Page Content
Dear Tooth Fairy
—www.huffingtonpost.ca
Writing official letters to the tooth fairy is not, technically, in a principal’s job description, but don’t tell Chris Wejr, principal of James Hill Elementary in Langley, BC. His quick and creative thinking helped save the day for one gap-toothed little girl.
In mid-April, Grade 3 student Avery Patchett lost a tooth in class. But then she lost-lost the same tooth during recess. It fell on the ground, and even with the help of two friends Avery couldn’t find it. She was devastated, thinking the tooth fairy needed the tooth as proof.
Wejr sent Avery home with an official-sounding letter, on school letterhead, addressed “Dear Tooth Fairy,” explaining Avery’s situation and vouching for the missing molar.
Apparently some still appreciate the power of a polite, carefully worded, old-fashioned letter. The tooth fairy left Avery five dollars.
Let them drink chocolate
—www.nytimes.com
In recent years, many schools have banned sugary drink options from cafeterias and vending machines—even chocolate milk. Some nutritionists claim that chocolate milk contains so much sugar and fat that it is no better for children than conventional soft drinks. This thinking has led to some schools declaring themselves “chocolate milk free.” But not everyone agrees that the ban is a good idea, including some researchers.
A recent Cornell University study of the consequences of a chocolate milk ban in 11 Oregon schools has some people defending the brown cow. The study found that although calorie and fat consumption did decrease, children in schools with the ban drank less milk overall, threw away more white milk and bought fewer school lunches.
Senior grad seeks after party
—www.cbc.ca
Edmonton senior Walter Ross, who is 90 years old, just collected his high school diploma, more than 70 years after dropping out. Now all that’s missing is the party.
Ross was 16 and in Grade 11 when his father had a heart attack. Ross quit school to work in the family general store in Duffield, west of Edmonton. “We had a very small little shop, a general store in the country,” Ross recalled. “My oldest brother had been killed in a training accident in the air force, and then my next brother had joined the air force.” It was up to Ross to keep the family business going.
A few years later, after Ross’ father passed away and the family store was sold, Ross convinced school officials to allow him to take the Grade 12 supplementary exams. He hired a tutor to help him prepare, cramming a year’s worth of schooling into just six weeks. “I wrote the exams and passed them—all except for French.” Unfortunately for Ross, that language requirement prevented him from collecting his diploma.
Decades passed. Ross had a successful career in the insurance business; he served in the military; he raised a family. This year, Ross decided it was high time to get that diploma. Encouraged by his family, Ross contacted education officials, who granted him a diploma based on his life and military experience. He never did have to take that French exam again.
He is thrilled to finally have that diploma and is waiting patiently for an invitation to celebrate with fellow graduates. “Frankly, I thought maybe somebody would invite me to one of their graduation parties. I hear they have some good bush parties. . . . I haven’t had any offers yet.”
