(05/17/10) Hayward Primary School (Hayward, WI)

5/17/2010 First Outreach Visit to Hayward Primary in Hayward WI by Paula Moore

”Exceeded my expectations”, “I’m hearing how good it is from the teachers and the students.”, “I have heard such good things.”, “I heard it is a quality program.”, “Now I see why you do the things you do.”, “I teach economics this week but somehow I am going to fit in some of your teacher activities. I don’t know how just now but I will.” “Kids will turn in their slips for sure next week.”

Our WindChill Family member, Trish Poylio, put this all into perspective with this insight: These teachers realized that the WindChill Legacy provides a different opportunity for learning.

We finally made it to Hayward Primary School…..2 years in the making. Last year a very special volunteer from the Hayward Humane Society talked to us during the 3/28/2009 Diamond Tack Horse Fair and thought what we did for outreaches was great. She became determined to share our program with the school children of Hayward. She brings dogs to the schools to talk about pet care and thought hearing WindChill’s story and meeting Magic would be a good follow up to what she does. I was invited to the school to discuss the program we offer. The teachers ok’d it but did not pull it together in time last year. Our schedule fills up really quickly in April, May, and June and there was just no date open.

I felt bad for this very nice person who had done so much leg work to have us come, so in February of this year I made the call saying I was sorry how things went down last year and April, May, and June were all open so if the Hayward teachers got their request in they could have any dates they wanted. I heard nothing back and felt bad.

However in April as dates were filling up fast I got the call. They would try again. April was full but I held open the last 2 weeks of May setting a deadline. After a flurry of phone calls and date changes, it was scheduled.

Hayward is about 70 miles from Raindance. With 7 classses of 2^nd graders we decided to do 4 classes 1 week and finish the other 3 classes the next week.

So on that 1^st morning Trish left at 4:30AM from Hudson, WI. Carole and I left at 6:15AM from Duluth and we converged on Hayward around 7:45AM for the first presentation at 8:30AM. Kathi and Magic left at 7AM and arrived at 8:30, as usual 30 minutes before her entrance.

The presentation schedule was a bit shorter than I liked—- only an hour for each presentation. By the time kids came in, sat down, and introductions were made, 15 minutes would be gone. I was asked to shorten my presentation but I felt we were here to educate and that was the main goal. I did not shorten my presentation. I felt I would shorten the children’s time with Magic instead.

However it was hard for me to do that so I started thinking of ways to use our time more wisely. For instance all the giveaways were not handed out to each student but packed up ahead of time and given to the teacher to distribute back at the classroom. Instead of waiting for classes to come in at the appointed hour, I went to go get them to start a few minutes early.

The first class was scheduled to come in at 8:30. I got them in at 8:20. So it all worked out. The students got quality time with Magic. We were helped a little by the teachers, who did not bring cameras, so we did not have to do one on one pictures with each student. It all worked out.

As I walked into the school at 7:50, I heard a teacher walking into classrooms saying, “I do not know if they are coming. I have not heard from them. I have not received any emails from them.” I walked up to the teacher and assured her we were here and ready to go.

Then I decided to go to each classroom to introduce myself and reassure the teachers and the students that we were here. I wanted the students to feel the excitement I felt. I walked into the classroom that was to be our first presentation. The kids were eating breakfast. I started to introduce myself and explain things. The teacher stopped me and said, “I have not told them yet but you go ahead.” So I did pass on my excitement to the kids describing what the next hour would bring. I asked if they could eat a little faster and they all agreed they could. They asked a lot of good questions. As I left, one girl brought up her permission slip to me.

Again thanks to Carole and Trish who helped me set up in record time, I was able to pop into each classroom, introduce myself, and set the tone for the day.

The kids were great in this first group. They listened well. However only 4 students brought back their permission slips. I let those 4 kids stand in the hallway so they could see Magic make her entrance into the building, walking down the long hallway. They were not disappointed. They all let out gasps and squeals and an “Oh she is sooooooo cute.” The other 12 kids were so envious. As Magic walked into the room, I heard one boy say, “I never got a permission slip.” The teacher told him,” I sent them home. These 4 brought them back.” Another said, “I wish I could pet her, can’t I just touch her once.” “Please can I pet her, pleeeeeease.”

Afterwards I asked the teacher if she used any of the materials I brought 2 weeks ago. She said no. She did not have time, too many things to do this time of year. This is a very busy time of year.

Well that was true the whole way through…..the students came in cold, not knowing about WindChill, but they sure left VERY IN THE KNOW.

When I talked about how WindChill not only wanted them to look out for other animals but also each other and what to do when they see a classmate being picked on, lot of heads nodded in each group. I felt so sad because I could tell many of them had been called names or pushed and picked on. I knew and they knew exactly how it felt. One boy was laughing when I gave some examples of the things a bully does and the boy next to him told him to shut up and the teacher said something to the boy also.

Some of the students asked deep questions. One girl asked,” What did you do with WindChill’s body?” I said it was winter and the ground was frozen so we could not bury him. We cremated him. One boy asked, “What is cremation?” Another girl said her cat had died and was put in a box and buried in her back yard. Tears started to flow and everyone could see how much she missed her kitty.

You could tell by the comments of the teachers at the start of the day that they thought this was just going to be entertainment. After we got through with the 1^st group, the kids spread the word of how great this was. It spread like wildfire. Kids were excited. Teachers who were signed up for next week, made comments about doing better before next week. 2 teachers who saw our presentation decided to keep their teacher books to do something with the kids for when we left. Other teachers from other grades asked for our business cards.

WOW we could feel the change in the atmosphere of the school. As we walked down the hall students were smiling, walking with us, and asking questions. People started dropping in the room where we were. The place really warmed up. We were quality and a class act. We were deep, thought provoking, fun, and yes entertaining but message building and Magic was the icing on the cake. Magic of course, a rescue herself, just brings home the message in real time. She was adorable, simply adorable. She instinctively knew she had to work extra hard to bring people around. She did her antics and added some new ones.

We were professional but warm and inviting, engaging. We turned a lot of hearts and heads this day. We represented our WindChill family with pride, with dedication, and true passion for WindChill. This really makes people take notice. One teacher made the remark that she could not believe how engaged the students get with us volunteers.

It was a beautiful drive to Hayward and a drop dead sunny gorgeous hot day too. Everyone was in summer clothes and sandals.

Kathi was worried about some fluid leaking from underneath her truck. She was worried she might have trouble on the way back to Raindance. Who just happened to be at a meeting in Hayward, Jeff of course. Jeff gets a call from Kathi and HE COMES TO HER RESCUE. He diagnosed and took care of the problem.

Magic was overjoyed to see him. As Jeff is finishing closing the hood of the truck, Kathi TRIES to lead Magic back into the school. Magic won’t budge. Magic looks back at Jeff. Kathi keeps pulling but Magic keeps stopping and giving Jeff the AREN’T YOU COMING TOO look. As Kathi and Magic round the corner of the school building, Magic gives Jeff one more AREN’T YOU COMING glance and it goes straight to Jeff’s heart. He decides to come in. He stayed for one presentation.

Carole took Magic around to the students but Carole said she could tell that Magic expected Jeff to take her around. Magic kept looking at Jeff. It sure is true, Magic only has eyes for Jeff.

Before anyone pets Magic, they have to wipe their hands with an antiseptic wipe. It is a precautionary measure against the spreading of germs. However it also smells good to Magic. When I told the kids how it smells like apples to Magic, they all sniffed their hands, even the teacher sniffed her hands too.

Well this last group of students was so much fun. Magic had her picture taken with a birthday hat on. When I had stopped in the classroom earlier in the morning, a boy had on a birthday hat. As the students were talking, he asked me how old Magic was and thanks to Eileen and her great record keeping, I told him Magic’s birthday was May 3^rd and boy would she love to have a spiffy hat like his. Well of course when the birthday boy came in for our presentation he had a birthday hat for Magic.

Magic wore that birthday hat proudly. Both the birthday boy and Magic got their picture taken together. It was soooooooooooooo cute.

Jeff and Kathi got the biggest kick out of one young girl who tugged at my shirt 3 times trying to get my attention. She said, “Excuse me, Excuse me, EXCUSE ME!!! and she moved her hands up and down to tell me my voice was too loud. (The signal Trish and Carole give me.) Out of the corner of my eye Jeff was laughing and imitating her.

When I mentioned how horses have sensitive hearing and can hear things 2 miles away, one boy said, “I have sensitive ears too.” One boy asked, “How did Magic get her name?” Another asked, “Is that a pony?” “Do all horses have stars?” “I love her long hair and black eyes.” “She really is magic.”

When I read Magic’s birthday list, one boy asked, “How did Magic write with her hoof?”

All the kids thought Magic would grow bigger. They thought she was just in a ‘short phase’ right now as one student put it. One boy wanted to know how tall Magic was. I asked if he had a yardstick. He did not, but his teacher went to go get one. We measured Magic and then we placed the yardstick on a number of students to see where Magic would come up to them.

When one young man heard that mini’s live until 40, he said, “My mom is turning 40 and hates it.”

When Kathi showed Magic’s teeth, one girl was so grossed out that she covered her eyes until Kathi closed Magic’s mouth. The students really want Kathi to start brushing Magic’s teeth. They were almost begging her. However there is no hay or carrot flavored toothpaste yet. One boy said,” I will invent it.” One girl said “I want to be a vet now.”

After students were touching Magic’s star for good luck, one boy asked his teacher what they were doing after this. The teacher said how about recess? One boy said to his teacher, “You mean we get the playground all to ourselves.” The teacher replied yes. “Boy Magic’s lucky star sure works fast.” I said. The students had to agree.

One teacher assistant coming down the hall said, “Well you don’t see one of these everyday (referring to Magic). Kids will love that. You know I have never seen one before.”

The choir teacher’s room was across from our presentation. She kept coming in every time she had a break to see Magic but just missing her. Finally on her last attempt just before lunch she was able to see Magic. She stayed for a long time.

One teacher went on line and was already looking for pictures of Magic shopping at the Mariner Mall.

Another teacher told us she had Shetlands at home.

This last group of students had been so good so the kids got a special treat. They got to walk Magic down the long hallway out the door to her trailer. Kathi and Magic played the role of the Pied Piper and led the way. 5 boys had their hands on Magic’s back. Magic walked slowly for them. Even security fell in love with Magic. They had just learned about us as we were leaving for the day. They gave all of us a police escort down the hall asking us questions along the way.

When we got out to the trailer they all watched Magic jump in and then of course Kathi couldn’t resist opening the side door and letting Magic poke her head out. Her forelock was messy and wispy and whimsical. At that moment parents with their 2 daughters came by, becoming enthralled with Magic. I told them Magic had just visited these students’ classroom. They did not believe it. One boy spoke up and said. “No she‘s not kidding.” I gave them a Legacy card and said have your daughter’s teacher call me. One boy spoke up,” It is really good.”

We go back next Tuesday 5/25/2010,  to finish the final 3 classes of 2^nd graders at Hayward Primary. We can’t wait.