Intervention

Last week was the third week of my new position as an interventionist in a public school system in Lubbock. The first two weeks were mainly organizational. I got to know many of the students. This week we actually launched. I work with students in Reading, Math and Writing, in grades 1st through 5th. While it would be great to have the income and perks of a full-time job (I work full-time only Oct-April) My calling is definitelty for intervention.


My students are wonderful. Most are very intellegent and capable but have changed schools from 3 to 6 times--and some of those were 2nd graders. They are behind simply because of no continuity in their education, from being moved so much. In spite of that hardship--they are bright, eager students. I hope I have the opportunity to work with them all year.

My new school has an incredible posititive personality which makes it a delight to be there. I can't begin to tell you the thrill I feel when walking down the hall and hear a little voice whisper loudly,. "Mrs. Hayes, Mrs. Hayes," I turn to find a little smiling face and hand, waving wildy.
My 5th grade students had an "Ah Ha" moment after doing poorly on a Place Value test when we played a game using the place value chart. I showed them that they could all have aced the test--by simply drawing the chart. Their teacher had told them that many times, but since I have such small groups, I can talk to each student directly. They can have hands-on experience and individual success, by asking me all sorts of questions they would not ask in the classroom. I don't know who enjoys their success more--them or me.
I alway thought I wanted a classroom teaching job, but now realize I have found my niche.

Mrs. Petit

                                                                                  Mrs. Petit

The luncheon started out with only the "Inter-City Elementary" people. (Inter-City is an elementary school that is in between Texas City and LaMarque hence the name). So the first thing that came to my mind was Mrs Petit who taught there for many years.I couldn't help but think how she would enjoy seeing some of her former studnets so I asked her to come. She was thrilled. I talked to her several times in the next few months and she continued to tell me how she was looking forward to the luncheon.

On the morning of the luncheon, Madeline and I went to LaMarque and picked her up.  She was dressed and waiting at the front door for us.  She got to see many of her former students and meet others from our class.  Just looking at her I could tell she was enjoying every minute of the luncheon.
I took her back to her house and visited with her for awhile.  She walked me out to my car.  As I drove away she was sitting on the little planter in front of her house waving.  That would be the last time I would ever see her.

The next Thursday I got an email telling me she had died.  Her neighbor, a widoewer, had noticed that she did not put her car in the garage as usual and went to check on her.  He found her lying on the floor in the kitchen.  She had died while making supper the night before.

The notice in the paper told nothing about her long teaching career--or that she had volunteered over 1,000 hours at the hospital.  I couldn't bear for this incredible person's life to pass away so quietly.  I decided to tell what those of us, who had been in her class, had felt all these years.  The following was published in the Galveston County Daily News;



Mrs. Petit Was Called To Teach



At the dinner after my mother’s funeral, I looked around at all the friends and relatives and thought to myself how much Mom would’ve enjoyed the gathering.  I resolved to visit those I loved while they were living instead of just going to a funeral.


I had the privilege of taking my third-grade teacher, Helen Petit, to the La Marque High School Class of 1970’s 40th reunion Oct. 9.   She had taught school in La Marque for many decades. Marrying Smokey Petit in her 40s, she never had children of her own — her students were her children.  Long widowed, she lived in her tidy house in La Marque, next door to a devoted neighbor who checked on her. She had battled cancer in her later years, and her face showed the scars of many surgeries. It didn’t stop her.


To be a great teacher, one must have a calling. Mrs. Petit was one of those teachers.
While with friends the following week, she had talked nonstop about the students she had seen at the reunion.
Six days later, she went to be with the Lord. It was almost as though she confirmed that day that her life had been well lived and her students well taught.


She saw those former students, now in their late 50s, each giving her a hug and sharing their memories of being in her class.


As I dropped her off after the reunion, she told me: “I can’t wait to tell my friends what a lovely time I had. I will have something to talk about for a very long time.”


Mrs. Petit touched her students’ lives in a very special, personal way. We each felt like we were the student she cared for the most.


I hope she left this world knowing we felt the same way about her. Mrs. Petit, you will be missed.

Jan Greenlee Hayes


Lubbock




























The Banquet at the Moody Garden's Ballroom

                                                                                    Leslie Gill Biesiadecki and Kay Fox Calhoun

Greg Mazzantini (r) who teased me and gave me grief all of my school years.

Kay Fox Calhoun and Me.  She was

Homecoming Queen and I was her dorky friend.

The 40th Reunion

I made my reservation early and as a result was on the complete opposite side of the hotel as everyone else but on the up side I had a beautiful suite, one of the few with a balcony.

The Dog Track Reception

Connie Hanks, Gary Syfert Jere Syfert and Kay Fox Calhoun

My high school memories were not all that great.  In fact I didn't even go to the 30th reunion.  Since then my parents have both died and I felt this incredible need to reconnect with my childhood. So I went--

It was really nice this time because all of us had a sort of mini-reunion in the 6 months leading up to the reunion.  We were able to get to know one another again--this time as adults.  I met so many amazing people that I had never known in high school.  At the reunion I got to spend time with them and got to know them even better.  So despite the old saying, "You can't go home again," you really can.

Madeline Chambers McGillacuddy, Jere Syfert, me, Yavon Byrkett Hill, Dianne Samuelson McCrary and Sharon Kurtz

Robert Meyer, Jere Syfert and Gary Syfert

Madeline McGillacuddy and Robert Meyer

Harold and Lindy Lieban Schultz and Jere Syfert

Madeline, Terri Barnes Thomas and Lynn Crisler McLendon

The Class of 70 Luncheon at Landry's in Galveston

Harold, Lindy and Gary Waites

Jane Beckhusen Martyn, Debbie Hutto Carlisle and David Cappolino

Anne Sheppard and Yavon Byrkett Hill--the tiger roar?

Pam Dickson Zwolinski, Dianna Martin Sentryk and hubby Mark

Madeline and Jere

Steve Turner, his wife Becky Stone, Cindy Walbe, and Helen Albright Hulsey

Unknown person, Karen Deyo, Barbara and Robert Meyer, and Suzanne Watson Hill

More pictures to come tomorrow!