Remembering Mrs. Piera Canella

As I sit at the desk of my "nine-to-five" in Toronto, I feel I first owe an explanation for my lengthy hiatus from this blog and its initiative before getting to the heart of this post.

I've had quite the adventure over the past 7 months. My boyfriend, Chris, and I left South Korea in September to embark on a three and a half month trip through Southeast Asia. We covered a lot of ground, meeting many wonderful people and seeing so many beautiful places along the way. We also decided to simultaneously apply to teacher's colleges here in Ontario while we were on the road which proved difficult, but paid off in the end - more on that later. We arrived back home to Toronto in mid-December, met with reunions of friends and family, and of course the holidays that followed soon after. With 2013 New Year's resolutions in tow, I was fortunate enough to be offered an operations maternity leave position in January at an educational tour company, and I'll be working here until mid-July. Since then, I've been adjusting to the daily grind while trying to maintain a healthy, balanced lifestyle. Between working, going to the gym, cooking, cleaning, and trying to keep up with an avid Toronto social calendar, it's been difficult to stick to the things that I'm passionate about like writing or getting this blog back up on its feet. But today, I received a very important reminder...

 
"You'll never guess who called for you today," my sister, Brooke, said over the phone to me at work. When she told me it was Dr. Hoffman, my family dentist since I was 6, I was more concerned than anything, since I'm not currently covered and thought that she wanted me to come in for an overdue appointment. As it turned out, Dr. Hoffman called because one of her dear friends just passed away on Sunday. She searched her friend's name online, "Piera Canella", trying to find her obituary. Along with announcements of her friend's death, Dr. Hoffman also came across a Crayons to Commencement post thanking Mrs. Canella from last year. Dr. Hoffman said she had read through the post and it had moved her to tears. She was so thankful that someone like Sam could encapsulate and memorialize such an inspirational person and teacher, and that there is a medium like this that existed to express it.

I remembered today the passion I thought I had lost for this blog - there are so many wonderful teachers out there who make such a difference. Their time with us is short, therefore it is important not only for the teachers themselves to know this, but for their family and friends as well.

As it turns out, I was just accepted to all of the teacher's college programs that I applied to last week, and I will be attending OISE in the fall. I hope to become an inspirational teacher myself, just like Mrs. Canella.

To Piera Canella's family and friends, my sincerest and deepest condolences. Although I never knew Mrs. Canella personally, it is evident that she left a legacy not only with those people whose lives she touched, but with so many more.

"This world is a better place because of her, and a sadder one without her." - Obits for Life

Piera Redenta Canella
June 16th, 1949 - April 7th, 2013

Although we're getting more and more submissions, Crayons to Commencement is still looking for more! If you are a parent or a present or former student and have any teacher that you would like to thank or recognize for any reason, please visit Creating a Message or our other pages for more information on how you can participate. If you are a teacher with anything you'd like to say about the movement, please feel free to email us at crayonstocommencement@gmail.com.

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Ms. X

(Source)

From one of our past submissions thanking a music teacher, we learned the value of an inspirational and passionate teacher of the arts, and how that passion can fuel students in the present into realizing the true value and gift of pursuing the arts in the future.

Although these kinds of inspirational ideas are evident to some students while they are in a teacher's class, for many students this realization resonates at a much later date. In fact, many times students may not even appreciate what a teacher is doing for them at the present time, and even if they do, they might not show it very well. I've talked about this with many different people about how what a teacher does for you isn't only about when you are in their class, but once you are outside of it. So many of the submissions for this blog are proof of that.

This next post is from a student thanking their high school drama teacher. They wished that all the names remained anonymous, because, as the student said, "I'm a little hesitant because I feel...what's the word...embarrassed? Yea, I'm a little embarrassed about how much this woman has done for me and how little I've given her in return."

The drama department at this student's school was "grossly underfunded, and we had rusty nails and splinters sticking out of a creaky old stage." Despite the conditions of the stage, this teacher did her best for her students and encouraged and help them grow on it. Regardless of how this student feels about what they were like in the past, this message is wonderful, and demonstrates the amazing resound that teachers have with us long after we leave their classes...or their stages.

"You taught me more on a stage riddled with rusty nails than I ever
learned in any classroom. Thanks for everything."

Anonymous

Ms. X

Mrs. Sanders

(Source)

As we've discussed so far throughout the blog, there are many different qualities that we can be thankful for in teachers. Whether they are outgoing, positive, understanding, or comical, the different attributes of every teacher makes them unique. However, one very important teacher trait is their ability to not only listen to a student or make a promise to them, but to remember it, check up on their student, and stay true to their word.

This next message is from Jonathan, thanking his Grade 6 Language Arts teacher, Mrs. Sanders. Jon apologized for the lengthiness of his message by comparison to previous ones, but given the unique and incredible story that he has to share about what happened, we've made an exception:


"Do you know who you were in 6th grade? If you wanted to know, how would you find out? Ask your parents? Ask your long-term friends? Look through that box in the basement full of art littered with misspelled words?

Last June, ten years after I graduated from 6th grade, I received a letter in the mail. The letter was addressed to myself. In my 6th grade handwriting. On the back, a 'Keep Out' skull and crossbones warned me not to open it if I wasn't REALLY me.

"If this is not me receiving this, don't open it!"

 I opened the envelope, and read a note from Mrs. Sanders.

'I doubt you remember this, but when you were in my class in sixth grade you wrote a letter to yourself.  We brainstormed many ideas of things you might want to write about.  I told you that I would mail the letter to you in ten years.  It's now been ten years, and here is your letter!'

When I look back on what I remember of myself in 6th grade, I remember that Mrs. Sander's Language Arts class was not one of my strong suits.  My reading comprehension was terrible, and vocabulary tests horrified me.  But Mrs. Sanders must have done an amazing job on inspiring us in this project.  Not only do I remember writing this, but I took my time with it.  I really wanted to warn myself of all the trials and tribulations I'd experienced by the time I was 12.

'Dear Geezer Me,

   First of all, I'd like to address that I wrote this letter 10 years ago in Ms. Sander's class (from your prospective*).  I worked hard on it, so take your time and read it.  It's your past life, not mine.  It's my present life.'

 I went on to address everything from gossip, to family, to insecurities on weight gain and social anxiety, to dreams of being a singer with an MTV Cribs house.  

   What's also interesting, out of the four-page letter was that I took a full page and a half yelling at myself to remember all of my teachers. As a 6th grader, I hated asking babysitters who they had for 2nd grade and them not remembering.  To me, who I had as a teacher was part of my identity.  I described my memories of every teacher from Kindergarden up to that point: Mrs. Paires, Ms. Ley, Ms. Buckner, Mrs. McDonough, Mrs. Meyers, Mrs. Wingo, and Ms. Owens.  Well, young me, I remember!  

Still a teacher at Wyoming Middle School, Mrs. Sanders sends out batches of hand-written letters every year.  That's pretty amazing.  Getting this letter was one of the coolest things I've EVER received in the mail.  

Thank you, Mrs. Sanders!

Sincerely,

Jonathan Kriner"

Jonathan Kriner

Philadelphia, PA, USA

Mrs. Sanders 

6th Grade 

Wyoming Middle School

Wyoming, OH, USA

*Sometimes we need more perspective before we can get our spelling just right.

Although we're getting more and more submissions, Crayons to Commencement is still looking for more! If you are a parent or a present or former student and have any teacher that you would like to thank or recognize for any reason, please visit Creating a Message or our other pages for more information on how you can participate. If you are a teacher with anything you'd like to say about the movement, please feel free to email us at crayonstocommencement@gmail.com.

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Chris Teacher

The submissions we've been receiving for the blog have been wonderful so far. There are so many special messages and stories that people have been sharing about educators that have helped them grow and learn. Although my hope is that these teachers will see these messages on the blog one day, the student in all of us needs to remember how special it is to have a good teacher, and how important it is to let them know how much you appreciate them. The day-to-day appreciation that students share with their teachers is irreplaceable.

At the English academy that Chris and I teach at here in Korea, we have the privilege of teaching so many wonderful students. We've received little tokens of appreciation in everything from smiles, hugs, half-eaten chips, chocolate, toys, stickers, gum, candy, scented hand cream, and even a burger (Chris's student knew he was a hungry person, so her mom made him a burger one day)! They even have Teacher's Day here in Korea on May 15th, a day dedicated strictly to giving thanks to teachers. So many countries that haven't yet adopted it (including Canada) definitely should!

Just the other day, one of Chris's students, Grace, made him a special little note. It probably took her all of three minutes to create, but it made Chris so happy to receive it, and he keeps it on his desk now to look at every day at work. 

 

"I am happy. Because of You ❤"

Although we're getting more and more submissions, Crayons to Commencement is still looking for more! If you are a parent or a present or former student and have any teacher that you would like to thank or recognize for any reason, please visit Creating a Message or our other pages for more information on how you can participate. If you are a teacher with anything you'd like to say about the movement, please feel free to email us at crayonstocommencement@gmail.com.

Like Crayons to Commencement? Join us on Facebook or Twitter!

Mrs. Canella

When all is said and done, any teacher can relay facts and information to their students, but it's the way they do it that makes all the difference. Perhaps the most important thing a teacher can do is inspire their students to look at the world differently, to look at others differently, and to look at themselves differently. This next message is from Sam to an inspiring teacher of her own:

"What can I say about Mrs. Canella...She taught English, Art, History, Math, Italian, Social Studies, and a bit of Science - but more importantly, she taught kindness, respect, self-worth, and how to look at the good in a situation. She taught me that I am a worth-while person no matter what my hair color, age, race, weight, shape, abilities, or disabilities. She showed her students that what you want to achieve is possible but YOU have to put in the work. No one can move mountains for you, you have to get over them on your own...

 

...I can't say enough about this teacher; she is an outstanding person. She introduced me to Edgar Allen Poe and my favorite movie of all time, Life is Beautiful. She taught me how to look kindly at myself and others. Whether she is in a classroom or in the parking lot, she has always taught me something. Thank you, Piera Canella."

Samantha Gordon

Pickering, Ontario, Canada

Piera Canella

Grades 10, 11, 12

North York

Age 14 - 17

Although we're getting more and more submissions, Crayons to Commencement is still looking for more! If you are a parent or a present or former student and have any teacher that you would like to thank or recognize for any reason, please visit Creating a Message or our other pages for more information on how you can participate. If you are a teacher with anything you'd like to say about the movement, please feel free to email us at crayonstocommencement@gmail.com.

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Mrs. Adamo-Foster

Elephants care for all of the herd's young, not only their own.

Teachers and parents. Whether you can call it a benefit or a burden, so many teachers find themselves on both sides of this coin. Not only do they work hard to educate their students at school, but they work very hard to raise children of their own. For those of us who are from a teacher's household (myself included), we can relate to the nights they come home tired, energized, excited, annoyed, or all of the above. There is a certain energy and entertaining quality to teaching that has left our parents with not only a wealth of not only facts and information, but experiences as well. As a result of being a teacher, teacher-parents have a unique and wonderful outlook on parenting that helps them raise us as a result.

This next message was written by Jennie to her favourite teacher, her mother; a teacher at St Ursula Catholic School in Toronto:

"Mrs. Adamo-Foster
My Mom
Educator for 32 years
My teacher for 26 years and counting..."

Although we're getting more and more submissions, Crayons to Commencement is still looking for more! If you are a parent or a present or former student and have any teacher that you would like to thank or recognize for any reason, please visit Creating a Message or our other pages for more information on how you can participate. If you are a teacher with anything you'd like to say about the movement, please feel free to email us at crayonstocommencement@gmail.com.

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Dr. Lois Kivesto

(Source)

First of all, my apologies for the gap between posts. Things have been hectic on my end lately, but alas, it is time for another commemoration to a teacher; this one specifically of musical variety:

Music teachers are all so different. They have their different streams, be they instrumental or vocal, their individual styles of preference, ranging from classical or jazz, to rock or contemporary, and the list goes on. They are also a group of teachers whose unique importance has been commemorated many times on the big screen. From the serious Music of the Heart with Meryl Streep, the comical School of Rock with Jack Black, or the inspiring Mr. Holland's Opus with Richard Dreyfuss, Hollywood seems to have an idea of just how important not only music, but music education is in our schools.

Unfortunately, there has been an ongoing problem with funding for music programs and music teachers in many school boards across North America. With the resources that are made available to them, many music teachers have a difficult time teaching what they want to in the way that they want to. Some schools don't have enough instruments for all of the students, so they can't bring them home to practice or play in class. Sometimes they can't order the sheet music that they want to teach to the

 group because it goes beyond the ramifications of the budget. Some teachers travel between many different schools without a home class of their own and teach music to hundreds of students. Conversely, given all of the environments that music teachers may find themselves in, there are still so many stand-out ones who are so wonderful, that despite the stresses of practices, concerts, and performances they may have, they work so hard to make a personal connection with so many of their students and often commit hours far beyond what is required of them. Because of this, their presence and insights travel way beyond graduation for many of their students. Good music programs in schools are very special, and the experiences that students have in them resonate far beyond the years and the classroom from which they were a part of.

This next post is dedicated to Dr. Lois Kivesto of Sir John A. Macdonald Collegiate Institute in Toronto. Not only a music teacher, but a math teacher as well, her former student Haley says she was "truly the most inspirational and passionate person I have ever had the pleasure to know. She knew how to make coming to school at 7:00am to set up chairs every week one of my fondest memories from high school. She has the personality and smile to brighten up any classroom (even a math class!) She wasn't just a teacher to us, but a friend and a mentor. She showed me that pursuing an artistic passion is the most worthwhile experience you may ever have!"

And so, Dr. Kivesto, this next message goes out to you:

"You taught me that a single note can be the most important one you ever play...
and a single word can be the most important one you ever say.
Thank you"

Haley

Dr. Lois Kivesto
Grades 7-12 (2000-2006)

Sir John A. Macdonald Collegiate Institute

Scarborough, Ontario, Canada

Although we're getting more and more submissions, Crayons to Commencement is still looking for more! If you are a parent or a present or former student and have any teacher that you would like to thank or recognize for any reason, please visit Creating a Message or our other pages for more information on how you can participate. If you are a teacher with anything you'd like to say about the movement, please feel free to email us at crayonstocommencement@gmail.com.

Like Crayons to Commencement? Join us on Facebook or Twitter!