By Stacie Perreault, Waterdown LEAD Department
Here at Waterdown, our Sisters have been graced with that ‘back to school’ feeling. In fact, we all have. We all feel like restocking materials, prepping lessons, and decorating rooms!
This reminiscence is one of several to be shared over the coming weeks. This week we sit down with Sister Colette Ryan, SSND, to capture a few thoughts on this season of potential!
Sister Colette Ryan, SSND
Sister Colette had 41 ‘back-to-schools’ to remember and relive while we chatted, having taught from 1943 until 1984 when she retired as school librarian. Now 100 years old, she cherishes her memories of that time.
"I liked to always approach the year with a positive attitude", she said. "It helps to always have something to look forward to whether in the classroom or in life".
Sister Colette's most cherished approach to the season was the community, rapport, and sense of belonging she tried to build for her students. Gratitude was also a theme in her reminiscing.
"I encouraged the students to enjoy what they built," she said of her approach to teaching. It was an environment that would help her students excel.
It could take a while to understand each student, she remembered. While she was teaching grade school in a small town outside Canterbury, called Faversham, she and another Sister noticed a young boy who was not playing with the other children. The Sisters had been watching the children on the playground for a few weeks. He was a farm boy and the only child in his family, and had not had much experience with other kids or people.
This young boy would run circles around the flagpole, all by himself, round and round. One day Sister Colette’s colleague stopped the boy, and asked, “Why do you not play with the other children?”
The boy looked up at the Sisters in their habits and said, “Cause I’m not used to youse yet” and went on his way!
Sister Colette brings the same positive attitude to us all today. If you want to know the secret to life, that's it!
