The Rookery

Thursday was a sad day for the Herons.  Connor Rohwer, the highschool senior who has spent every Tuesday and Thursday morning with us since September had to say goodbye.  This was the final week of the term and his schedule changes next week — Tuesdays and Thursday will be filled with the more typical stuff of high school.  

Connor fit right in as a Heron, always willing to jump into anything we were doing.  He read with kids, supported children as they worked on a new math concept or helped a group take a concept to the next level.  He didn't need to be invited to join our morning meeting.  He settled in, just like old times.  Much to the delight of the Herons, he couldn't keep a straight face during our theater games; he would always bust out with a laugh.  He ended every day with us down moving chairs for lunch (six at a time!!!).  We have had to begin a new set of records, "post Connor" because he was such a boon to our chair carrying average.  

He gave two incredible gifts to the Herons.  The first was the realization that someone as amazing as he is found them interesting and worth while.  His interest in their work and ideas made that work more real (their teacher, after all, is supposed to find their work interesting.)  Secondly, he modeled the epitome of service.  He was not there because it was a requirement nor because it would look good on his resumé (there are much quicker ways to get those points).  He was not there to receive huge amounts of attention — he became another member of the class very quickly and deflected praise with humility and a smile.  He was there simply because he wanted to be of service to something he cared about.  His initial e-mail to Simon read in part "I'll do anything you need — clean out trash, sweep the halls…"  He was making the world a better place.

And he's not alone.  Devyn Gardner, another senior, has begun working with a Prairie Creek girl scout troop and helping fifth graders with their honors projects.  As I watched her circle the roller skating rink at a recent Girl Scout outing, helping a wobbly kindergartener stay on her feet, I was overwhelmed by her willingness to help out.  Like Connor, she simply called out of the blue to offer a helping hand. Simon's newsletter feature, alumni of the week, has highlighted child after child who is making a real difference in their highschool community.  They are great kids.

As the MCAs loom on the horizon, Connor and Devyn have helped me remember how much more we can teach than the math and reading that make up standardized tests.  The success of these lessons cannot be measured by multiple choice.  Their impact may not be evident for years.  (And, indeed, there are many other experiences that have influenced these exceptional young people in the seven years since they were in the Elms.)  But perhaps, seven years from now, some of these Herons might look at a few hours in their schedules and think, "Hey, I can make a difference."  I hope so.