Hello,

I am a preschool teacher in the Rideau Child Care Centre located in Rideau High School, and I have a story to share with you

When the preschoolers go for a walk upstairs in the "big school" we always take the blue rope. All the children know that they need to hold onto the rope so that we all stay together, stay safe, learn something and have fun. On this particular day we were visiting the Music room because the "big kids" were getting ready for an assembly and they needed a live audience to practice for. We are always ready to oblige by being an audience, especially in the Music and Drama rooms upstairs. As we hold onto our blue rope and travel down the hall we are very quiet because the big kids are studying. As we pass by the rooms some of the big kids look up from there work and smile at us. When we arrive in the music room the the teacher asks the big kids to stop their warm up and get ready to play. We take our place as the audience and look around in fascination at all the big kids and their musical instruments. They begin their performance. We all smile and clap at the end and always ask for more. They continue to play, but this time each student takes a turn to play us a song on their instrument, and tell us a little bit about it. A drum roll, "hot cross buns" on the clarinet, "jingle bells" on the trumpet, "Mary had a little lamb" on the saxophone, and "Oh Canada' all together. The students are so proud of their work and very happy when we guess correctly the songs that they are playing. As we say thank-you and get back on our blue rope, the big kids all smile at us and thank us for being such a wonderful audience. The preschool children leave the music room all whispering about which instrument they want to play when they get bigger. We continue on our way down the halls of Rideau. As we pass by the grade nine science room the door is open. As I look into the room my eyes meet up with Kyle's. We exchange a smile and a wave. Ten years ago Kyle was a preschooler holding onto the blue rope. He was learning and sharing experiences in the big school while his mom studied upstairs. You can't see Kyle's rope anymore but it's there. It was there for him at Manor Park and at Queen Elizabeth public schools, and now back again at Rideau. All the time he has held on, felt safe, learned something, and had fun. Don't cut the rope. It is needed in this community. This type of learning is so precious. There are many more stories in the community like this one you just need to listen to them. If Rideau closes, many wonderful learning opportunities will perish. Find a way to keep Rideau open.

Thank-you for the opportunity to share this story with you,

Kind regards,

Roxanne McCaffrey. R.E.C.E