Stories of Kindness from Around the World

TJ is one of our bonus year third graders. He came to our school site last August with facial scarring, a pronounced limp, and braces on both of his legs due to a major car accident that kept him out of school for six months. TJ is presently physically limited in his abilities to navigate our school campus. Does that slow him down much...Nope!

TJ has,along with his Dad, Reggie, and his paraprofessional Sue, started a Flashlight Science Club. Kids are given flashlights to check out the darkened science room, full of embalmed bugs, snake shed, antlers, petrified wood, and other treasures.

Weekly as the students gather, TJ takes the microphone, and step by step shares detailed instruction on the proper use of the small flashlights. The no longer used space, aka science room is then darkened to only a single surface light above the exit, and for the next 30-45 minutes, the kids can check out the "stuff".

A limit of ten participants per day is welcomed, and each Grade 2 or Grade 3 student along with their parent/guardians sign a consent form. Every Monday, during the Professional Learning Community early release afternoon, kids are busy, forming connections and learning about "cool and kind of gross" science wonders.

This space, which is silent for the remainder of the week, comes alive with Light and Learning. TJ is the ambassador, which is an ongoing commitment that he takes very seriously. Since Oakview School started this science club in October of 2016, students are much more friendly towards TJ, and he is quite the knowledgeable source.

By TJ's example, other students are now adding their own "treasures" to the science club coffers. Last week there were additions of a shelf fungus on a deciduous log, and a petrified set of shark teeth.

Through Light and Learning is a lesson in Living Well.