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COMMUNITY Teacher of the Month Johnston a beloved fixture at HoIy By Stephanie Hounseli SCANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF tis not easy keeping rip with a kindergartener. Just ask I îey're little hundles of enthusi- asm, activity and ever-present enier- gy Multiply that by 20-sornething, and you've gaI a glimpse into the life of a teacher. Fortunately, a class of energetie kindergarten kids at Holy Rosary Catholic School have met their match: the equally energetie Cmn jobnston, chosen as the Chlampions Teacher of the Montb for Januaryý Whether shes coaching the girls basketbalt team, cbasing frogs in the forest or dreaming up a silly costume, this teacher is always on the go - and that's just the way she likes it. "I've always had energy," she said simply Over the past 16 or 17 years, johnston has hecome a heloved fix- ture at Holy Rosary, pouring her heart and attention into her young pupils. Her efforts certainly baven't gone unnoticed. ln a Teacher of the Month nom- ination letter sent to the Champion, Lana Ashford - whose five-year- old son, Cole States, is a senior kindergarten student in johnstons JK/SK split class - said 'Johnston seemns to have an intuitive knowl- edge of kids and goes out of ber way te, make class interesting. "Mrs. Johnston is making kindergarten a great learning experi- ence," she wrote. 'Apart from the extremely welcoming atmospbere wben you walk into ber classroom, GRAHAM PAINIE / CANADIAN CHAMPIONI GRADE A TEACHER: Cin Johnston has some fun with her Teacher of the Month nominator, five-year-old Cole States. she bas many original teaching to be observed, an experience Cole unexpectedlv-clusive entIers. metbods and my son, wbo has the talked about at borne, tcllîng bis -Frogs aie bard to catcb!" concentration spant of an inseet, . mom tbe importance of returning jobuston basnî' alwavs been a bas surprised me many times witb animais ta tbeir natural habitats. teacher. Sbe first workcd in bank- tbe amount of knowledge be is Jobnston laugbed at tbe mnen- ing and didn't attend teacbers' col- retaining." lion of tbe frogs, renmemlbering tbe lege uintil after sbe'd raised bier own She gave tbe example of tbe day previous nigbt wben shec and ber tbree cbildren. Jobnston hrought frogs into class hushand set oui to capture tbe Perbaps surprisingly, Jobnston Rosary didn't set out to teach the youngest grade. in fact, when first presented witb the opportunity t0 teach kindergarten, ber reaction was hesi- tant - to say the least. "This is my worst nightmare," johnston recalled thinking. Now, almost two decades later, she's rigbt where she wants to he. 1I love them. Thevre a miracle -a gift from God,- she said. Kindergarten kids are at an age where they're like sponges soaking up everytbing, johnston said. Thex sec Oc\5 \xeîcc'i ti a sense (if ,îandi \(eti t koocud to bc anyting other than totallv honest. When it cornes to teaching metb- ods, ber number one philosophy is that kids should have Iun. -Fna strong advocate that play is the principal business of child- bood,- she said. She measures the success of a day by asking berself one important question. "Have they Iaugbed todav?- She enjoys heing silly, and is known t0 show up at sehool in cos- tume - frog, pumpkin, l4ug, you naine ît. "Whate\,er ihey are studyîng or wbaicver holidlay it is, Ms johnston will be wecaring something bilani- ous,- Asbford said. Itfs indicative of the teacher's take on life. "Sornetimes l'in silly, I admit... you don't quit playing when you grow old.' Stephanie Hounsell can be reaehed at sthiessen@amiltonicaniadianclanîipi- on.com. NEED SERVICE? CALL 1-888-247-7001 àkIA Y:. KIA MOTORS NEED SERVICE? CALL b ~ 078-7700 55 Ontardû St. North, Milton