“It was a fine cry - loud and long - but it had no bottom and it had no top, just circles and circles of sorrow.”
― Toni Morrison, Sula
After the horror at Sandy Hook, it hard to even imagine how people up there can even come to terms with what happened at this elementary school. And I am compelled to write about it with a little frisson of hope. It hits very close to home for me, as I work in a small, community elementary school in Baltimore City that is often an open & welcoming place for everyone. We grieve for these children & staff at the school & think about the "what ifs" at our own little school. The thought of something like that happening makes my heart leap into my throat & my eyes fill. It shakes me to the core.
But the hope comes from what my little school did on Saturday for the kids & parents in our community. Saturday was our Winterfest. I thought as I got ready to go over to the school that there is some trepidation in opening the doors wide to allow folks in after the tragedy up north--fleeting but the worry was there.
Instead, my "blended" family all jumped in to participate. We all manned craft booths & games--Xing Fu was in charge of the bean bag toss & my son was setting up the snowman bowling pins. My stepdaughters helped with crafts. It was a wonderful & joyous sight to see--the community out & enjoying being at our school and even Santa made an appearance. I think we all had an amazing time--it felt good to give back & even though we grieve alongside the folk in Connecticut, we also realize that we must push on & demonstrate that overall people are kind & generous. Thank you to everyone who sent toys to my school so that the kids could all take home a new toy & to those who came & made our little slice of Baltimore City Public Schools a joyous & festive place to be.
As most of my two readers knows, I rarely write much about my work on this blog--this is a forum mostly about my personal trials & tribulations. But I wanted to take the time to talk a little about where I work & the children I work for. I work in a Baltimore City elementary school. It is a small school & we often fly way under the radar (we actually like it that way) & rarely get noticed. Like most of the schools in the city, we are entirely a Title One school--many children come from poorer households & we do what we can to supplement the community. For example, we have a food bank, & we have many organizations who volunteer their time to help our students in the classroom & outside in the community.
Every year our school hosts a Winterfest for the students & their families & this year is no exception except that one of our major donors is unable to help in the manner that they used to. In the past they donated toys, books, games, & craft kits so that every child would go home with a present. In fact, they donated Santa Claus too. But this year, with the economy the way it is, the organization is just unable to do as much. A few of us on staff have posted on facebook the following:
"Hoping some of you may be able to help. I work
in an amazing school in Baltimore City. Every year we have a Winterfest
where kids have fun, food and games. Every child is given a gift to
ensure they get at least one gift for the holidays. However, this year
the agency that sponsors us is under financial constraints. If anyone is
able to buy a gift or gifts please message me. Thank you."
Within minutes I received numerous offers to help. I am grateful that many of my friends & family are able to help the students in my school even when some of these folks are facing the same financial constraints. Usually, I am rather disenfranchised with the whole holiday thingy which appears to begin these days the day after Halloween with ads already for Black Friday. The consumerism just makes me quite ill. This year, seeing the response that I have so far received, I am taken with most folks' generosity & willingness to step right up to the plate. Thank you to all of you who are willing to help my school's children receive a gift for the holidays.
