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COMMUNITY Tea cher of the Mont!, Chris Hadfield School principal wiIl be missed By Stephanie Hounseil ___________Il ________________________Il________________ CANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF l ýJ ts hard to say goodbye. For the past Iseven years, since the opening of Chris Hadfield Public School, princi- pal Rick Nodwell has been at the helm, lead- ing amazing adventures in leaming. Those adventures have included visits from astronaut Chris Hadfield, live video links and even a 700-student conga line. But Friday was NodweWls last day at the school, forcing parents, students and the principal himself to say a bittersweet farewell. "It'ssomewbat like a grieving process, wbere vou have ta get your brain around saying goodbye,' he said last week. Nodwell is taking the principal's position at the new school on Yates Drive, which is anticipated to open in September. Diane Scballenberg, whose son and daughter - eight-year-old Eric and six-year- old Heidi - attend Chris Hadfield Scbool, recently told the Champion of the significant impact Nodwell has had on her kids and the school as a wbole. "I would really like to showcase wbat a wonderful principal he was and to say thank you for making my cbildrens experience at school a wonderful one," she wrote in a let- ter nominating Nodwell for Teacher of the Month. "They love him. so much and are very sad to see him leave." For the first time, the Champion has awarded the Teacher of the Month bonour to a principal. And the reasons are plentiful. Scballenberg wrote that Nodwell creates an atmosphere of love and respect for both bis staff and students" and said knowing he would be ber cbildrens principal was one o their deciding factors in moving to Main Street Village fiye years ago. Tbe school opened its doors in 2003 amid mucb pomp and ceremony, consider- ing the school's accomplisbed namesake. BELOVED PRINCIPAL Chris Hadfield Public Sehool Grade 3 student Fric Schallenberg and his sister, Grade 1 stUdent Heidi Schallenberg, show out- going principal Rick Nodwell their favourite books. The two nominated Nodweil for Teacher of the Month. Visualizing wbat be wanted the scbool to be was easy, Nodwell said. 1I wanted to try to create sometbing as top-notcb as the person wbose name is over the door." And be believes that's bappened. Seeing polite students wbo welcome visitors, open doors for eacb otber and speak with pride of tbeir sebool are proof of that, be said. The scbool's connection to its namesake and tbe Canadian Space Agency bas afforded students opportunities they certainly would- n't bave bad otberwise. Last October, the sebool beld a birtbday party for Hadfield, the guest of honour. How often does a student get to personal- ly ask an astronaut questions? Nodwell basn't bad an easy ride tbougb, particularly with the numerous growtb- related challenges, including a quickly- growing neighbourbood and boundary modifications that saw students from other sebools re-directed ta Chris Hadfield until new scbools could be opened. At one point the sebool bad 1,208 stu- dents, making it Miltons then Iargest cIe- mentary sebool. But Nodwell said be always tried ta remain positive, celebrating the growtb instead of bemoaning it. In fact, the sebool beld a celebration in bonour of the i ,200tb student. Nodwell commended staff and parents for their patience during the sebool's grow- ing pains. He said bes looking forward to wbat lies abead and views opening a new sebool as a great opportunity, despite the incredible amount of work involved. But belIl no doubt miss aIl bes leaving behind. lIm exceedingly proud of the kids for being the kmnd of kids I want to belp mould," be said. Stephanie Haunseif cati hé, rcached ai stiesscn@i/îaiittn-anadianchiampin.coan. 55 Ontario St. North, Miton LAST CHANCEý THE 2010 LINK Milton's resource and activity Handbook, is almost closedl Want ail of Milton to know about your business or service? CALL TODAY! KIAea KIA MOTORS NEE SERICE CALLe 07M