A Tribute

Now that the family has released the news of their unfortunate loss, I'd like to express my most sincere condolences to the Belanger family. They have lost an incredible person, mother and I am deeply saddened that she will not be with us to see Noah graduate from St Anne.

Noah is not in our class this year (there is an unofficial you can't have me as your teacher for 3 years straight rule), but he was my student for 2 years and I have coached him the last 3 years on various school teams. If he knew I was writing this, he would probably put his head down and shrug his shoulders if I were to ask him if he minded. But, his mom? Oh boy, she'd be proud you knew why this loss affects me.

I get to see all different types of children and witness how they behave as little humans, and Noah stands out for his kindness and his good soul. I first met him when he came to me in grade 4 and while he doesn't talk a lot, he leads by example. When I misplaced things in class he would be the first to not only find the item, but he would also say "Don't worry Ms Leblanc, I will get it for you!"
Any time I knocked something over or dropped papers (I'm really not that clumsy but our rooms are crowded to manoeuvre through) he would always be the firs out of his seat to pick them up.  Impeccable manners, respectful, he's a really good person. 

Yet, those things aren't what impressed me most about Noah. Our morning class that year was an interesting mix of needs on top of them being in a large junior class trying to figure out the transition. Noah is a pretty good athlete and he can kick it into high gear fairly fast, but he is very aware of the physical abilities of some of his peers and would slow things down to give them a chance to participate in gym class.  He would make sure to pass and encourage everyone. He just does what so many other children, people actually, don't do.

The topper was the day another student forgot her money on a raffle day. It was a really big thing that she had forgotten and without hesitation, he gave her all his money (at least $20) so that she could buy tickets. He knew that it meant more to her than it did to him.

For much of that year, I didn't know that his mother was sick. By the time we first met, she was doing better and was starting to participate at school with us. Noah never said a word through most of 4th grade about what he was experiencing. He's the strong, stoic type and after meeting mom a few times, I could see where he gets it from. In our parent meetings, his mother was incredibly pleased to hear all the things I've just shared with you about her son. Along with her husband, she was determined to raise a compassionate and caring child. One who doesn't shy away from doing the right thing and who is respectful. You did well, he's a great kid!

Most boys by the time they are in grade 5 get a little strange about having mom around them at school. Noah, on the other hand, would light up when his mom was with us. I'm pretty sure he knows how proud she was of him because it was always all over her face. I have to applaud her for making it to his school and outside of school sports. I know it was a challenge for her and I am going to miss her presence on the sidelines. I have literally marked out a path at the soccer tournaments with my pacing but would find affirmation by looking over and see Mrs Belanger also shaking her head and moving around.

Noah is part of the reason why I moved to grade 6 and agreed to teach 3 grades this year. I truly adore the grade 6 cohort. That's not to say I don't like the other grades, but these guys are special and we've been together 3 years. I've watched them grow up. Many of their older siblings I taught before them and a few of their younger siblings I taught in my brief stint as a kinder gym teacher.  This was meant to be a year we all experienced together as their final time at St Anne but, we all know how this year has gone! Our grade 6's have missed out on so many big highlights in their graduating year. I feel for them. All their teachers do. It has been frustrating not being able to give them what was meant to be theirs.  And, in the midst of all this has been Noah going through the inevitable loss of his mother.

Not many students have known what he was going through, but those that did, I thank you for being there for him all year. He has 3-4 really good friends in my morning class and I realise it has been hard on them too. They cried along side with him some days at school. They were never too far away from him to lend support or try to make him smile.  Even now they are still there for him in this world of self isolation. They are checking in on him, spending time with him online. Doing what they can for a friend. In what can be a selfish world, it overwhelms my heart to see the love and kindness that the others have given him. Thank you grade 6's. I know that if we were at school and able to all be together, that you would be supporting Noah too.  Hopefully that day will come before the end of June, but in the meantime please keep Noah and his family in your thoughts.

Rest easy Mrs Belanger. I will truly miss you as a parent in our school community. Your beautiful photographic gift remains a fixture in my home. I appreciate everything you've done to help Noah academically (including the booklets of work he was doing at home with you that he showed me last June). Again, you did a fantastic job with both your kids!

https://ottawacitizen.remembering.ca/obituary/darlene-belanger-1078952279?fbclid=IwAR0TdRZZwd0m-LaSfVQgA5Ue_GVmt0cf671VthD8ui53HiG4QGxeSfltHu4