Awesome Attentive Audience JK to Grade 8 This Morning at St Elizabeth Seton Elementary School
It was certainly a blessed morning to be amongst such kind and friendly students and staff at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Elementary School. I felt honoured to be invited by Ms. D’Souza, Principal, to speak to all hers students.
When I arrived into the gymnasium, Mr. Naismith, grade eight teacher, already had everything set up for me. Mr. Naismith was a huge help for me this morning, as he was back in 2019, when I last presented at this blessed school.
Before starting my presentation, Ms. D’Souza gave me a wonderful introduction. While presenting, students from junior kindergarten to grade eight attentively listened. During the question period, Walker, a grade eight student, facilitated the question period. During my presentation, Max, a grade eight student too, helped to regulate the sound during my presentation. At the end of my presentation, Ms. D’Souza gave memorable closing remarks which highlighted my messages to the students. I was also given the opportunity to have my picture taken with many of the Educational Resource Workers and some of the teachers too.
While students left the gymnasium, many approached me. Aaron, an angelic student, said a heartfelt prayer for me that touched my soul. I was so grateful for his kindness and thoughtfulness. Many other students gave me the warmest smiles, waving at me as they left with genuine appreciation for my visit to their school today. I was touched by their sweetness.
Mr. Naismith stayed to help me put away the technology. He helped me out a lot today and I appreciated it wholeheartedly because it made a positive difference.
Once students returned to class, they completed Exit Tickets, which allowed each one to take a moment to reflect on my presentation. Below are excerpts from some of these:
Today I heard/saw … “Giselle Gaylie talk about challenges that she faced”
This made me think… “How it happened”
Now I wonder… “How she got through not talking and not walking”
Today I heard/saw … “very motivational speech from Giselle”
This made me think… “how does she manage to go over pot holes”
Now I wonder… “how does she always stay positive even when things look bad”
Today I heard/saw … “something awesome and cool”
This made me think… “that there was lots of challenges Giselle was able to overcome.”
Now I wonder… “if it was exciting when she first found out she can talk.”
Today I heard/saw … “Giselle telling us to be strong”
This made me think… “of how strong and brave you can be no matter what’s going on.”
Now I wonder… “How did she speak when there was no technology.”
Today I heard/saw … “Giselle talk about the challenges in her life and how she didn’t give up.”
This made me think… “about the fact that even if you have a disability, never give up.”
Now I wonder… “What are some other ways to help people with disabilities?”
Today I heard/saw … “Giselle”
This made me think… “about how she uses her computer”
Now I wonder… “How she feels”
Today I heard/saw … “I saw Giselle and heard how she talked”
This made me think… “This made me think that you should accept everyone.”
Now I wonder… “I wonder how can she play sports”
Today I heard/saw … “Giselle Gaylie say motivational things that inspire me.”
This made me think… “How I can appreciate life and give thanks to the Lord”
Now I wonder… “How I can show everyone kindness and give everyone a smile”
Today I heard/saw … “an inspiring story from Giselle about her struggles and accomplishments”
This made me think… “How can someone like Giselle keep moving forward even after so many set backs”
Now I wonder… “How can Giselle keep smiling even through her difficult times”
Today I heard/saw … “Giselle Gaylie”
This made me think… “how did that happen”
Now I wonder… “What’s her favourite colour”
Today I heard/saw … “How difficult it is for her”
This made me think… “How hard it is to live her life”
Now I wonder… “How does she translate through tech”
Today I heard/saw … “I saw and heard Giselle today.”
This made me think… “to accept everyone just the way they are.”
Now I wonder… “How it would be in her situation.”
Today I heard/saw … “Giselle overcome her challenges”
This made me think… “That if she can overcome her challenges anyone can”
Now I wonder… “If people did not like her because of her disabilities”
Today I heard/saw … “How different Giselle walked compared to us.”
This made me think… “What was it like when she was in high school.”
Now I wonder… “I wonder how long it took Giselle to get used to the technology.”
Today I heard/saw … “About the fact that someone so challenged can still wear the biggest smile.”
This made me think… “Of how gifted I am even due do the thousands of challenges I’ve faced.”
Now I wonder… “What it would be like to be truly disabled.”
Today I heard/saw … “Giselle being very encouraging & motivational.”
This made me think… “Anyone can be anything”
Now I wonder… “What can’t technology do?”
Today I heard/saw … “A beautiful woman who talk about perseverance and self acceptance.”
This made me think… “That I should do the same thing as her and love myself.”
Now I wonder… “That everyone should accept their body and love themselves.”
Today I heard/saw … “I heard Giselle’s story”
This made me think… “how lucky I am.”
Now I wonder… “What goes through her mind on a day to day basis.”
Today I heard/saw … “I saw Giselle and how she uses her”
This made me think… “This made me think How she do things”
Now I wonder… “now I wonder how she feels”
Today I heard/saw … “I saw Giselle and i heard inspirational words”
This made me think… “How much her disabilities affect her daily life”
Now I wonder… “If she gets mad about having disabilities”
Today I heard/saw … “A strong woman.”
This made me think… “How hard it was for her.”
Now I wonder… “What I can do to help disabled people?”
Today I heard/saw … “I heard how hard things are for her”
This made me think… “That things are no better on the other side.”
Now I wonder… “What it feels like.”
Today I heard/saw … “Giselle persevere through her challenges”
This made me think… “How hard it must be for her.”
Now I wonder… “If she will be able to walk on her own.”
Today I heard/saw … “Today I saw an amazing motivational speaker.”
This made me think… “She is so brave and confident”
Today I heard/saw … “the best motivational speech”
This made me think… “about God and kindness”
Now I wonder… “how does it feel to be a motivational speaker”
Today I heard/saw … “a great motivational speaker”
This made me think… “I feel grateful for my body.”
Now I wonder… “?”
Today I heard/saw … “I heard that she can walk”
This made me think… “that she can speak with that computer”
Now I wonder… “how old are you”
Today I heard/saw … “A great motivational speaker”
This made me think… “of how grateful I am for Who I am.”
Today I heard/saw … “an amazing woman”
This made me think… “how cool she is.”
Now I wonder… “can you write on paper.”
Today I heard/saw … “today I saw the best public speaker, truly”
This made me think… “about my life and how I can make it better”
Now I wonder… “how was your life as a teenager were you bullied?”
Today I heard/saw … “I heard Giselle I saw Giselle walk”
This made me think… “That we should be grateful for what we have”
Now I wonder… “how it feels to be on a wheelchair”
Today I heard/saw … “I heard a cool speech”
This made me think… “it made me emotional”
Now I wonder… “Now, I wonder how hard it was for her.”
Today I heard/saw … “loved your presentation A HAPPY girl! Her graduation”
This made me think… “How is my life different from hers”
Now I wonder… “How does she do daily tasks?”
Today I heard/saw … “I heard that no challenge stopped her from doing wanted to do”
This made me think… “That everybody is special even if they are different”
Now I wonder… “disabilities are more like abilities”
Today I heard/saw … “a motivational speech”
Now I wonder… “How she does her daily tasks”
Today I heard/saw … “Someone with a disability talking about her life”
This made me think… “we should be grateful for what we have.”
Now I wonder… “how she can write when did she become a motivation speaker?”
Today I heard/saw … “A strong, inspiring woman”
This made me think… “about how grateful I am”
Now I wonder… “if she is happy.”
Today I heard/saw … “saw her stand.”
This made me think… “how did this happen.”
Now I wonder… “How it feels to be a motivational speaker.”
Today I heard/saw … “I heard a motivational speech that was amazing.”
This made me think… “It made me think that I should not give up.”
Now I wonder… “I wonder how you live your daily life”
Today I heard/saw … “I heard her voice I saw her beautiful face”
This made me think… “to always be grateful”
Now I wonder… “have you ever met someone with the same disability”
Today I heard/saw … “A motivational speaker that never gave up”
This made me think… “this made me feel motivated”
Now I wonder… “How her thoughts turned into words”
Today I heard/saw … “happiness”
This made me think… “everyone can be happy”
Now I wonder… “how long it take for her to walk”
Today I heard/saw … “A pretty lady doing a speech”
This made me think… “everyone is different”
Now I wonder… “Nothing”
Today I heard/saw … “a motivational Speaker”
This made me think… “that she is not the only one going through this”
Today I heard/saw … “Giselle’s voice and I saw Giselle”
This made me think… “if Giselle can run”
Now I wonder… “What’s her favourite colour.”
Today I heard/saw … “Giselle”
This made me think… “that I feel bad”
Today I heard/saw … “The best motivational speaker”
This made me think… “Of how I can improve my life.”
Now I wonder… “How Giselle is so motivational.”
Today I heard/saw … “Giselle”
This made me think… “that she is strong.”
Now I wonder… “how old she is?”
Today I heard/saw … “Giselle I felt very bad for her and I hope she can continue like that.”
This made me think… “What if I were Like how would that feel.”
Now I wonder… “How was he born like that.”
Today I heard/saw … “She needed help and other stuff”
This made me think… “how hard it is for her”
Now I wonder… “how it feels”
Today I heard/saw … “Giselle cool nice”
This made me think… “She is an amazing girl”
Now I wonder… “does she like to read books”
Today I heard/saw … “Giselle”
This made me think… “that kindness is best”
Now I wonder… “our life is easier than hers”
Today I heard/saw … “her AI voice on the computer”
This made me think… “how hard it is for her”
Now I wonder… “what happened to her in her past school.”
Today I heard/saw … “Giselle public speaker”
This made me think… “how tough it was for her”
Now I wonder… “How hard it was for her parents”
Today I heard/saw … “That you should respect people”
This made me think… “I should be nice.”
Now I wonder… “how it is to have a disability”
Today I heard/saw … “Giselle.”
This made me think… “feel bad.”
Now I wonder… “how do people face this.”
Today I heard/saw … “That you came to our school”
This made me think… “Why she was in a wheelchair”
Now I wonder… “how she can be so strong.”
Today I heard/saw … “Giselle”
This made me think… “How hard it was for her.”
Now I wonder… “What is her fav colour”
Today I heard/saw … “Giselle”
This made me think… “From a book”
Now I wonder… “If I ever need a wheelchair.”
Today I heard/saw … “Giselle”
This made me think… “That she has a very hard life”
Now I wonder… “If she got bullied”
Today I heard/saw … “Giselle.”
This made me think… “That she could have a very hard life.”
Now I wonder… “What she does in her free time.”
Today I heard/saw … “I heard about Giselle and saw Giselle”
This made me think… “everyone is amazing”
Now I wonder… “How does having difficulty feel”
Today I heard/saw … “I saw a girl that is so strong”
This made me think… “that every child matters”
Now I wonder… “How old are you”
Today I heard/saw … “An amazing person named Giselle”
This made me think… “That I don’t have to go through things alone and there are people here for me.”
Now I wonder… “Do you Giselle like to listen to music?”
Today I heard/saw … “We saw how Giselle can stand and walk.”
This made me think… “How challenging Giselle’s life can be.”
Now I wonder… “How much does Giselle’s special equipment cost?”
Today I heard/saw … “When she was a baby she went through a lot at the hospital. When she was 4 days old she went to Sick Kids hospital. She told us to reach out for help.”
This made me think… “We should be grateful for our wellness and all we can do with our bodies.”
Now I wonder… “What is Giselle’s favourite colour? What is your favourite thing that you did in high school? What happens if your computer runs out of battery? How do you maintain your computer? Have you taken steps on your own?”
Today I heard/saw … “a girl with many disabilities and she was using a computer to communicate”
This made me think… “- how it would be to be a person with a disability – how difficult it is to have a disability”
Now I wonder… “Was it hard to move your body without help?.”
Today I heard/saw … “-She doesn’t have a favourite movie – She can stand on her own – She was sick when she was a baby -special chair and computer”
This made me think… “-To be happy – Sick Kids vs (hospital)”
Now I wonder… “Do you like your device?”
Today I heard/saw … “An amazing young woman who despite all obstacles has remained positive along her journey.”
This made me think… “What am I grateful for? How can I make a difference? How can I show kindness towards others?”
Now I wonder… “What other Greatness will she accomplish? Thank you for your amazing, inspiring message.”
Today I heard/saw … “Giselle Gaylie’s presentation She got assistance & medical help. She has challenges but keeps trying.”
This made me think… “She is a special person & unique She never gives up. She is kind and a hard worker She is an example for us She is a leader.”
Now I wonder… “How old she is? How did this happen to her? Why she needs one of those machines to talk?”
Today I heard/saw … ” ‘I heard about her life.’ ‘I heard she needed special things to help her.’ ‘She does hard things.’ ‘We saw she needs help walking.’ ‘I saw a wheelchair.’ ‘She was talking on the computer.’ “
This made me think… ” ‘She had difficulties in her life but she didn’t give up.’ ‘Me having difficulties, about reading.’ ‘Ask for help when you have difficulties.’ “
Now I wonder… ” ‘I think she can sing.’ ‘I wonder if she can write stories.’ “
Today I heard/saw … “Giselle Gaylie”
This made me think… “Like there are many nice people there is out there.”
Today I heard/saw … “A kind person”
Now I wonder… “If they had to go through obstacles.”
Today I heard/saw … “Giselle”
This made me think… “I can do anything”
Now I wonder… “you have taught me to follow my own path”
Today I heard/saw … “A kind and loving person.”
This made me think… “can we make the earth a better place?”
Now I wonder… “how it feels to have a problem?”
Today I heard/saw … “Today I beautiful person I heard you speak.”
This made me think… “I should be kind.”
Now I wonder… “Do watch sports.”
Today I heard/saw … “Giselle”
This made me think… “not everything is easy”
Now I wonder… “how much she tries everyday”
Today I heard/saw … “A kind person.”
This made me think… “About how hard stuff can be.”
Now I wonder… “I wonder how she feels”
Today I heard/saw … “A girl that is loving and kind”
This made me think… “Are other people like her?”
Now I wonder… “how to cure this”
Today I heard/saw … “a kind person”
This made me think… “to be kind”
Now I wonder… “I wonder if there are more people like you.”
Today I heard/saw … “I saw that she is so smart”
This made me think… “that she is the best”
Now I wonder… “how the computer works”
Today I heard/saw … “an angel”
This made me think… “everybody is wonderful”
Now I wonder… “if everybody can be like her”
Today I heard/saw … “A nice person”
This made me think… “everybody’s different!”
Now I wonder… “if there’s more people like her she’s not alone!”
Today I heard/saw … “a kind person”
This made me think… “to study”
Now I wonder… “When is Giselle coming back”
Today I heard/saw … “She was done college”
This made me think… “She’s smart”
Now I wonder… “If Giselle is ok to leave college”
Today I heard/saw … “Giselle”
This made me think… “how I would feel if I was like her”
Now I wonder… “how is it like using that device”
Today I heard/saw … “I heard some amazing things”
This made me think… “be so much kinder”
Now I wonder… “Should I help people”
Today I heard/saw … “A good person!!!”
This made me think… “I hope no one is mean”
Today I heard/saw … “I heard that people can be different.”
Today I heard/saw … “Giselle”
This made me think… “A nice person she was kind.”
Now I wonder… “I hope people”
Today I heard/saw … “that your a public speaker.”
This made me think… “how did you learn to talk with your thoughts.”
Now I wonder… “Why did you want to be a public speaker.”
Today I heard/saw … “An amazing and strong woman named Giselle Gaylie”
This made me think… “How does she eat and drink??”
Now I wonder… “How does the computer know what she is thinking?? and how does the world look like for her?”
Today I heard/saw … “a motivational speaker.”
This made me think… “how can I help people in need.”
Now I wonder… “If I can hear more speeches.”
Today I heard/saw … “I saw a strong and hard working mind”
This made me think… “of how even though life can be tough it can still be beautiful”
Now I wonder… “How long has Giselle been a public speaker?”
Today I heard/saw … “I saw a disabled lady”
This made me think… “how does she eat”
Now I wonder… “if all her problems were gone what will she do?”
Today I heard/saw … “Giselle Gaylie”
This made me think… “about bravery”
Now I wonder… “how does she eat”
Today I heard/saw … “A courageous person”
This made me think… “How independent she is”
Now I wonder… “How does technology help her”
Today I heard/saw … “a motivational speech / I saw hope”
This made me think… “that everyone matters”
Now I wonder… “is there more people that is also like this”
Today I heard/saw … “today I saw thing that I was not thing I am going to see.”
This made me think… “What am I going to do if i was her.”
Now I wonder… “how old is she.”
Today I heard/saw … “I saw a brave girl.”
This made me think… “If I’m luck to have a simple life”
Now I wonder… “if she struggled in the 2000’s with not so great teach.”
Today I heard/saw … “You should always be happy”
This made me think… “How is she so happy?”
Now I wonder… “How can she talk again?”
Today I heard/saw … “I saw how happy life was to her”
This made me think… “This made me think that She is wonderful person”
Now I wonder… “how does she sleep”
Today I heard/saw … “Giselle and how wonderful she really is.”
This made me think… “How life actually is not being able to talk everyday.”
Now I wonder… “if I can be as kind as Giselle is.”
Today I heard/saw … “a good person”
This made me think… “To be a better person”
Now I wonder… “how all that technology can do that”
Today I heard/saw … “The computer talking”
This made me think… “how the computer works”
Now I wonder… “Does she have anymore electronics to help her”
Today I heard/saw … “a Motivational Speaker”
This made me think… “I am unique in everyway”
Now I wonder… “How I can be like her?”
Today I heard/saw … “Today I heard a world talker speak today”
This made me think… “It made me think about God”
Now I wonder… “now I wonder how to talk in a nice term”
Today I heard/saw … “Today I heard a wonderful, empowering story about Giselle.”
This made me think… “This made me think despite all the set backs Giselle continues to live her life to the fullest.”
Now I wonder… “I wonder how long it took Giselle to learn to walk”
Today I heard/saw … “Someone with perseverance.”
This made me think… “that disabled people are less different than I think.”
Now I wonder… “what keeps people going for so far.”
Today I heard/saw … “I heard a strong beautiful girl.”
This made me think… “What is it like having a disability.”
Now I wonder… “how she must feel.”
Today I heard/saw … “Giselle persevere through her challenges”
This made me think… “How hard it must be for her.”
Now I wonder… “If she will be able to walk on her own.”
I feel blessed to have inspired these awesome students.
After everyone had gone, I was walking in the gym when two young students approached me with their completed classroom Exit Ticket. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Frank, a primary teacher, brought most of the other completed Exit Tickets from most of the classrooms. Another teacher followed with their Exit Tickets too. Everyone was so kind and prompt to complete them for me, just before their lunch too.
As I continued to walk in the corridor from the gymnasium, I saw many students and they all smiled at me, and I smiled right back as they headed out for lunch recess. They’re truly awesome students!
As I continued in the hall, I saw other kind hearted teachers, who graciously greeted me and I took my picture with a couple of them too.
Before leaving, I went into the office to thank Ms. D’Souza for inviting me. We took pictures together and she gave me the warmest hug before I left. I loved my time here, at this blessed St. Elizabeth Seton school, and I wholeheartedly thank students and staff for making my team and me feel so welcomed.
