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Long Live Learning: #ThankYouTeachers

October 29, 2015 By Lena

September 1992.

As I huddled in homeroom English, I glanced at the clock, willing it to inch forward. It was Monday, and I knew what was coming – my grade 9 English teacher, Mrs. Meredith, would soon ask me to return to her class after school. Her newspaper club met then, and she was anxious for me to become a member. I suppose she spotted potential still unknown to me; a geeky, chubby 14-year old with coke-bottle glasses and frizzy hair – but I continually declined, theorizing that joining the writing geeks would certainly not elevate my already non-existent status.

But she was persistent, and creative – the very next Monday morning, Mrs. Meredith slapped me with detention for a questionable, minor offense. Bewildered, I stuttered an apology and agreed to return that afternoon. And so, I was sucked into the meeting, and into the club, and before I knew it, I was the first 9th grade Editor-in-Chief in newspaper club history.

We’re Facebook friends now. And she still calls me “chief” from time to time.

These were the days of dot matrix printers and 13-inch computer monitors. When electronics were limited to your boyfriend’s pager and your oversized boombox. When technology was a luxury.
hero-nominationsToday, 88% of Canadian teachers and 80% of parents agree with the use of technology in the classroom. Providing a national voice to those closest to students, Parents and Teachers on Education asked both groups to share their perspective on Canada’s education system. 

Technology is a teaching and learning instrument and, when used effectively, can empower personalized learning and improve outcomes for students. And, in preparing students for their futures, 85% of teachers agree that knowing how to use Microsoft Office is a critical success factor for post-secondary and career readiness.
image005 (2)Microsoft is committed to being a partner in education, with programs designed to empower parents, teachers and students to achieve more through training, resources and education savings. Earlier this year, Microsoft announced that over four million Canadian students were eligible to access Office at no cost, saving families up to $200 million.

(Students can check their eligibility at microsoft.ca/freeoffice.)

Another way Microsoft is putting an emphasis on learning is with their #ThankYouTeachers initiative. In celebration of the 21st World Teacher’s Day, Microsoft Canada, with the help of Staples, is recognizing 21 schools that are making an impact in their community. Selected schools will receive a Teacher Appreciation Package, including:

body-image-1– $1,000 Staples gift card
– Keurig brewing system
– 3 month’s supply of Van Houtte coffee
– Professional development workshop
– Teacher appreciation luncheon

One lucky school will also receive Windows 10 Surface Pro 3 tablets for each of their teachers!

Anyone can nominate a school that is making an impact in their community by completing the nomination form. In 250 word or less, simply tell Microsoft about the teachers at your child’s school who enrich the lives of their students and surrounding community (e.g. extra-curricular activities, advancing student skills through technology, volunteerism, fundraising).

Hurry! The contest ends on November 1, 2015 at 11:59 PM EST. Winning schools will receive their prize package by December 31, 2015.

I often think about about my grade 9 English teacher, and the fateful day that she tricked me into joining her newspaper club. Thank you, Mrs. Meredith, for seeing my potential, challenging my fears, and allowing me to realize my passion for writing.

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: #ThankYouTeachers, Microsoft Canada, Surface Pro 3 Tablet, Windows 10

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. kathy downey

    October 29, 2015 at 2:27 pm

    Thanks for sharing your story with us,sometimes a little push is what we need

  2. Eldon

    October 29, 2015 at 5:05 pm

    Thanks for sharing!

  3. Alayne Langford

    October 30, 2015 at 1:49 am

    Thanks for your story Lena! It hurts when my own child was bullied at school and in the end nothing was done about it. I would rather look back at my own home school where a teacher named Mrs. Wilkie got me out of my shell by encouraging me to be the lead in the school musical. Kudos to all the teachers out there who have made a difference in a child’s life. :)

  4. Judy Cowan

    October 30, 2015 at 11:41 am

    Sounds like a great program that Microsoft is offering. Thanks for sharing your story.

  5. mrdisco

    October 30, 2015 at 11:57 am

    That’s a neat initiative by Microsoft

  6. salexis

    October 30, 2015 at 1:00 pm

    My dad was a teacher. Teachers really need to know they are appreciated! This is great :)

  7. Anne Taylor

    October 30, 2015 at 1:20 pm

    My mom, aunt and 2 uncles were teachers! They really do deserve a ton of appreciation!

  8. mrdisco

    October 31, 2015 at 1:15 pm

    teachers: unsung heroes of the modern age

  9. Yuen C

    October 31, 2015 at 9:59 pm

    That is great of Microsoft!

  10. mrdisco

    November 3, 2015 at 4:45 pm

    good teachers can make a world of difference

  11. jan

    November 4, 2015 at 5:50 pm

    great story chief! those who were our greatest teachers stand out in our memories even years later.

  12. Debbie Bashford

    November 17, 2015 at 7:33 am

    I had a few really great teachers that inspired me

  13. kathy downey

    June 19, 2016 at 8:58 am

    Thanks for sharing your story.Teaching is like everything else they have some great ones and some that are not.

  14. Debbie White Beattie

    January 12, 2017 at 5:22 am

    I don’t know how teachers do it because they have to teach the old ways and incorporate all the new stuff that’s out. I was never a good student

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Lena Almeida

Toronto Blogger, Social Media Strategist for Listen to Lena Inc. Television & Radio Personality, Columnist and Speaker. Family Travel Expert. Star Wars Fanatic. Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion. Read More…

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