage was done by the swelling of his spine. We have been given a discharge from Chedoke of December 21/07. What a great Christmas present. At that point he will be going to either Shaver {in St. Catharines} Rehab or to a private Physical Therapist as an out patient.
There hope is that they can have a 1/2 leg brace made for his left leg and a full leg brace for his right made. This will give him sometime out of the wheelchair and sometime in it, when he is tired.
His second round of treatment is scheduled for Dec5th at McMaster. We are still waiting to hear about the MRI. We do have an appointment scheduled with the Neurologist in January.
His first full weekend home was last weekend and he had a full schedule. Friday we had dinner at Maureen and Don Ledwez's house and had our fill of steak {how did they know he loves steak?}. Saturday the family was busy rearranging things in the house. In the evening Jesse's friends picked him up to hangout. Sunday we went to church and went shopping in the States with Tyler and Grace. Came home for pizza and wings a dip in the hot tub before heading back to Chedoke.
Friday we as a family are picking Jesse up and going to Belleville to Cheer on James and the Eden Flyers as they compete in OFSAA Volleyball. We will stay till Saturday night if all goes well.
As quick as we all want the recovery to be this will be a long haul. A month and a half has come and gone. We Praise God that we see improvement and have hope. We know without a doubt that God has an amazing plan for Jesse and still desires to use him to glorify Himself.
Keep praying for healing and that his spirits are uplifted.
Please pray for the family too, as we try to keep it all together. Rudy is now done with his Job up North so he can be working in Niagara and live at home. James and Carly are doing great, however I am sure this is tough on them too. Work has been very busy for me, though they are very understanding, I still feel the need to be actively involved if they are giving me a pay cheque.
We as a family thank you so much for your continued prayers, support, doing our laundry {JUDY!!}, meals {ANNELISA} and all the calls, emails and “what can I do?”.
A special thank you to Ziggy and Harry for becoming us when we had to go to Colorado, it made it that much easier. Marlene for coming with us and Alvin for flying out and driving Jesse's car home with Rudy. Also Rudy's parents for taking so much time and visiting with Jesse when Rudy and I have to work.
As James said, "now I know what FAMILY is all about".
Lenore, Rudy, Jesse, James and Carly
------------
Last week Thursday we had the Occupational Therapist from Chedoke McMaster come to assess our house for suitability for Jesse to come for visits. Though our house is not completely wheelchair accessible she did not want us to make to many structural changes. She and the Physical Therapist have a very positive outlook for Jesse future. We have 2 ramps and have moved Jesse's room to the main floor and moved a TV & Computer to our main floor also. At this point the bathroom and backyard from our kitchen are the only non accessible areas for him.
The strength in Jesse's left leg is about a 4.5/5 and 2/5 for his right leg. We still do not know how much if any permanent damage was done by the swelling of his spine. We have been given a discharge from Chedoke of December 21/07. What a great Christmas present. At that point he will be going to either Shaver {in St. Catharines} Rehab or to a private Physical Therapist as an out patient.
There hope is that they can have a 1/2 leg brace made for his left leg and a full leg brace for his right made. This will give him sometime out of the wheelchair and sometime in it, when he is tired.
His second round of treatment is scheduled for Dec5th at McMaster. We are still waiting to hear about the MRI. We do have an appointment scheduled with the Neurologist in January.
His first full weekend home was last weekend and he had a full schedule. Friday we had dinner at Maureen and Don Ledwez's house and had our fill of steak {how did they know he loves steak?}. Saturday the family was busy rearranging things in the house. In the evening Jesse's friends picked him up to hangout. Sunday we went to church and went shopping in the States with Tyler and Grace. Came home for pizza and wings a dip in the hot tub before heading back to Chedoke.
Friday we as a family are picking Jesse up and going to Belleville to Cheer on James and the Eden Flyers as they compete in OFSAA Volleyball. We will stay till Saturday night if all goes well.
As quick as we all want the recovery to be this will be a long haul. A month and a half has come and gone. We Praise God that we see improvement and have hope. We know without a doubt that God has an amazing plan for Jesse and still desires to use him to glorify Himself.
Keep praying for healing and that his spirits are uplifted.
Please pray for the family too, as we try to keep it all together. Rudy is now done with his Job up North so he can be working in Niagara and live at home. James and Carly are doing great, however I am sure this is tough on them too. Work has been very busy for me, though they are very understanding, I still feel the need to be actively involved if they are giving me a pay cheque.
We as a family thank you so much for your continued prayers, support, doing our laundry {JUDY!!}, meals {ANNELISA} and all the calls, emails and “what can I do?”.
A special thank you to Ziggy and Harry for becoming us when we had to go to Colorado, it made it that much easier. Marlene for coming with us and Alvin for flying out and driving Jesse's car home with Rudy. Also Rudy's parents for taking so much time and visiting with Jesse when Rudy and I have to work.
As James said, "now I know what FAMILY is all about".
Lenore, Rudy, Jesse, James and Carly
trick or treat
jesse's "home"!
So, my cousin Jesse is now in Hamilton! He still has feeling in both legs and movement in his left leg. Please continue to pray that the swelling in his spine will disappear and he will regain total use of both legs. Also, please pray that he will stop losing weight.
what a mighty God we serve!
So, this has been an answer to prayer. Some of you may know that my cousin Jesse has been in the hospital for the past few weeks. He has regained feeling in both legs and movement in his left leg! We are waiting for him to be able to come home, but there needs to be a doctor willing to continue treating him and there needs to be a bed in a hospital in a rehab section. So, thanks so much to those of you who have been praying and please continue to pray for Jesse and his family.
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