OKANAGAN LANDING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

OKANAGAN LANDING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

AUTHOR VISIT

SEPT. 24/03

What a way to start a day!

No, I don’t mean waking up at 5:30. The sun isn’t even up then. I mean starting my day by addressing over one hundred children with bright and smiling faces!

We met Mr. Rick Penner, Librarian of Okanagan Landing Elementary School, at a quarter to nine in the office of the school. Once he'd shown us where we would set up, he then followed Mom out to the car where the rocking chair was waiting. Yes, it was going to be making the rounds in Vernon this year.

Mr. Penner, having picked up both books prior to our visit, had acquainted the children with them. Now, they were going to meet the author.

We were ready and waiting when the children started to file into the room. What we weren’t ready for was the welcome we received. After a brief introduction we were met with “A Silent Greeting.” This is where the children all raised their arms and waved their hands back and forth.

If it had not been for my niece taking American Sign Language many years ago I would not have known that this is the way the deaf applaud. When my niece was showing me some of the signs she had learned, we found it quite amusing when I tried to do as she did. Can you picture someone with hands that don’t bend at the wrist and fingers that don’t always do what they are suppose to, trying to do sign language? Needless to say I would have a difficult time trying to speak with a deaf person if they didn’t read lips.

Before Mr. Penner read The Rocking Chair Rescue he talked a bit about the rocking chair and asked the children some questions about the story. (Having read it to them prior to my visit.) I was impressed how much they remembered.

After the story, there were many wonderful questions and not just about what they'd heard. There were questions about writing and what it is like to have arthritis.

It seems to me that the children now a days are more on the ball then when I was a child. Or maybe it’s that they are not preoccupied with a horrible disease.

All too soon teachers, Mrs. Heather Corbett and Vi Sucart were leading the kindergarteners/grade one and grade two classes, respectively, from the room. Soon, another group would be coming in.

In no time at all Colleen Kampf, with grades two and three, Nina Desmarais, also with grades two and three and Holly Fischer with her grades three and four were filing into the room. As one boy settled down in the front row, I heard him say after he saw the books and display on the table in front of him, “These books rock!”

Mr. Penner was unable to stay for the second session, so when he asked Ms. Kampf if she would like to read Lost and Found, she kindly accepted. When told that she could sit in the rescued rocking chair she was delighted.

This story is a little longer than the first episode and we wondered if it was too long. As we watched the children faces we realized that it was fine. I noticed one girl playing with another girl’s hair while listening to the story. She seemed to be so engrossed in the story that her actions were without thought.

During the reading of the story one girl commented, “I wonder what happens next.”

I cannot tell you how good that made me feel.

While Ms. Kampf was reading the second episode Mr. Penner came back into the room and took several pictures. I over heard someone say they were for the schools scrapbook. I took that as my cue and got up and took a few pictures of my own.

The children in the second group had just as many great questions as the children in the first group. One thing I have learned about these visits, is that I’m going to have to take a notebook along the next time. I get so involved with the questions and answers that by the time I get home I’ve forgotten which group asked which questions.

I take my Mom along on these visits, maybe I should give her the notepad. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind.

As Carol Burnett used to say at the end of her show, “Seems we just get started and before you know it, we have to say, so long.” And that is exactly how I feel about these visits.

Before I go, I’d just like to thank Mr. Penner once again, all the teachers involved and of course the children for making us feel so welcome and appreciated. The mug was a gift I didn't expect but I am looking forward to the chocolate it held. It was truly an honour and a pleasure to spend some time with you. So, thank you again, and be well. J