This is a HISTORIC Student of the Week post. Kat is only the SECOND EVER non-grade 12 student to achieve this honour (the other is Maya H. Don't ask. It's a long story). And, for the FIRST TIME EVER siblings are S.O.T.W. on consecutive weeks! Wow! People will be talking about this for years, I'm sure! :)
I have taught Kat the past three years: Math 8, Math 9, and PreCalculus 11 (she took PreCalculus 10 in the summer). Kat was in the Tech class (so was Marko P in the photo above. Look at that enthusiasm!). I remember in Math 8, we went on a field trip to some art display at SFU - Woodwards (near Hastings and Cambie). It was relatively early in the year and, thus, the grade 8's did not know me well. But I still remember how comfortable Kat was talking with me. She was warm and relaxed and funny... and she is STILL this way. She has always been very mature and extremely personable.
It is a rare class that Kat does NOT make me laugh, whether it be with her dancing (I've seen her Whipping and Nae-Naeing and Dabbing and Shooting over the years), making great Kahoot names, introducing me to YouTube celebrities, telling me Alex stories (we still miss Alex), or just acting kind of random and wacky (I'm not judging! I do the same thing back to her!). These are great memories which I will long remember (and cherish).
Kat is a superstar volleyball player and she has been kind enough to invite me to see her play in weekend tournaments a couple of times. I think it's funny to imagine what her teammates say when she waves over to me, up at some SFU gym.
Teammate: Who's the old guy?
Kat: Oh, he's my Math teacher.
Teammate: Uh... Ok.
Thanks for inviting me, Kat. I hope you'll keep asking me in the future!! (please)
So why, you might wonder, is Katarina G, "merely" a grade 10 student, being honoured as Student of the Week? Because - sob! - she is leaving King George next year (noooooo!). She will be starting the IB program (and playing volleyball, I am sure) at Churchill next year. Although I am sure that Kat will do very well and I wish her well, it makes me super sad to picture her NOT at KG next year.
Thanks for all the laughs and all the (often silly) chats, Kat. I hope I'll still get to see you, either during a KG visit or on the volleyball court... or maybe at Cactus Club! I admire you so much for all the time and effort you pour into your sport, your education, and your work. Keep working hard. I know that you will be very successful in all that lies ahead of you. I love ya lots and will truly miss you next year!! Bye bye KG! <--- double meaning!!