Heartfelt Afternoon Speaking to the Wonderful Staff and Students at St. John Henry Newman Elementary School
Shortly upon arriving at St. John Henry Newman Catholic Elementary School, I was warmly greeted by Mrs. Arbelo, Grade two and
three teacher. She, along with Mr. Moroniewicz, Grade two teacher, organized
and coordinated the afternoon events in the gymnasium: The Virtue of Love
assembly. Mrs. Arbelo kindly directed me and my team to the gymnasium, where we
met Mr. Moroniewicz. He had everything already set up in the gym for the
liturgical reading by students and for my presentation that afternoon too.
Before students came into the gymnasium, Ms. Arbelo was very kind to distribute
the Exit Ticket envelopes to the Grade three to eight students and the Exit
Sheets to the Junior Kindergarten to Grade two students.
Once lunch ended, classes started to populate the gymnasium. Classes of
students came in and sat nicely row by row. During this time, Ms. Scorziello,
Principal, came into the gym too. She was so very happy to see me, as I was to
see her again too. I last saw Ms. Scorziello at her former school, Holy Family.
It’s always a blessing, when a Principal invites you to their school to present
as a Guest Speaker, and an extra special blessing when they invite you again!
It wasn’t long thereafter that the Virtue of Love Assembly started with the
sweetest students leading us in prayer, starting with the Sign of the Cross,
and the prayer, ‘Our Father’. Readings followed. Then one of these wonderful
students introduced me. It was heartfelt. Shortly thereafter, I started my
Motivational Public Speaking presentation on the Relationship with Self and the
Virtue of Love. Throughout my presentation, the students were kind, attentive
and patient. They were truly a love-ly audience.
Once my presentation ended a Question-and-Answer period ensued. Mr.
Moroniewicz, once again, was very kind to facilitate this. As students raised
their hands to ask me questions, Mr. Moroniewicz took the microphone to them.
Many hands were raised, and I answered as many questions, as time allotted.
A wonderful student thanked me for my presentation. It was beautiful.
Another student and teacher asked all the students, who were recognized for the
Virtue of Love to stand. Everyone applauded them.
Yara, a grade eight student and aspiring photographer, took pictures on
behalf of the school, of the whole audience from the stage. Once students began
to leave the gymnasium, the students, who were recognized for the
Virtue of Love, remained and I had my picture taken with them.
Mrs. Arbelo and Mr. Moroniewicz thanked me for my presentation and shared
some kind words with me too. Mrs. Arbelo went out to do yard duty, while Mr.
Moroniewicz remained, and he helped to put all the technology away.
After recess, students completed their Exit Tickets, which are short
reflections of the afternoon’s events. Here are excerpts from many of these
received back:
Today, I heard / saw … “I heard that even people with disabilities are the same as us”
This made me think … “everyone should be treated the same.”
Now, I wonder … “how do people feel when they are treated differently”
Today, I heard / saw … “a woman speak who can not speak. She needs a technology to talk.”
This made me think … “of how she made everything work. She is a great woman.”
Today, I heard / saw … “I heard an inspirational talker”
This made me think … “about my actions in the past”
Now, I wonder … “How my actions can affect someone”
Today, I heard / saw … “her walk”
This made me think … “to Love others”
Now, I wonder … “How long it will take to walk.”
Today, I heard / saw … “I heard Giselle use does speakers to speak”
This made me think … “that we all different”
Now, I wonder … “She found a way to communicate like us”
Today, I heard / saw … “I heard an inspiring speech performed by a young lady who brightens up the room with her smile.”
This made me think … “I think I will try to inspire now”
Now, I wonder … “I wonder why she became such an inspiring speaker”
Today, I heard / saw … “a wonderful virtue assembly”
This made me think … “How to be more kind and respectful.”
Now, I wonder … “How to be respectful and kind towards others.”
Today, I heard / saw … “a person who talked to us”
This made me think … “it was cool (the presentation)”
Now, I wonder … “if it was longer”
Today, I heard / saw … “the way we should treat each other”
This made me think … “have I been hurtful to someone recently?”
Now, I wonder … “If I can improve my persevering skills.”
Today, I heard / saw … “how her life is like”
This made me think … “that be grateful for everything”
Now, I wonder … “if people will be nice to her”
Today, I heard / saw … “Saw someone’s view on the virtue of love.”
This made me think … “to be inclusive and love each other.”
Today, I heard / saw … “a brave person speaking”
This made me think … “kids need to hear this message”
Now, I wonder … “would I be courageous enough if I had CP?”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw a girl talking with a computer”
This made me think … “can she play video games”
Now, I wonder … “how tall are you”
Today, I heard / saw … “no matter who you are you are amazing”
This made me think … “I can do anything”
Now, I wonder … “is there more people like her”
Today, I heard / saw … “how her life was and experiences.”
This made me think … “that everyone no matter who they are.”
Now, I wonder … “How she spends her life now inspiring others with her story”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw a disabled woman that’s motivation and never giving up.”
This made me think … “People should be more nice”
Now, I wonder … “How did she go through all of that negativity.”
Today, I heard / saw … “That it is really hard for some people to do stuff like other people”
This made me think … “That it’s not right to make fun of people that can’t do stuff.”
Now, I wonder … “if people will be nice to people that can’t do stuff.”
Today, I heard / saw … “Today I heard or saw Giselle walk and to be able to talk on the device with us”
This made me think … “This made me think that people with disabilities can do the same thing as us”
Now, I wonder … “This made me wonder about her and her challenges.”
Today, I heard / saw … “the kindness of the strong woman.”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle talking about love and kindness”
This made me think … “about how much a nice person Giselle is.”
Now, I wonder … “more about Giselle & her love.”
Today, I heard / saw … “I heard about ur life. I saw u and the presentation”
This made me think … “about love and people with disabilities”
Now, I wonder … “I wonder more about you and your love”
Today, I heard / saw … “The pictures of Giselle growing up.”
This made me think … “How it was for her growing up”
Now, I wonder … “How we can make the world a better place”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle”
This made me think … “She is good for … her problem”
Now, I wonder … “I want to be her friend”
Today, I heard / saw … “a person who can overcome her problems”
This made me think … “Can I?”
Now, I wonder … “Should I?”
Today, I heard / saw … “about a diagnosed kid.”
This made me think … “none is treated different”
Now, I wonder … “everyone matters”
Today, I heard / saw … “a girl who had an ability and what she did in her life.”
This made me think … “How did she live?”
Now, I wonder … “How many schools did she present to?”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle”
This made me think … “how many friends she got”
Now, I wonder … “If she will go to another school.”
Today, I heard / saw … “An AI talking for a girl named Giselle”
This made me think … “I feel so bad for her I wish she was my friend!”
Now, I wonder … “if she’s happy the way she is”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw people talking about love.”
This made me think … “About showing love”
Now, I wonder … “How do people show love?”
Today, I heard / saw … “A girl named Giselle”
This made me think … “I felt bad because of her story”
Now, I wonder … “If I could be her friend”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle and her voice thing”
This made me think … “how hard it would be to be like her”
Now, I wonder … “how cool she is to facing her problem”
Today, I heard / saw … “Today I saw Giselle. Today I heard Giselle make a speech”
This made me think … “About happy times”
Now, I wonder … “how will she be”
Today, I heard / saw … “ways to show love”
This made me think … “how can I show love to myself and others”
Now, I wonder … “What if nobody showed love?”
Today, I heard / saw … “talk about her growing up”
This made me think … “how did she deal with bullies growing up”
Now, I wonder … “How it was for her to try walk.”
Today, I heard / saw … “I heard / saw Gaylie.”
This made me think … “of people that are special”
Now, I wonder … “how they feel”
Today, I heard / saw … “This young lady came in today”
This made me think … “This made me think she could do anything and nothing is impossible”
Now, I wonder … “If I can be confident too.”
Today, I heard / saw … “a girl in a wheelchair”
This made me think … “how to respect people”
Now, I wonder … “how successful her life could be”
Today, I heard / saw … “today I heard that the condition she had was called cerebral palsy”
This made me think … “this made me think how do people get cerebral palsy?”
Now, I wonder … “Now I wonder can you get cerebral palsy at any age?”
Today, I heard / saw … “I heard about someone’s life”
This made me think … “I should be thankful”
Now, I wonder … “Why am I different”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw Giselle and I heard things about her life.”
This made me think … “It made me think about how priviledged I am”
Now, I wonder … “how long it took for her to learn how to stand by herself.”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle talking about her life”
This made me think … “how privileged we are”
Now, I wonder … “how many people have cerebral palsy”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle and how she lived.”
This made me think … “how privileged we are”
Now, I wonder … “how many people suffer from this”
Today, I heard / saw … “a girl in a wheelchair called Giselle.”
This made me think … “Why she was put into this situation.”
Now, I wonder … “What caused this to happen.”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw Giselle and heard how she lives.”
This made me think … “how lucky I am to be me.”
Now, I wonder … “how long it took for her to stand.”
Today, I heard / saw … “A girl in a wheelchair”
This made me think … “how they got through life”
Now, I wonder … “how they can be successful in life”
Today, I heard / saw … “A girl in a wheelchair”
This made me think … “That it’s a gift from God”
Now, I wonder … “How successful they could be”
Today, I heard / saw … ” – she spoke with a computer – she walked with a walker She is amazing!”
This made me think … “of my family”
Now, I wonder … “Is she happy when talking to schools and sharing.”
Today, I heard / saw … ” – saw her baby pictures – saw video of her – I heard to be yourself.”
This made me think … ” – to love myself – to learn ways that helped with her trouble.”
Now, I wonder … ” – I love my family – I love myself – to help people more.”
Today, I heard / saw … ” – kind messages – videos and pictures of Giselle’s life – her family”
This made me think … ” – she couldn’t walk with leg – her age and size – not to bully people”
Now, I wonder … ” – she loves her family”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw how people can write fast and turn it into a speech”
This made me think … “how Giselle can type really fast”
Now, I wonder … “I wonder if she will ever walk on her own”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw Giselle do a public speaking about love and her sickness”
This made me think … ” * How did she get treated in school / public places? * Is her sickness painful?”
Now, I wonder … ” * What motivated her into public speaking? * How is it like to be in the special machine?”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw her use the machine and that looked cool to me”
This made me think … “how did she do all this with a disability”
Now, I wonder … “I wonder if she will ever be able to walk by her self”
Today, I heard / saw … “A public speaker with a disability and she was talking about love.”
This made me think … “How did she overcome her ups and downs?”
Now, I wonder … “How is it like to be a public speaker with a disability?”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw your walking brace”
This made me think … “how long did it take to go through training.”
Now, I wonder … “how long it took to learn on it?”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw Giselle I heard how she had cerebral palsy”
This made me think … “No one is the same and we unique”
Now, I wonder … “how many wheelchairs or standers”
Today, I heard / saw … “I heard about cerebral palsy”
This made me think … “it made me think how her disability started”
Now, I wonder … “I wonder what caused the disability / disease.”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle tell us about her story.”
This made me think … “How she really handle really mean comments”
Now, I wonder … “How people treat her in public.”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle”
This made me think … “How much she had to deal with as a kid like if she got bullied for her disorders.”
Now, I wonder … “how do you get this type of disorder. “cerebral palsy””
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle Gaylie.”
This made me think … “about Giselle’s disability.”
Now, I wonder … “about Giselle and how she can stand.”
Today, I heard / saw … “a beautiful presentation on self love.”
This made me think … “about how she can do these things and be so confident.”
Now, I wonder … “about the disorder.”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle’s machine computer and it was cool how she can type quick with it.”
This made me think … “that anything is possible even if you have a disability.”
Now, I wonder … “Has there ever been a moment where she gave up?”
Today, I heard / saw … “today I saw Giselle talk about love”
This made me think … “that anybody can do anything.”
Now, I wonder … “What her hobby is like What games she likes to play or if she likes to cook”
Today, I heard / saw … “a wonderful presentation from Giselle”
This made me think … “if cerebral palsy can grow bigger inside of her and make her permanently.”
Now, I wonder … “how she was able to fight the cerebral palsy at a young age”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw that in her life with a disability you still have a challenge”
This made me think … “how do you skate with a standing bar”
Now, I wonder … “with all the training can Giselle walk”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw Giselle present her disability.”
This made me think … “It made me think how she lives daily.”
Now, I wonder … “How she types so fast”
Today, I heard / saw … “how Giselle’s life was when she was a baby.”
This made me think … “What if I was her that my life would be sad.”
Now, I wonder … “did she get bullied a lot when she was a kid.”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw Giselle explaining how she worked through her ups and downs and how she can walk a little bit now.”
This made me think … “How Giselle was going through cerebral palsy can do so much to a person.”
Now, I wonder … “I wonder how she used to talk before if she didn’t have the computer thing”
Today, I heard / saw … “Today I heard Giselle talk about bad influences.”
This made me think … “that people with disabilities think the way we do”
Now, I wonder … “I wonder if people with disabilities could play sports because they are human like us.”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle’s experiences through life”
This made me think … “that people can do anything they put their mind to”
Now, I wonder … “if she will ever learn how to walk”
Today, I heard / saw … “that everyone can learn”
This made me think … “about how we should think about others.”
Now, I wonder … “why some people can’t love others”
Today, I heard / saw … “to never back down.”
This made me think … “How can I better myself.”
Now, I wonder … “Why people don’t love everyone.”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw how she worked through her problems.”
This made me think … “That no matter what we should treat everyone the same.”
Now, I wonder … “I wonder why some people don’t love each other.”
Today, I heard / saw … “Today I heard about Giselle’s life”
This made me think … “this made me think how her story is about”
Now, I wonder … “How is her life will be.”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw a beautiful presentation”
This made me think … “People can achieve great feats”
Now, I wonder … “How people with disabilities can achieve great things without loving parents and friends”
Today, I heard / saw … “A brave girl facing her problems (Your so pretty by the way)”
This made me think … “How brave she is.”
Now, I wonder … “how her life will be”
Today, I heard / saw … “to not let negative comments”
This made me think … “that I shouldn’t let other people defend me”
Now, I wonder … “What my future will be”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle’s presentation & the virtue winners”
This made me think … “I like Giselle’s outfit & “
Now, I wonder … “how does Giselle … & how does she tell someone she needs something”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle’s experience”
This made me think … “about what challenges she went through”
Now, I wonder … “how she coped growing up”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw a leader that had to go through stuff but got through it”
This made me think … “it made me think people can be very strong”
Now, I wonder … “I wonder if other people can be like her”
Today, I heard / saw … “A presentation on Love”
This made me think … “Everyone is capable of anything”
Now, I wonder … “If people have a change of a mindset”
Today, I heard / saw … “Today I heard very inspiring words”
This made me think … “people are creative and important”
Now, I wonder … “I wonder what I can do to be confident in myself.”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw Giselle Gaylie”
This made me think … “of how to make people included”
Now, I wonder … “how to make people included You matter.”
Today, I heard / saw … “A life story and a nice public speaker”
This made me think … “How other kids are treated that have the same disability”
Now, I wonder … “How she does certain things like getting dressed in the morning or doing daily activities”
Today, I heard / saw … “A nice lady with a disability presenting”
This made me think … “anyone can do anything no matter what”
Now, I wonder … “What I can do to help others.”
Today, I heard / saw … “The presentation about the person with disabilities”
This made me think … “Even disabled people can accomplish things”
Now, I wonder … “What else can they do with enough hard work”
Today, I heard / saw … “they were talking about love”
This made me think … “what if it happened to me”
Now, I wonder … “how to make people included”
Today, I heard / saw … “a public speaker”
This made me think … “that people have different lives”
Now, I wonder … “why people treat people bad”
Today, I heard / saw … “A public / Motivational speaker (Love)”
This made me think … “how everyone is unique the way God made them”
Now, I wonder … “if we could be like that too”
Today, I heard / saw … “a motivational speech showing that anyone can follow their dreams”
This made me think … “how could I follow my dreams?”
Now, I wonder … “What other things can I accomplish?”
Today, I heard / saw … “a public speaker named Giselle”
This made me think … “that people have different lives”
Now, I wonder … “why people treat people bad”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw that life is challenging”
This made me think … “what people go through”
Now, I wonder … “how it work for them.”
Today, I heard / saw … “a Public speaker named Giselle”
This made me think … “how everyone is loved and included”
Now, I wonder … “Why people can’t at least try to be nice”
Today, I heard / saw … “a Public Speaker named Giselle”
This made me think … “this made me think that people have different lives”
Now, I wonder … “Why people can’t try to be nicer or try to accept”
Today, I heard / saw … “a pretty speaker”
This made me think … “that everyone can do anything”
Now, I wonder … “What I can do”
It truly was a beautiful afternoon full of love and kindness. I’m so glad, I
was a part of it, and I’m so pleased, I was able to inspire them.
While walking out from the gymnasium, I saw Ms. Duarte and Ms. Donkor, who
shared they enjoyed my presentation. I was overjoyed with their kind comments.
Some students, walking in the hallway, asked me if I can take my picture with
them. I was absolutely delighted. While in the foyer, Ms. Scorziello came out
from her office. She expressed very encouraging words to me. I appreciated it
very much!
While in the foyer, I came across more teachers and Educational Resource
Workers, who also shared very kind words to me. I felt so blessed to have made
a positive impact to so many staff and students. There was Ms. Francis, Ms.
Valentine, Ms. Stephanie, Mr. Nick, Ms. Strachan and Helen, the Administrative
Assistant.
While I met all these teachers, I also saw many students too, who
said, hello, to me, while I was in the foyer of the school. Yara also kindly
offered to go around to the classes to collect the Exit Tickets. In the
meantime, there were a few students, who returned their Exit Ticket envelopes
or Exit Sheets directly to the office.
Before leaving, Mrs. Gaylie went to see Ms. Scorziello, who was busy in her
office, to say Good-Bye and to thank her for inviting me to her school. It was
truly an honour for me to be invited by her as a Guest Speaker, and to speak to
all her awesome students.
