Stowe Elementary School (02/02/10) (day 3)

Tuesday 2/2/10 Day 3

The day started out with an awesome moment thanks to Trish. She came in with a package and in it was a pink backpack full of pink horse tools. Magic loved it and it got a big laugh from the students. Now Magic has 2 school backpacks.

The principal as usual came in to say hi and tell us we were awesome. He said, “Teachers are talking big stuff about you guys.” He came in a couple of more times to touch Magic’s star for good luck. He was a true believer. He seemed to come in a lot today just when Magic was jumping out of the trailer. He loved hearing the squeals of delight from the kids. His face just lit up every time. The principal started this day like every day touching Magic’s star. He said he had great luck so far. He did come in a few more times today to touch her star so he must have really needed it.

We were really surprised at the amount of feedback we got from the teachers. After the programs they came up to talk to us. As we walked in the halls they came up to talk to us. Any where we crossed paths with a teacher, an appreciative comment was made.

Teachers were impressed at how well we worked as a team. Kathi said that is because we have a common goal. Teachers could not believe that we had not known each other until 1 1/2 years ago when WindChill brought us together.

We heard a teacher telling another staff person, “Magic sure spreads her love all over.” The staff member replied, “This is an excellent opportunity to talk about feelings back in the classroom.” Another teacher said, “You have to know you are doing great stuff.”

The teacher from the last presentation today said, “I had several students that either forgot or just didn’t bring in their permission slips for parent/teacher conferences, however not one forgot their permission slips for Magic. Amazing isn’t it?”

One teacher stopped us to say “What was done to WindChill was cruelty beyond belief. “ She wondered what made people step over that line. Another told me that her 3^rd grade students were so excited to get the WindChill Legacy pens that she was going to let them use them all day for writing assignments.

Teachers stopped by the room to say how nice it was to receive thank you notes. After every outreach I always send a teacher a thank you and one for the students also. Carole and I were happy to see the thank you notes displayed on classroom bulletin boards.

During lunch teachers told us that last Friday, after 2 days of our presentations, there was a teacher inservice. The school had a consultant come in to talk about helping children who suffered the effects of neglect and abuse. The teachers told the consultant about us and how what we are doing is so good and what a good vehicle and stepping stone we are for them to start the conversation with the kids. Another teacher suggested we contact one of the Duluth universities for a graduate student to do a thesis on what we do and how it affects the students and how Magic is great therapy for kids.

One teacher said for her, it was love at first site with Magic. “Magic is the cutest thing I have ever seen.” During her lunch she called her husband and told him she wanted a mini horse.”

It was so much fun walking the halls too. The little ones would come running up to give me a hug. Others gave waves. I was so touched that I made connections with them.

During one presentation, as students were walking to their seats a young man said to me, “I have never seen a horse before.” I told him he was in for a real treat. One boy said he knew of another horse that was rescued. He talked about Molly the Pony. (The teacher had read one of our horse activity books in class.)

Kathi could not believe it, after showing Magic’s teeth; the teachers told her that February is Dental Health month.

Gramma Carole and I had the pleasure of delivering 2 Molly the Pony books to a girl and boy who were allergic to Magic. It is so gratifying to see the look of surprise and then the happy grin at being special. We also delivered a set of donate horse books to the Library. (Thanks to a very generous book donation from Deb Moyer.)

I almost did a really embarrassing thing but Trish saved the day by correcting it in the nick of time. I left out a letter in a word so any child reading it would pronounce it wrong and it was not a word fit for school. The title I misspelled it in would have given a whole new meaning to our presentation. WHEW!!! Of course the team laughed and said I HAD to put this in the write-up.