I enjoy surfing the net and communicating with selected friends in cyberspace. I frequent the Teacher's Lounge since it paves the way to meeting new friends and exchanging valuable information with fellow educators some of whom I've already met in person. It is good to place the face with the cyber-being!
I still attend Teacher's Workshops and In-Services. New ideas are being fleshed-out and shared within a collegial forum and innovative programs are highlighted. It also keeps me on the cutting edge of appropriate and accepted practices. I get to know inspirational teachers who encouraged me to look beyond the gymnasium as well as meet unselfish mentors who shared everything they know. The BEST PE leaders volunteer on committees and councils, possess remarkable reputation and that's the kind of organization I want to be aligned with. It makes me feel good!
In October of 2004 I received the Manitoba Physical Education Teachers Association (MPETA) Regional Recognition award for delivering quality physical education program in our region, for outstanding effort, exceptional leadership, and community involvement. Five years earlier, in 1999, I received the province-wide MPETA award from president, Laurel Hanna. I have also been recognized by other groups for a few contributions: the Mickey Ranson Award - Knights of Columbus Indoor Games, Thompson Teachers Association - Thirty Year Club honoree; Mystery Lake School Division - for outstanding contribution to Education and Heart and Stroke Foundation for 25-year involvement with their Jump-Rope-for-Heart program. I enjoy my job immensely and it is such a humbling experience to be recognized by your colleagues.
I consistently make an effort to keep up with the latest happenings pertaining to active and healthy lifestyle for my self improvement. I strive to always have a "ME" time daily in order to rejuvenate and get energized. I am a regular member of the 100 Kilometer Swim Club and Thompson Waterslide Committee. I enjoy doing the activities being offered by Nintendo's WII FIT. What a great invention.
I am also a member of the St. Lawrence Roman Catholic Parish Council and presently a Lector in our parish. In February 2013, I was re-commissioned as Lay Presider in our Church and on Sundays when we have no priest available I serve as the leader of prayer for the congregation. It is such an extraordinary service that I can provide to those around me. The Gospel and Readings that I hear in Mass help me to grow spiritually and to know better my own faith.
The Inner Me: I am a steadfast and patient soul, capable of tremendous devotion, dedication, endurance, and constancy. The ability to follow through and stick with things is one of my greatest assets. Once my course is set, I pursue it tenaciously until it is completed, stubbornly resisting any attempts to sway me from my purpose. My mind operate in a very deliberate and methodical manner. I dislike being rushed or forced to give an opinion before I have thoroughly ruminated and digested an idea. I am also difficult to influence once my mind is made up.
My husband,Tony, worked in INCO (International Nickel Company) at the Refinery Department. INCO is no more. Vale has dropped the INCO name from its mining company this year(2010)and is now known as VALE. It feels like we've lost part of Canadian mining history with the disappearance of the INCO name. Tony retired in December, 2005 after 30 and a half years of service in this company. He is an excellent troubleshooter, an avid reader and a wise shopper. He reads the Consumer's Guide, canvasses quality products and always makes time to compare prices. As an accountant he is very knowledgeable in handling money matters. Tony is also a tailor and can sew almost anything from mens' entire tailor suit ensemble to our daughters' jazz suit, communion dress and prom outfits! He personally made his own outfit ensemble for our daughter Precious' wedding held July of 2003. Tony is also an excellent cook and a black belter in karate so he knows all the human body's pressure point. That is a big plus when he gives me massages! So there's my significant other! Am I lucky or what? *wink*
We are blessed with four wonderful children. They are my greatest accomplishments and my source of endless pride. Their essence are in my soul. I feel blessed and forever thankful to our Lord for them. All of my children are computer literate and are very technically inclined which certainly worked to my advantage! I don't have to go elsewhere for needed help.
I have always been supportive of my childrens' activities. They were very dedicated members of their high school band. Having all four of them in the symphonic band made me decide to get involved as a member of the Thompson Music Parents Association. I chaired the Concession Committee for quite a number of years and chaperoned most of the school's band trips . R.D.Parker Collegiates' Symphonic Band have been regular participants at the annual World of Music Festival and have been to California, Minnesota, Toronto and Alberta. Their Jazz Bands are also active partakers in out of town Jazz Festivals . Victor plays the trumpet with passion. He taught English as a second language in South Korea for three and a half years and during his teaching break traveled with fellow teachers to Vietnam, Thailand,and Burma for much deserved holidays. Rex is an awesome trombone player, finished his MBA and works with RBC. He supervises all GM Car Dealers both in Manitoba and North Western Ontario. Precious loves the clarinet and is extremely busy being an elementary teacher. She and her husband enjoys the warmth of Mexico, and just came back from two weeks of snorkeling in Cuba this February. My first-born, Fairy, enjoys playing the flute. She is actively involved in acting and modeling. She wowed Olympic Fashion lovers during the Fashion Showcase at the Aboriginal Artisan Village and Business Showcase located at the downtown campus of Vancouver Community College. The Fashion Showcase ran from February 12-28, 2010, and showcased three of Canada’s most established designers and five of the country's most-promising design talents as they exhibit traditional and contemporary designs inspired by the rich history of the First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. Her latest TV/Movie, "The Hunter" was aired December, 2013
My activities outside regular teaching included coaching track and field events and a variety of team sports. I choreographed dances, organized noon-hour school programs such as Rhythm and Dance, Skipping Club, Traditional and Artistic Gymnastics, Tabloid Sports, Leadership Training program and Cheerleading sessions. The latest noon-hour activity which I introduced fall of 2004 was very well received by my students. It is the exciting sport of SPEEDSTACKING! This beneficial activity promotes hand-eye coordination, ambidexterity, quickness and concentration. These are all the skills needed to excel in both sports and academics. When students are cup stacking, they're using both sides of their bodies and brains to develop skills needed to dribble and shoot a basketball, throw and catch a baseball, play a musical instrument, type on a computer and more. Other things I did were planning field day activities and coordinating staff and students games. I also got ambitious once and selected some intermediate students and taught them how to play the ukulele. I found ukulele playing to be a very pleasant experience and a wonderful way to unwind.
My claim to fame was coaching a group of very dynamic and talented skippers known as the "Skipping Sensations". We did a lot of performances in schools and community functions to promote the Jump-Rope-for-Heart program sponsored by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. The year 2007 is our 25th year of fund raising for the Manitoba Heart and Stroke Foundation. For more details about my jump rope demonstration team take a look here!
