Members of Class of ’14 Return to Greenwood Elementary
Members of the Class of 2014 returned for Greenwood’s annual alumni event.
Tycoons make investments and track their ups and downs along the jagged edges of indices like the Dow Jones. Philosophers and poets toss pebbles into ponds and consider the implications of the ensuing ripples. Entertainers do their things and get immediate feedback.
But teachers – how is their impact to be measured?
At Greenwood Elementary School there’s a longstanding tradition that not only makes better sense than mere referral to students’ scores on tests, it’s a lot more fun! They call it the annual senior reunion and this year, yesterday was the day. Talk about Throwback Thursday!
Twenty-one former Woodchucks who are poised to graduate from high school in about three weeks returned to where it all began for them, educationally speaking – the classrooms and playgrounds at historic Greenwood. And many of the teachers who launched them on their ways were there to collect dividends; to see how far and wide the ripples spread; to take a bow of sorts.
One of them, art teacher Mary Helen Grace, is retiring after 27 years at the school. She’s been one of the keepers of this rite of passage during her tenure.
“It’s always a splendid day when our former Woodchucks return,” she commented Thursday.
And just because she’s hanging up her smock doesn’t mean she won’t be back. Yesterday’s teacher turnout included Bruce Anderson who started the event 15 years ago and passed the torch to Grace when he graduated into retirement himself seven years ago. The Class of ’14 was his last batch of 5th graders.
So, just how much wood have these woodchucks chucked since leaving the hallowed halls on 37th Street? Quite a lot. They’re bound for colleges near and far, from military service academies to national champion debate squads. They plan to study everything from music to microbiology. Each of them took their turn yesterday to disclose plans for next year and beyond. That was the serious part.
But sharing indelible Greenwood memories was the fun part.
- The time I was so worried about my solo in the winter holiday concert and somebody upstaged me by throwing up right in the middle of it.
- In 1st grade he cried every day and my parents made me be nice to him and we’ve been best friends ever since.
- Mr. Anderson’s magic shows in class.
- Stressing over mastery of “double-dutch” rope-jumping at recess.
- Snacks and bloody noses in the nurse’s office.
- Getting out of class all day while Mrs. Grace painted my portrait.
“We hope you all enjoy this day because all of us sure do,” veteran P.E. teacher Mark Chelleen told the soon-to-be-grads.
“It warms our hearts to see you all again and hear your plans,” Grace said. “We’re so glad to have been a part of your lives.”
None of the alums came right out and declared ambitions to become a teacher someday. But don’t be surprised if some of them eventually do. Yesterday’s poignant compression of their blossoming lives into an hour or so was also a vivid demonstration of an unsung perk of the profession. People who work year round always point to summers off. But the real payoff is seeing your investments growing off the charts.
