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Orphan an inspiration
by Outspoken on Wed Jul 16, 2008 4:46 am
Orphan an inspiration
Abandoned in Haiti at 2, a Big Papi fan now lights up West Harpswell at 6 -- and is about to meet his hero
By GLENN JORDAN
Staff Writer Portland Press Herald
WEST HARPSWELL — Sandi Ste. George dreaded the start of a new school year.
A teacher of art, music and dance for kindergartners at the West Harpswell School, she had caught a glimpse of Lucien Bastarache at an orientation day last spring.
She knew just a little about Lucien. That he had cerebral palsy. That he needed a wheelchair and an aide. That he was an orphan from Haiti in the process of being adopted by a local family.
"I was wary," Ste. George said. "I didn't get too close."
All summer, as ramps were built at the school and a sink lowered to meet provisions in the Americans with Disabilities Act, Ste. George fretted about her ability to teach in a setting that included a child with such special needs, considering she had no special training.
"If I can't handle it," she concluded, "I'm allowing myself to quit in November."
By the end of the second day of school, Ste. George's fears had melted away in the face of Lucien's warm heart, wide smile and infectious enthusiasm.
Lucien's classmates competed for the privilege of pushing his wheelchair, whether it be on the kickball field or in the classroom. And when his obsession with all things Red Sox -- designated hitter David Ortiz in particular -- became apparent, all the kids got swept up in it.
Guided by the guitar-strumming Ste. George, they wrote a song entitled "Hey, Big Papi" and the Harpswell Community Broadcasting Network recorded them performing it. The song became a hit on the local access channel, and the kindergartners sang it again at an end-of-year assembly for the elementary school, raising their fists high and pumping them with each refrain.
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=199762&ac=PHnws
John Patriquin/Staff Photographer
Courtesy photo
Abandoned in Haiti at 2, a Big Papi fan now lights up West Harpswell at 6 -- and is about to meet his hero
By GLENN JORDAN
Staff Writer Portland Press Herald
WEST HARPSWELL — Sandi Ste. George dreaded the start of a new school year.
A teacher of art, music and dance for kindergartners at the West Harpswell School, she had caught a glimpse of Lucien Bastarache at an orientation day last spring.
She knew just a little about Lucien. That he had cerebral palsy. That he needed a wheelchair and an aide. That he was an orphan from Haiti in the process of being adopted by a local family.
"I was wary," Ste. George said. "I didn't get too close."
All summer, as ramps were built at the school and a sink lowered to meet provisions in the Americans with Disabilities Act, Ste. George fretted about her ability to teach in a setting that included a child with such special needs, considering she had no special training.
"If I can't handle it," she concluded, "I'm allowing myself to quit in November."
By the end of the second day of school, Ste. George's fears had melted away in the face of Lucien's warm heart, wide smile and infectious enthusiasm.
Lucien's classmates competed for the privilege of pushing his wheelchair, whether it be on the kickball field or in the classroom. And when his obsession with all things Red Sox -- designated hitter David Ortiz in particular -- became apparent, all the kids got swept up in it.
Guided by the guitar-strumming Ste. George, they wrote a song entitled "Hey, Big Papi" and the Harpswell Community Broadcasting Network recorded them performing it. The song became a hit on the local access channel, and the kindergartners sang it again at an end-of-year assembly for the elementary school, raising their fists high and pumping them with each refrain.
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=199762&ac=PHnws
John Patriquin/Staff Photographer
Courtesy photo
"Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything."
Plato (427-347 BC)
Plato (427-347 BC)
