For the past two years I have had the honour and the privilege of working with the wonderful Nicole Haas. I am supposed to be her mentor, but I think she has given and inspired me so much more than the other way around. Nicole is a compassionate and kind kindergarten teacher. She purposefully reaches all her students so that they feel loved and accepted, and are therefore, ready to learn. The joy and the wonder of learning is eminent in her room. Kids have a voice. They are heard. Students are cherished. They excel. This year has been difficult because these "littles" have really felt the stress of Covid-19. They have been scared and demanding. Students know something is unusual. They easily pick up on the stresses felt at home. Some students have sad stories of inequity and loneliness to tell. However, their knight in shining armour is Nicole. She enables them to feel safe. Nicole hears their pain and empathizes with them. She makes this complex reality easy to understand and navigate. I have had the privilege of watching her totally diffuse situations of anger and frustration with kind words and compassionate action. And as if that isn't enough Nicole loves to take learning outside. She has devised an awesome outdoor program that her students completely take for granted and enjoy. Nicole put together a wonder wagon for us all to use. Just looking at it fills my own grade 2 students with curiosity and wonder. Conversations start with "Mrs. Fleming, we've got this great idea, we could use .......... from the wonder wagon and ................" And finally, Nicole has this amazing ability of being able to listen to people and make a polished document about what is being said at the same time. Her documentation is superb. I am always joking with her that she has made a stunning document while I am still trying to find the w.......
So, it is with great sadness that at the end of the school year I will be saying goodbye to an excellent teacher, colleague and friend. I am looking forward to seeing what she does in the next chapter of her teaching career. Her new school district is so blessed to have her. If you want to check out her website it is here: https://sites.google.com/s/1S6MxXw3bFJW0DxJg14hMlu-XO99gpvPW/edit?userId=112146724713310765821 And, cheekily, if you want to be a kindergarten teacher in September at our school just post a comment and I will get back to you.
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AuthorWife, mom, teacher, trying to inspire..... Archives
May 2021
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