Awesome Attentive Audiences at Queen of Heaven Elementary School

It was wonderful to arrive at Queen of Heaven Elementary School this morning and to be so warmly welcomed. My heart was truly overjoyed to see Ms. Gizzi, School Principal. She was a teacher at Christ the King Elementary School, when I attended. I felt honoured to be invited by her.

As a Guest Speaker, I did two public speaking presentations this morning. My first presentation was to students from grades five to eight. My second presentation, which was right after the first, was to students from JK to grade four.

My first presentation was on the Relationship with Self and the Virtue of Love. Before I got started with my first presentation, Ms. Gizzi gave me a wonderful introduction. Throughout my first presentation students attentively listened. A few questions were asked by students, following my presentation, to which I happily replied.

Right after the first presentation, I did my second one. The second presentation was on Ask for Help / Kindness / Acceptance / Inclusion. This audience was sweet and engaged with my presentation too. They, asked some questions and I happily replied.

After each one of my audiences, Ms. Fernandes, the Vice-Principal, provided kind words of thanks.

Once students returned to their respective classrooms, the teachers provided their students with the Exit Tickets, I brought. These Exit Tickets are in place to help students reflect on my presentation.

The following are some of the Exit Tickets from students on the Relationship with Self and the Virtue of Love:

Today, I heard / saw … “Today I saw a presentation about love and self love!”

This made me think … “How could I love myself as I would love my friend?”

Now, I wonder … “What gift makes me special? How can I use my gift to help others and myself?”


Today, I heard / saw … “About getting confident in her life.”

This made me think … “About loving ourselves the way we are.”

Now, I wonder … “more about of what else she does and other things.”


Today, I heard / saw … “the stories and challenges of her life”

This made me think … “of parents also with CP.”

Now, I wonder … “What happens after schools.”


Today, I heard / saw … “that even with hard things in your life you can always turn it to a good thing.”

This made me think … “I should keep working hard & smart to achieve my dreams.”

Now, I wonder … “what we can do to help Giselle & everyone.”


Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle speak and tell us her life and kind things.”

This made me think … “I felt wanted and I was more loved.”

Now, I wonder … “It must have been hard for Giselle to do her daily life.”


Today, I heard / saw … “The girl and her voice.”

This made me think … “of happy and thinking about her and how she works like this.”

Now, I wonder … “What she is doing at home.”


Today, I heard / saw … “You can set your focus and accomplish anything.”

This made me think … “That you are a great person no matter what anybody says to you.”

Now, I wonder … “how many people go through the same thing as Giselle.”


Today, I heard / saw … “I saw that she can walk”

This made me think … “I think nice”

Now, I wonder … “I wonder practice a lot if she can walk”


Today, I heard / saw … “the amazing presentation Giselle and her mom made.”

This made me think … “To never give up!”

Now, I wonder … “What I can do to have a better mindset.”


Today, I heard / saw … “how you can love yourself and feel good”

This made me think … “about life, hope and self love”

Now, I wonder … “if more people will be encouraged”


Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle’s hard challenges”

This made me think … “My challenges in my life.”

Now, I wonder … “what I should self reflect on.”


Today, I heard / saw … “A strong girl with the ability to do anything.”

This made me think … “that even though sometimes life might be hard you can accomplish anything”

Now, I wonder … “what she thinks about other people.”


Today, I heard / saw … “A beautiful presentation and a voice machine”

This made me think … “How EVERYTHING can be possible if you try hard and put your mind to it.”

Now, I wonder … “How I can accomplish my dreams …”


Today, I heard / saw … “That everyone matters “

This made me think … “Everyone deserves a second chance”


Today, I heard / saw … “How Giselle moved on with her life. She also showed us all the messages about self and love.”

This made me think … “Of how Giselle had come such a long way. I feel happy for her. ????.”

Now, I wonder … “If I was her I would do the same thing.”


Today, I heard / saw … “I saw a presentation about self and love.”

This made me think … “about how some people are struggling to do what other people easily do.”

Now, I wonder … “How long Giselle known how to walk”


Today, I heard / saw … “a slide show on love and not to give up.”

This made me think … “That I shouldn’t give up in hard times.”

Now, I wonder … “what its like to have a disability”


Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle’s kindness and respect to others”

This made me think … “Showing kindness, respect, and love”

Now, I wonder … “If I am rude and should I change my actions”


Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle talking about loving everyone.”

This made me think … “Love everyone for who they are.”

Now, I wonder … “Why bullies like to bully?”


Today, I heard / saw … “to never give up”

This made me think … ” always start again”

Now, I wonder … “what is there to not to give up?”


Today, I heard / saw … “We are amazing”

This made me think … “About the challenges in life”

Now, I wonder … “What has she done for others”


Today, I heard / saw … “I heard what somebody that is disable sounds like.”

This made me think … “Be equal to everyone and listen to everybody”

Now, I wonder … “How it feels like or how they will fix it in the future.”


Today, I heard / saw … “My mom sad. I don’t know why.”

This made me think … “Did I do something to make her sad.”

Now, I wonder … “What can I do to help her.”


Today, I heard / saw … “Someone.”

This made me think … “of how hard it is to be different.”

Now, I wonder … “of someone who is different.”


Today, I heard / saw … “The importance of myself and how I see myself.”

This made me think … “be yourself because God made you.”

Now, I wonder … “What would life be if everybody is perfect?”


Today, I heard / saw … “today I heard about love.”

This made me think … “That I should love everyone and everything.”

Now, I wonder … “Should people love everyone”


Today, I heard / saw … “My friend”

This made me think … “Is everybody your friend”

Now, I wonder … “Should I trust my friend”


Today, I heard / saw … “We are all unique.”

This made me think … “about the challenges she did.”

Now, I wonder … “What kind of challenges she went through.”


Today, I heard / saw … “that every child matters because they are a child of God”

This made me think … “that I matter and so as other kids”

Now, I wonder … “no one needs to be perfect they are perfect the way they are.”


Today, I heard / saw … “That anything that happens never give up!”

This made me think … “Would that change my life”

Now, I wonder … “What would happen if I never gave up?”


Today, I heard / saw … “To love yourself.”

This made me think … “About my family and me.”

Now, I wonder … “Are others like that.”


Today, I heard / saw … “How to care about myself”

This made me think … “that everybody matters”

Now, I wonder … “How sad it could be to live like that”


Today, I heard / saw … “how I’m a star, and God loves me.”

This made me think … “how the people around me is making me who I am.”

Now, I wonder … “how Giselle does it all.”


Today, I heard / saw … “Today I heard someone speaking about self – love. I saw a colourful and heartfelt presentation. I saw Giselle walk.”

This made me think … “This made me think, of all the great, unique things about me.”

Now, I wonder … “Now I wonder how Giselle went through a hard time and coped with it.”


Today, I heard / saw … “I saw a beautiful presentation. I heard Giselle’s life accomplishments”

This made me think … “About how I can support someone who feels bad about themselves”

Now, I wonder … “If I will ever see Giselle again.”


Today, I heard / saw … “Today I heard / saw how Giselle overcame her cerebral palsy”

This made me think … “This made me think how lucky I am to be me.”

Now, I wonder … “Now, I wonder how many more challenges Giselle will over come.”


Today, I heard / saw … “I heard that Giselle has to speak through a computer.”

This made me think … “This made me think, how does she input it”

Now, I wonder … “Who different does she think.”


Today, I heard / saw … “I saw a girl named Giselle”

This made me think … “It made me think life is one and you need to live it to the fullest.”


Today, I heard / saw … “Someone not giving up because of how they are / look.”

Now, I wonder … “How many challenges she had to overcome to get to this stage in her life?”


Today, I heard / saw … “I saw amazing technology and heard words of happiness.”

This made me think … “About who I am and who I want to be.”

Now, I wonder … “If she can come back again.”


Today, I heard / saw … “The commitment … into a wonderful presentation.”

This made me think … “How people have the ability to get through challenges.”

Now, I wonder … “How I can … to this and ask how other people can as well.”


Today, I heard / saw … “Today I saw Giselle doing a presentation on love and self worth”

This made me think … “this made me think how brave and strong she is.”

Now, I wonder … “I wonder if Giselle will make more accomplish”


Today, I heard / saw … “I heard Giselle teach us about love”

This made me think … “how thankful I should be”

Now, I wonder … “Why Giselle takes it harder on herself.”


Today, I heard / saw … “I heard that she overcome her challenges. I saw someone who is trying to make a difference.”

This made me think … “This made me think I should love myself for who I am.”

Now, I wonder … “how hard it is for her to overcome all the challenges.”



The following are some of the Exit Tickets from students from the second presentation on Ask for Help / Kindness / Acceptance / Inclusion:

Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle Gaylie’s presentation”

This made me think … “How I can be a better person”


Today, I heard / saw … “A girl that told us an interesting story about her”

This made me think … “It’s interesting”

Now, I wonder … “How hard it is for her”


Today, I heard / saw … “A presentation by Giselle Gaylie”

This made me think … “What made her wanna become a Public Speaker”


Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle Gaylie talking”

This made me think … “Wow that’s cool”

Now, I wonder … “If were all capable of everything.”


Today, I heard / saw … “to her. She has inspired me to try to be a public speaker”

This made me think … “How she could have talked.”

Now, I wonder … “How she can talk without technology”


Today, I heard / saw … “I saw a girl who talked about her life.”

This made me think … “How much strength and courage she has to be a public speaker.”

Now, I wonder … “Now, I wonder how many presentations she has done.”


Today, I heard / saw … “a public speaker.”

This made me think … “How does the pad work”


Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle Gaylie’s presentation”

This made me think … “How hard it is to be her.

Now, I wonder … “What school is she going to next.”


Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle Gaylie talk about her story.”

This made me think … “This made me think everyone is special in their own way.”

Now, I wonder … “How do you talk through the computer?”


Today, I heard / saw … “I saw Giselle telling us about her story.”

This made me think … “Wow she’s unstoppable.”


Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle Gaylie talking about her story, and reminding us that we are perfect.”

This made me think … “that everyone is special in everyway and no one should be left out.”

Now, I wonder … “how you speak through the tablet / computer?”


Today, I heard / saw … “A wonderful kind woman named Giselle Gaylie”

This made me think … “Of how much I love myself.”


Today, I heard / saw … “Today I saw Giselle”

This made me think … “To be kind to one another”

Now, I wonder … “How can I be like Giselle Gaylie.”


Today, I heard / saw … “You should never give up”

This made me think … “how hard it would be to not talk”

Now, I wonder … “When she will be back”


Today, I heard / saw … “Never back down”

This made me think … “I can always have fun”

Now, I wonder … “when will she come back”


Today, I heard / saw … “Everyone can help others”

This made me think … “I can help others too. I can be nicer.”

Now, I wonder … “Can meet that challenge?”


Today, I heard / saw … “* I heard to be kind *I saw to dodge obstacles”

This made me think … “That I can be brave too”

Now, I wonder … “If I can be nicer to my school”


Today, I heard / saw … “I heard she had hard times.”

This made me think … “that it was hard for her”

Now, I wonder … “it probably hurt.”


Today, I heard / saw … “I heard a nice voice.”

This made me think … ” * To be nice.”

Now, I wonder … ” * I wonder if we all have problems.”


Today, I heard / saw … “That you can accomplish more with more than one”

This made me think … “That I can help & be more confident to ask for help.”

Now, I wonder … “How can I help other people around me?”


Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle”

This made me think … “That’s really cool”

Now, I wonder … “How I can overcome challenges”


Today, I heard / saw … “I heard lot of sad things and heard sad things”

This made me think … “this made me think I feel bad for her.”

Now, I wonder … “Now, I wonder how it would feel not to talk.”


Today, I heard / saw … “A nice girl that can’t talk.”

This made me think … “This made me think how does she walk?”

Now, I wonder … “How she eats.”


Today, I heard / saw … “How Giselle can speak with the computer”

This made me think … “What does it feel like having what she has.”


Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle’s challenges and how she overcome them.”

This made me think … “I’m special I’m important She inspires me”

Now, I wonder … ” * can anyone over come these challenges”


Today, I heard / saw … “a nice girl that cant talk.”

This made me think … “We can do anything!”

Now, I wonder … “if she can ever talk or walk”


Today, I heard / saw … “That a sweet girl cannot talk because of abilities”

This made me think … “How does she eat or use forks.”

Now, I wonder … “How she writes”


Today, I heard / saw … “Someone different and unique!”

This made me think … “She has been through so much and she is always happy.”

Now, I wonder … “What can she also do?”


Today, I heard / saw … ” * Kind messages and a girl that is very unique”

This made me think … ” * That everyone is unique”

Now, I wonder … ” * What else can she do?”


Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle Gaylie That Giselle has a disability”

This made me think … “She is really smart and confident to one day to start walking.”

Now, I wonder … “Has Giselle ever spoke?”


Today, I heard / saw … “People could have more than 2 disabilities and function the same as people can”


Today, I heard / saw … “I saw happiness”

This made me think … “to be nice”

Now, I wonder … “I wonder if she could do things”


Today, I heard / saw … “I heard that she has a computer that help her talk”

This made me think … “her life is hard but she make it easy”

Now, I wonder … “does she have a job?”


Today, I heard / saw … “Ask for help if you need it!”

This made me think … “She is an awesome person”

Now, I wonder … “how did you learn how to walk”


Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle needs help to walk.”

This made me think … “We should be happy for who we are.”

Now, I wonder … “can I be as strong as her?”


Today, I heard / saw … “Even if you are in the toughest time you should never give up”

This made me think … “Everyone is different in their own ways.”

Now, I wonder … “What special thing is going to happen in my life?”


Today, I heard / saw … “Today I heard something like everyone is different. I also saw some Bible lines.”

This made me think … “That everyone is different.”

Now, I wonder … “How do people get through these challenges?”


Today, I heard / saw … “That she could not walk on her own.”

This made me think … “how is life like for Giselle?”

Now, I wonder … “how Giselle thinks walks and talks.”


Today, I heard / saw … “When Giselle walked it was hard but she never gave up.”

This made me think … “everyone is special!”

Now, I wonder … “is God perfect?”


Today, I heard / saw … “I heard Giselle say everyone should be loved.”

This made me think … “that others will do the same to support”

Now, I wonder … “Would the other autistic people be able to communicate and be … “


Today, I heard / saw … “She is very special. Giselle never gave up”

This made me think … “I think she is very kind”

Now, I wonder … “is it hard for Giselle”


Today, I heard / saw … “today I saw some videos of Giselle.”

This made me think … “this made me think that she is an amazing person.”

Now, I wonder … “Now I wonder where is Giselle going?”


Today, I heard / saw … “Today I heard Giselle say that God does not make mistakes.”

This made me think … “of when I was younger when I made mistakes”

Now, I wonder … “Giselle is a special and a same person.”


Today, I heard / saw … “A lovely message”

This made me think … “my brother never gives up”

Now, I wonder … “if she will walk again”


Today, I heard / saw … “God made me this way and God doesn’t make mistakes”

This made me think … “is everyone special”

Now, I wonder … “Everyone is special”


Today, I heard / saw … “She was different from us”

This made me think … “to be kind and include people”

Now, I wonder … “I wonder if she will come back to talk us again”


Today, I heard / saw … “I saw pictures of her in high school”

This made me think … “What I hear do not follow the path learnt me tell how go you right with a pencil”

Now, I wonder … “how do you use your machine to speak and how does it know what to say”


Today, I heard / saw … “That you had a lot of help”

This made me think … “When where you born”

Now, I wonder … “how hard is it”


Today, I heard / saw … “A wheelchair”

This made me think … “to be nice”

Now, I wonder … “if she could read”


Today, I heard / saw … “I heard all about her life.”

This made me think … “It made me think if she will live a long life.”

Now, I wonder … “I wonder when she will walk.”


Today, I heard / saw … “a video about Giselle.”

This made me think … “to be kind”

Now, I wonder … “What else she does at home’


Today, I heard / saw … “I saw a wonderful presentation.”

This made me think … “How everybody should be loved.”

Now, I wonder … “If she will ever be able to walk on her own.”


Today, I heard / saw … “Today I saw a nice presentation.”

This made me think … “it made me think I can do anything”

Now, I wonder … “I wonder if you can walk by yourself one day”


Today, I heard / saw … “I saw a big computer. I heard a video”

This made me think … “How u feel and how you are going walk”

Now, I wonder … “how do you type”


Today, I heard / saw … “I saw a great presentation”

This made me think … “I thought about my life.”

Now, I wonder … “I wonder if she could read. I love your dress!”


Today, I heard / saw … “I saw a nice presentation for Giselle”

This made me think … “this made me think of the virtue of hope”


Today, I heard / saw … “computer”

This made me think … “to be hopeful”

Now, I wonder … “can you read”


Today, I heard / saw … “I saw a computer”

This made me think … “that I can do anything”

Now, I wonder … “can she read”


Today, I heard / saw … “A presentation about Giselle.”

This made me think … “that you are a good person.”

Now, I wonder … “if you can walk, and read”


Today, I heard / saw … ” – A great presentation, it’s definitely going to help others.”

This made me think … ” – how could I improve on myself. – will others try to improve on each other.”

Now, I wonder … ” – will you come back to QofH. I think that your msg will help more people.”


Today, I heard / saw … “I heard that technology being used and saw the technology for the first time.”

This made me think … “Why do people think to be rude to someone if they are in a struggle.”

Now, I wonder … “What if I had something like this, and I had to work with it, How hard will it be.”


Today, I heard / saw … “I heard a message that told me that you should never give up. I saw a girl that pushed through the bad times and never gave up.”

This made me think … “that I am really lucky to have this wonderful life!”

Now, I wonder … “Why did God pick me at this time to come here out of all the people he could have chosen.”


Today, I heard / saw … “Special technology”

This made me think … “We are all special in different ways”

Now, I wonder … “I wonder what it’s valued”


Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle special”

This made me think … “Giselle”

Now, I wonder … “She is a fighter”


Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle special technology”

This made me think … “She is a fighter never gives up were all special in different ways.”

Now, I wonder … “Why does she have to press a button to make the technology work?”


Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle and special technology and also Giselle’s presentation”

This made me think … “That Giselle never gives up and we are all different and gifts of God and that we are not a mistake.”

Now, I wonder … “how will Giselle learn to walk by herself? When will Giselle get her own house? Is Giselle married? Does Giselle have other jobs other than a public speaker?”


Today, I heard / saw … ” * Special technology * Giselle”

This made me think … ” * Never gives up *She is a fighter”

Now, I wonder … ” * If anyone bullied her *If she ever said a word”


Today, I heard / saw … “* Giselle * Special technology”

This made me think … “*she is a fighter * never gives up “

Now, I wonder … “how the chances are to get her disease”


Today, I heard / saw … “Special technology”

This made me think … “She is a fighter”

Now, I wonder … “if she can hold stuff”


Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle and her special technology”

This made me think … “She is a fighter that never gives up.”

Now, I wonder … “How we  could make sure everyone loves themself.”


Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle and her parents”

This made me think … “We are all different”

Now, I wonder … “What will happen in the future”


Today, I heard / saw … “I saw special types of technology”

This made me think … “we can love each other even if we are all different”

Now, I wonder … “if she can walk by herself at any time”


Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle”

This made me think … “this made me think about my aunt that is special too.”

Now, I wonder … “Now I wonder if she will always be like this”


Today, I heard / saw … “today I saw what all people have the right to education and their needs”

This made me think … “No matter what a person is, he can always be happy and happy with everything”

Now, I wonder … “I was surprised how cheerful Giselle is and how she perfectly understands everything”


Today, I heard / saw … “today I heard Giselle talking with a computer which is cool”

This made me think … “this made me think why she became a speaker”

Now, I wonder … “Now, I wonder how the speaking thing works”


Today, I heard / saw … “Today I saw Giselle teaching us to be happy.”

This made me think … “This made me think that I should never give up and keep working hard.”

Now, I wonder … “Now I wonder if Giselle will make more accomplishments in the future.”


Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle try her hardest to give us a presentation about never giving up.”

This made me think … “to never give up on your goals and dreams.”

Now, I wonder … “how she will be in the next 10 years”


Today, I heard / saw … “A strong woman who presented about love and kindness.”

This made me think … “love can be in different ways”

Now, I wonder … “if people would change.”


Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle walking and Giselle answering questions very well”

This made me think … “how is she so good at presentations”

Now, I wonder … “if she thinks different then us”


Today, I heard / saw … “that no matter how different we are we can do anything”

This made me think … “If Giselle did it then I can do many things too!”

Now, I wonder … “I saw that Giselle was smiling the whole time and I wonder if I can do that too because it made me happy when I saw her smiling.”


It was truly a blessed morning. Ms. Fernandes was most attentive throughout the morning. I met many great teachers, amongst them, Ms. Sivongsay and Ms. Brissett. Everyone made me feel so welcomed.

I am truly thankful to Ms. Gizzi and Ms. Klein for inviting me to their school. I am very happy to have inspired such awesome attentive audiences at Queen of Heaven Elementary School.