Talmey Elementary School’s Paralympic School Day

Kathy Pantaleo teaches grade six and seven at Talmey Elementary School in Richmond, BC, one of the schools selected for the Paralympic School Days pilot program last May. Paul Rosen, goalie for Canada’s Paralympic ice sledge hockey team, was the presenting Paralympian.

“We are so busy as teachers, and on this type of day we’re always running around fixing problems. But on Paralympic School Day, every single person came up to me saying ‘wow that was the best thing that ever happened to this school.’ I had children tell me that, parents, teachers, everyone saying it was the best thing that happened to this school. Talmey has already been around for 14 years so I think that says a lot.

One message Paul had which really stood out was ‘15 Hearts, One Beat.’ He explained that he has 15 people on his team and they all beat with one heart because they all work together. One of my classes all signed a letter to Paul and in one corner they wrote ’28 Hearts, One Beat.’

It was interesting – some students asked questions that Paul hadn’t been asked before. Questions like what he did with his leg after it was amputated – that came from a grade two student. It just showed that everyone was so engaged, and given the feedback we received, I know that everyone was completely moved and really inspired.

Another thing that Paul said that really stood out was ‘I am not a disabled athlete – I am an athlete with a disability.’ That really shifted their thinking and the whole awareness of Paralympians. Now my students are really excited about the Paralympics.

Almost every kid in our school wrote something to thank him. I have boys and girls in my class who are not really strong writers and to see them putting so much thought into their writing really showed. One boy in particular stood out in my class. He’s someone who’s not really a strong writer and this is the most I’ve ever seen him write.

I thought that it was a really classy presentation on all parts. The opportunity to hold the torch, the video presentation, the interactive games – everything was so well done and so very organized. It really impressed everybody and we felt really lucky that our school was chosen.”

 

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