Lincoln Piedmont Elementary School (04/27/10)

4/27/2010 Outreach Visit to Lincoln Piedmont Elementary School in Duluth, MN
Paula Moore

The eyes of the nine very special children with cognitive disabilities came alive when Magic entered the room and out of their mouths in unison, came the sound of incredibility. This created a very special moment for Kathi, Karen, Gramma Carole, and me.

The students were very young, 5-7 years old, but they sat incredibly still through the 12 minute presentation of WindChill’s life, answering a few questions and asking a few questions too.

Kathi saw right away that the students were on their best behavior and that Magic would be safe. She was very surprised at how gentle they were.

One boy asked if the next time Magic came, could she bring her baby with her. Another boy kept asking where Magic’s home was.

One boy said wistfully, “I wish I had a horse like that.” The teacher replied, “Ask your grandmother.”

Of course Magic sneezed a lot. Each time the kids jumped in unison.

One girl, who was scared of Magic and started crying, had no speech, but did wave hi and then waved goodbye. The teacher made us take special note of it.

It was fun for all of us watching a girl named Olivia. Her eyes got so big and round each time Magic was coming near her. Then she got a smile from ear to ear when petting her.

Again the boys were really huggy.

The teacher and 3 paras sat with the students. They smiled happily as they saw their timid students grow more and more comfortable with me and then Magic. They told us afterwards how proud they were of how the students interacted with our team, each other, and with Magic. The students were not used to that.

One boy was quiet but interested. He sat buried in his assistant’s lap until Magic came in. He sat up straight. He touched Magic with one finger. Then the next time around he started petting her. The teacher pulled us aside later and said how much Magic helped this boy come alive, be part of the group, and interact with an animal. He does not interact otherwise.

Karen and Carole made the best of a LOST situation. The school is large with 3 floors of many meandering hallways and steep stairways. As they were looking for the room where I was at, this bubbly enthusiastic duo, met several teachers who they convinced needed our program in their classrooms. Karen and Carole finally found me and exhilaratingly told me about the teachers they met along the way. I asked Karen if she would go back to each one and give them our outreach business cards. Karen took the business cards, went back to each teacher’s classroom, and handed out the cards. Even though we are full for May and June of this school year, there is always next September, she told them.

However one of these teachers, with the business card in hand, came in before the presentation and begged for her class to join in with the Spec. Ed class. Again I had to give a firm no and repeat that I would be glad to schedule an outreach in Sept. if she called.

Even one of the counselors, who works with the student patrol program, asked to have his patrol kids just watch as Magic left the building. He did not get there in time but we are scheduled at the school again for another outreach next week. He told me he would get his act together by then. He personally led me to his room so that I would be sure to make a personal visit next time to warn him that we are in the building.

One of the student’s personal aides told us she had not petted a horse in 20 years. She missed her old grays. She gave them away when they were 22 years old to youngsters who needed safe riding horses. She said riding one of her horses, who was very wide, was like riding on a mattress.

When Magic left the school a group of 20 day care kids, holding on to a rope, were walking across the street. They did double takes and stumbled into each other as Magic caused a scene. A cab driver behind the trailer, who was busy writing out the address of her next cab fare, and suddenly looked up to see Magic, burst out of her cab and came running up to see Magic, leaving her passenger in the cab.

Kathi saw this nice park across the street, so we all took a leisurely stroll until the wind made it too cold. Magic was busy stuffing as much grass in her mouth as she could.

Well we are coming back next week to this school, to do another presentation for an older group of special kids with cognitive disabilities. I think Gramma Carole was right when she said, “I figure we will end up doing all of Lincoln Piedmont, bit by bit.”