Teacher's legacy lives again for 100th day


Mitchell Elementary School third-graders from left, Erik Martinez, 9, Roman Munoz, 9, Samantha Montoya, 8, and Annessa Henderson, 8, react to a display of 100 earth-worms during a celebration of the 100th day of school in the Atwater School District.

By Abby Souza
ASOUZA@MERCEDSUN-STAR.COM


Last Updated: January 31, 2007, 12:30:51 AM PST

ATWATER -- One hundred discarded socks, macaroni shells, candles on a cake and live worms were just some of the items exhibited at Mitchell K-6 Elementary School on Tuesday.
In honor of its 100th day of school, each class at the Atwater campus collected 100 of something to put on display.

The celebration also was held to celebrate the life of Barbara Smith, a teacher in the Atwater Elementary School District for 17 years who died Jan. 20 of Lou Gehrig's disease.

A kindergarten teacher for 15 years there, the 54-year-old Smith always made a big deal of the 100th day of school.

"This is her kind of thing," said Shelley Bowen, a sixth-grade teacher at Mitchell. "(The celebration) really incorporates her spirit."

Every class got involved in the celebration, both collecting items and touring the campus to view the displays in front of each classroom.

Students took special interest in all the food exhibits. Doughnuts, candy bars, soda cans, and Fruit Loops caught many students' eyes and stomachs.

But the favorite display was undoubtedly the night crawlers that second-grade teacher Mike Powell had sitting in front of his classroom.

Sixth-grader Tim Janz, 11, said those worms were his favorite.

"They're cool," he said, watching the night crawlers move through the mud in their plastic jar.

Bowen said while the 100th day celebration is usually a kindergarten and first-grade activity, many teachers have found ways to incorporate it into their curriculum.

"My students will be writing about this later," she said.

The assignment will be to describe their favorite collection on display at school Tuesday and what they would suggest for a 100-piece collection of their own.

"How about 100 gallons of battery acid," said Bowen's student, 11-year-old Cody Baron.

Baron said he liked the marshmallows the best.

"They should collect 100 more," Janz chimed in.

Bowen said conversations about the collections continued in her classroom after the tour.

"Students were amazed that 100 macaroni shells were so minute compared to other things," she said.

Activities like this that make learning fun were right up Smith's alley, Bowen said.

"If we had any event, Barbara was there," Bowen said, remembering Smith's bunny and clown costumes she would wear to school.

She also enjoyed dressing up as a queen when her class was studying the letter Q, Bowen said.

"Kindergarten was her life," she said.

Third-grade Mitchell Elementary School teacher Gina Peters said Smith took a medical retirement last year when her disease made it too difficult to teach.

"She wouldn't have retired yet," if not for her health, Peters said.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis -- or Lou Gehrig's disease -- attacks motor neurons throughout the body, destroying the brain and spinal cord.

A memorial service was held for Smith on Thursday afternoon, but Tuesday's event was just as much of a memorial as anything else, Bowen said.

"This is a wonderful way for the kids to remember her," she said.

Reporter Abby Souza can be reached at 385-2407 or asouza@mercedsun-star.com.

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Inspired by ex-head's sporting prowess
A MAN whose sporting prowess and exceptional leadership skills encouraged hundreds of people to push themselves to the limit, whether walking, playing badminton or cross country ski-ing, has died.
Ralph Bailey (77), a former teacher and headmaster, died peacefully surrounded by his family in Clitheroe Hospital on Saturday.
Mr Bailey was dealt a huge blow two years ago when he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
Despite the rapid onset of the illness, he remained resolutely determined to fight it until the end, continuing with his regular bridge playing sessions until just a few weeks ago.
Born and raised in Accrington, he grew to love the Ribble Valley as a young man, enjoying frequent camping expeditions into the area as a King's Scout and exploring the narrow country lanes on his bicycle.
He attended Accrington Grammar School and Cambridge University where he obtained a degree in geography. His first post was at ICI prior to embarking on a career in teaching. He taught in Stockport, then at Whitefield School during which time his family lived in Mellor, on the Cheshire and Derbyshire border.
He was delighted to be offered the post as head of his old school, Accrington Grammar and to be able to move to Clitheroe. He continued his headship of the school, leading it into a new era as a comprehensive at which time it was renamed Moorhead High School.
He retired in 1983 having spent 28 years in teaching and embarked on a new life travelling abroad as a walk leader and ski instructor with local company Alpine Overland, Waymark and with Guide Dogs for the Blind.
He thoroughly enjoyed all three, but particularly the latter and, although he was held in great regard by all his customers, it was the blind and partially sighted skiers whose lives were especially enriched by Mr Bailey's teaching and ski-ing skills. 0He was passionate about the outdoors and in particular the garden he created at his Barrow home.
A member of Mellor and then Clitheroe Golf Club, he achieved his ambition to have a single figure handicap by the age of 65. He was a former member of Empress Squash Club and a former chairman of the Lancashire Schools' Badminton Association.
During Army National Service he played football for Wrexham and gained a half blue at university for football. Tennis was another of his loves, along with bird-watching.
A long-time member of Clitheroe Concerts Society, he appreciated classical music and was particularly pleased to be able to attend Clitheroe's Last Night of the Proms again with his family in 2006. A member of Clitheroe and Great Harwood Bridge Clubs, he played several times a week until recently.
A private family burial on Tuesday will be followed by a service of thanksgiving at Trinity Methodist Church, Clitheroe at 2 p.m.

01 February 2007