Golden Brook School

As an employee for over 15 years at Golden Brook School, I would like to share some insight into the heart of all our schools' teachers, assistants, and staff. As many in our town may not realize, our GBS family has felt and seen much tragedy this past month. Many, in our schools, 
 in their own way, have found a way to lighten the load of those who were so devastated by the sadness their own families are going through. We have shown our love by attending wakes and funerals of their loved ones. We have made meals, sent cards, made phone calls, helped with lesson plans, to show our compassionate support not only to those who have lost loved ones but also to those who have had other tragedy at their doorsteps this past month. Everyone has been strong and resilient. Other Windham schools and the SAU have sent their staff over to help support our GBS community. Many school staff members came in early and stayed late to help where needed, on their own time. They were not asked, they just did it! Our amazing PTA came in and filled in where needed on duties outside of the classroom that were needed; recess monitoring, cafeteria duty, and any where else needed. You would be hard pressed to find anyone not still giving their 200% to our little students through this heartbreak that many were going through. Now, as a taxpayer, I want to also state from seeing hands on, how the school staff rose to unbelieveable heights to relocate and assure our first graders who had to be moved out of the portables. You saw people grabbng anythng on wheels so they could go out to the portables and move educational materials, supplies, children's creations, and much more into the GBS building. Staff buzzing by with carts full and smiles shining. By the bell, these classrooms looked like they were there at the beginning of the year, inviting and comforting to our wee ones. Teachers in second and thrid grade adopted those eight first grade classes and before you could blink an eye, that same day, before school began they had made up bags with goodies, fun things, and colored hearts to every first grade student from the portables, welcoming them to their new classrooms. If I did not see it with my own eyes I would not have believed it, given the enormity of the work involved to make these sweet first graders our number one prority! So in closing, I as many others, am proud to be a part of such a selfless, compassionate, and giving school community. Also as mentioned, this could not have been done without the support of our entire hard working school district, wonderful PTA, parents and volunteers who don't just talk the talk, but they walk the walk! "I have found that it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love."Gandolf