The Alberta Teachers’ Association

June holds particular significance because it’s the time of year that I make sure that all the little mementos that have come my way over the past 10 months are carefully gathered, taken home and placed in a special memory box.

Ah, June! There are few words that inspire teachers more, except perhaps hearing about fresh doughnuts in the staffroom, or that your class was a delight for the sub. Both are rare but always welcomed!

For me, June holds particular significance because it’s the time of year that I make sure that all the little mementos that have come my way over the past 10 months are carefully gathered, taken home and placed in a special memory box. One day, upon my retirement, I will reminisce over three decades of collected memories and create a “career scrapbook” or an epic multi-media presentation. I’ve got some time yet to figure out which way will work best.

This year, I have a particularly rich set of memories to preserve: happy first-day colleague selfies, supportive notes from my teaching besties, a picture of my high school CTS students creating a working 3D-printed maglev train and images of my Grade 8s and 10s attending Skills Canada for the first time are definitely the highlights among them. However, it may be the penciled note I found on the side of my teacher computer that becomes the most enduring memory of this year.

I was away for a day, and upon entering my room the next morning I found a yellow Post-It with a laboriously pencilled message from “that student”— you know, the one who often takes the most out of you, but yet you keep giving because our gift tells us that we can help make a difference. In basic block letters he wished me a very happy day, and included his name as well. In the years I’ve known him, I’ve never seen such a display of affection. My sub assured me that it was authentic, that he had asked if he could write it and place it there.

I was humbled. I’ve not touched it or removed it in the five months since I received it, and it has given me that little boost we all need on many a day.

I will definitely remove that little yellow note with care and carefully place it in my memory box, along with all the rest of the treasures I’ve collected this year. Perhaps while time remains in this busy month, you’ll have a chance to collect and store your special mementoes too, because soon we’ll hear a word that sounds even better than June and fresh doughnuts — July! ❚

Ray Suchow teaches computers, religious studies and information processing at Christ the King School in Leduc.