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Hazel Dell Elementary |
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| Dear
PIFF: I am driven to write to you about a group of people who have been paying it forward for years. Marti Lloid is a Special Education teacher at Hazel Dell Elementary in Vancouver, Washington. She and her group of co-workers have several programs that go on each year to benefit not only the children in the school, but the entire community. . As the occupational therapist for many schools in the district, I can say that Hazel Dell has some of the most committed, warm, and giving staff I have ever seen. Every spring, Hazel Dell has the annual Enrichment Fair, which Marti helps coordinate. This brings community members and staff and volunteers in from the fire department, high schools, and all sorts of other venues to hold classes such as pet-care, gymnastics, sign language, and crafts for a whole day for the students at the school. The staff holds a potluck for the volunteers and the kids get the day to explore different interests, learn, and talk to members of their community. Hazel Dell also has Panther Night every Thursday, when they have parents and kids invited to book readings, bingo games and other activities to support quality time for families and school involvement. This particular school is located in an area of many different socioeconomic situations and challenges for it's young people. When students leave or move, Marti and her assistants always have a special present, just a small token, and lots of hugs to kids who don't get much of either. I have cried with them at meetings over even the most challenging kids who are moving on, and we have tried so hard to make their school experience a good one, especially those "out of synch" kids who are labeled as "weird" or "dumb". Every kid has refuge in Marti's room, no matter what causes them to go there, whether it be academic, behavioral, or personal problems, it's a safe haven. Perhaps the most touching, most influential act that provoked this letter was helping Marti with this last holiday season. It was my first year and her umteenth year of doing her annual "shopping day". All year, Marti has the kids earn points for shopping. The last week or so of school before the holiday break, Marti has staff gather up their "garage sale" items --hats, sunglasses, candles, jewelry, cuptowels, mugs, etc.--from home and bring it in. Walking into Marti's room the last day before break reveals a "mall" for Christmas shopping; tables filled with the donated items. The kids use their "money" points they've earned (and she makes sure everyone has plenty of points to shop with) to shop for presents for their immediate family. She walks through with the little ones and helps pick out a cuptowel set for mom, mug for dad, earrings for sister, and then we wrap it up with the donated paper, label it, and send the little one home bearing gifts. These are kids who often will have no budget for any sort of shopping, and it allows them to contribute so much. The care in which they pick out their gifts and pride in taking the bag full of presents home shows on their faces. These are just a few of the things I've seen at Hazel Dell, little tiny Paying it Forwards go on there every day. There are a zillion special little programs developed, special little groups formed whenever a need is found. The staff just bends over backward to try and provide the best support in all ways for whatever each kid needs as an individual, from repairing broken glasses, to holding cooking classes, to having social groups during lunch recess. It's amazing, you've never seen anything like it, and it is so contagious. Out of all my schools in the district, it is my favorite place to be, and it makes me want to do more and more giving. This is not just learning to read; this classroom is about learning life, and pride, and how to give. And Pay It Forward. Please consider recognizing this group of individuals for all they do. Sincerely, |
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