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| Shirley: A Poem |
| Written by Oren | |
| Thursday, 08 May 2008 | |
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O
She came to the office in ’seventy-nine,
when we had eight students, or possibly nine.
Community Friends School, we called it back then,
founded by dedicated women and men.
Four years later the school became Greenwood Friends,
and Shirley has stayed here, through detours and bends.
Twenty-nine years of hist’ry she carries inside,
from skating in hallways to egg rolls she’s fried.
From good times to lean ones, and growing again,
we all count on Shirley to mother our den.
Her mem’ry of Greenwood extends all directions:
She knows every fam’ly and all its connections.
As tough as she sometimes appears on her skin,
we all know a generous heart lies within.
Some parents may quake when they call her by phone,
but the children all know: She is one of their own.
The children think Shirley’s the boss of the place,
and Shirley knows all of them – each smiling face.
Sometimes she hands someone a Band-aid for free,
to patch up an elbow or, worse, a skinned knee.
Shirley arrives in the morning by seven,
to work in the quiet, which to her feels like heaven.
Her mode, it ain’t modern; she can’t love computers.
Please do not repeat the things that she says to hers.
She won’t go on field trips, by van or by bus,
but when we return, she is there greeting us.
Part of what’s led to her long-time success
is taking no sides, doing only what’s best
for the school that she loves, where she’s loved in return:
a shoulder to lean on, to whom we all turn.
Some people have found, while through the school going,
that making her laugh brings joy overflowing.
She’ll get in her Mustang, on some distant day,
and Shirley will wave as she drives it away.
For now we won’t let her: We need her too much –
her wisdom, her laughter, her personal touch.
Hooray for our Shirley – long may she rule!
Three cheers for our Shirley! Love, Greenwood Friends School.
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| Last Updated ( Friday, 13 June 2008 ) |
ne of the many delightful events during our 30th Anniversary celebration on the 3rd of May, 2008, was a Middle School student recitation of this poem composed by Oren Helbok in Shirley's honor. Shirley and her husband Ken are pictured above.
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