February 2, 2009

Haitian Relief Rummage Sale: I would like to make a plea for hard working folks to volunteer to work the rummage sale on Saturday and Sunday. Please consider signing up for the open spots that have been designated for the Coe community. This is great opportunity to raise a significant amount of money for a great organization that can make a difference in Haiti but it will happen only if we have enough volunteers to carry it off.

I have a small moment to share with you. I wish I could share this verbally instead of in writing but I’ll try to do it justice. Saturday night Julie Bolz, my wife and I went to dinner at the Kabul Restaurant with four Afghan professors. The professors are here to pursue further studies at the UW School of Law and last year we got to know their predecessors fairly well so this was a get acquainted time. As we were being seated at the restaurant there were three young men at the table nearest ours who politely greeted the Afghan men in Dari. At some point during our meal another conversation began with them and I asked Professor Rahimi if the young men were college students. He replied that they were high school students with an exchange program and encouraged me to introduce myself as they spoke English very well. The first young man was attending Shorecrest High School and we had a brief conversation about the now famous video exchange between Shorecrest and Shorewood High School. The second young man introduced himself and shared that he was attending Ballard High School. That raised my interest level and I quickly told him that I was the principal of nearby Coe Elementary. Our conversation turned to opportunities for tutoring and volunteering and I quickly shared our involvement with Afghanistan, how our kids would love to meet them, our Day In The Life of An Afghan project and that a woman named Julie Bolz had started this all with us seven years ago. When he heard me say the name Julie Bolz the Shorecrest student interjected excitedly, “You know Julie Bolz?” I replied that I did indeed know her and that actually she was sitting at the other end of the table. On hearing that he jumped up and immediately went to Julie, grasped her hand, thanking her for all she has done for his country. It was a moment I will never forget, how his face lit up when I mentioned Julie’s name, his astonishment when I pointed her out and his obvious respect and praise for her and the work she has done. I don’t know how he heard of her and the schools, I’ll have to ask next time, but it was obvious she is a hero to him. Later on we had a chance to talk more, exchange contact information, meet their local host families and make plans to have them visit Coe. It was a wonderful evening and one that I hope will lead to more cultural exchange for our students. I solemnly promise to rewrite this to fit the true “Small Moment” fashion to share with students.

I should be way past this by now but somehow the spread of rumors never ceases to amaze me. Last week I heard that it is common knowledge that I get to take three Coe teachers with me to the new school next year, that I had asked three teachers and had been turned down by all three. Aside from the fact that there is not a shred of truth to any of the components of that rumor I felt my pride wounded a bit—all three? I decided to ask the staff if they had heard this and almost all had. I forgot to ask if they believed it and who the three teachers were. A second rumor is that the new principal is already chosen. I didn’t bother to ask who it is. I guess I would simply caution you to take stuff like this with a huge grain of salt whether you hear it from another community member or a staff member. Our BLT leadership, your PTA leadership and I are the ones most involved and will be able to answer what questions can be answered at this point.

Take Care,

David Elliott