On The Road
January 1, 2010
Handshakes with pre-school kids
Posted by Ashleigh Vogstad
Where: Story Time at Molehill Montessori, Vancouver
One of things I enjoy most being a Community Outreach representative is our involvement in youth education. We have the great job of visiting preschools in the communities we serve. We teach children about electricity conservation through fun and engaging activities like coloring on biodegradable seed paper can be planted to sprout flowers.
At the conclusion of one session at Molehill Montessori where we’d had a particularly good interaction with the class, instead of the usual waves of thanks and smiling-faced goodbyes, the teachers asked us to take seats at the front of the room. Because of our perplexed stares it was explained to us that the kids were working hard on their good manners and that they always welcomed an opportunity to practice. Apparently such an opportunity had just presented itself.
The teacher directed her attention back to the children. “How do we say goodbye to guests?” she asked.
In a single file line each child approached us one-by-one, shook our hands, and said “Thank you very much for coming Ashleigh. Thank you very much for coming Curtis”.
I don’t think I can adequately express the magnitude of just how utterly adorable this gesture was. Even the shyest, most reserved preschoolers presented themselves before us. While most children preferred to stare at their nervously shuffling feet rather than make eye contact the effort was tremendous from each one of them and graciously appreciated by us.
As a final finale, part of our “proper” farewell included being given a lovely bouquet of flowers and a handmade card the class had put together.
When I see such promising future ambassadors, I am inspired to do my part in conserving the resources we have now so that they and their families will have plenty for generations.
Ashleigh Vogstad is a Community Outreach representative based out of Burnaby and will be at events throughout the fall.
