Last month teacher Brenda Turner wanted her Grade 1 class at Didsbury's Ross Ford Elementary School to understand the basics of the importance of building a community.
And then it occurred to her that the Winter Olympics in Sochi were only a month away, and what better way to guide six- and seven-year-olds to a better understanding of community than through sport teams ñ especially ones heading to the world's grandest competition.
She also knows Paul Hunter, the physiotherapist and medical lead for the Canadian national long track speed skating team.
So why not create a special care package for the team in the form of a book created by her Grade 1 class?
"We talked about what makes you feel better if you are injured or hurt so the kids had suggestions like ice packs, hugs, kisses and candy and pretty Band-Aids, not the plain ones, and a book with good pictures to look at,î said Turner. "We gathered up some of those things and the kids wrote a book with pretty pictures with words of wisdom, like ëDon't get hurt' and ëHave fun', all of that sort of thing.î
The book, created by 19 students, was completed with 20 pages full of inspirational messages and pictures. And along with providing a big hand up for Canada's athletes, the project was also an inspired starting point to help the children better understand building a community and sports at the highest level.
"That is a really difficult concept for a six-year-old -- how can you help somebody else? That was the big one for me, and the second one was to bring in a personal connection into the Olympic Games,î said Turner. "It is a huge concept for little children. And also the fact that someone they may see competing has held a book in their hands that they have sent to them.î
The book was delivered to Hunter and to his Calgary workplace, the Marda Loop Sport Physiotherapy clinic. The school project was immediately seized with heartfelt appreciation for the inspiration it gave to the team.
"It is great to see young kids get inspired and interested in the Olympic Games and the power of sport,î said Hunter. "Ms. Turner's class talked about different sports at the Olympic Games, athletes, coaches and support staff.
"As a physiotherapist and part of the medical team we work behind the scenes. Our greatest satisfaction is seeing our athletes do well,î he added. "Receiving the Book of Encouragement from the Grade 1 students at Ross Ford Elementary added that extra excitement to show me and the speed skating team that what we are experiencing is something really special.î
The Book of Encouragement was shown to the entire national long track speed skating team and members eagerly posed with it for photographs, which were uploaded on the clinic's Facebook website.
"What I had anticipated is that we might have gotten an email from Paul saying thanks for the care package. I never thought he would go to such a degree,î said Turner. "Basically he is doing it for the kids, and I thought that was above and beyond the call of duty in my world, because I am sure they are thinking about this thing called the Olympic Games as opposed to six- year-olds and seven-year-olds in Didsbury that he has never met.î
And of course the kids in her class were thrilled to see their work proudly displayed on the Internet. They also received an extra bonus by learning what the Olympics are all about, as well as seeing first-hand how much their efforts were appreciated by the athletes.
"They really don't know much about the athletes. They now know a little bit about speed skating. After they watch the speed skating events they are going to be much more excited,î said Turner. "They were very excited that their book went halfway around the world. They looked on the globe and looked for Russia and the Black Sea. They were quite astonished that their book had travelled such a distance.î
