With a couple of weeks left before retiring, some like to ease into that final day of work.
Certainly not the case for Ruth Brown, whose dream was to rush headlong toward retirement like an express train.
The Polar Express, to be exact.
A teacher for 34 years, Brown’s last few days at John Wise Public School in St. Thomas were spent organizing a pair of train trips to the North Pole – or Port Stanley in this case – with 280 kindergarten and Grade 1 students.
The two trips organized for Dec. 10 and 11 were aboard a Port Stanley Terminal Rail train leaving from right in front of the school down to Port Stanley and back.
Because for Brown, nothing says Christmas like a reading of the 1985 children’s book The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg.
It’s a tradition for Brown, a full-day kindergarten teacher.
You see, it all comes down to believing.
And weeks of preparation while learning all about trains and their colourful connection to St. Thomas.
No detail was overlooked, even the tickets to board The Polar Express.
For Brown, the two trips were nothing short of magical.
Truly, a dream come true for Brown.
The trip back to school included a couple of surprise visitors.
It was difficult to determine who was more excited, the teacher or her students.
Brown reiterated, it is all about believing.
Brown stressed she couldn’t have pulled this off on her own.
“I did want to mention that I had a fabulous volunteer team involving my family, my friends group, the whole FDK (full-day kindergarten) team, including teachers, ECE’s and EAS and, of course, the parents!
This culmination of a long-time dream made it possible for Brown to happily retire on the final school day before the Christmas break.
A fitting – and memorable – send off after a 34-year career as a teacher in St. Thomas and Elgin county.
Written by Ian McCallum
