Principal Mrs. L. McCarney

Lynne McCarney

Principal, Severn Avenue School

February 5, 2004

Cole and Chelsea Rodgers.

Chelsea and Cole.

What great kids! What a joy they were to their family! What a tribute to their mother and to the way they were raised!

Over the past few days I have been asked many times to speak about Chelsea and Cole, and also to speak about the other children and the staff at school. In the beginning the first question from reporters was always, “Did you know them?”

Did I know them?? What kind of a foolish question is that? Of course I knew them. I know all the children.

And then I began to realize that the reporters were thinking of me as - THE PRINCIPAL. You know, the one who hangs out in THE PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE - the place where no child wants to go because all it can lead to is trouble. So I began to think about what it would be like if I really ran the school in such an old fashioned way. Would I have known Cole and Chelsea?

For Chelsea, absolutely not. If I knew only children who were in trouble, I never would have met Chelsea at all. As for Cole - the little guy with the twinkle in his eye, and the “let’s see what we can do to stir up some excitement around here “ outlook on life - yes, our paths probably would have crossed from time to time.

Chelsea was the more serious of the two, but you didn’t have to look far to find her fun-loving side. Cole was the class clown, but there was a serious side to him as well.

Just the other day Cole showed his class his impish streak. As many of you know, his teacher is pregnant, but she really isn’t very far along. So last week , there was Cole with a balloon stuffed up his sweater calling, Mrs. Azar. Mrs. Azar. This is what you’re going to look like.”

Yes. You had to laugh.

Chelsea’s friends also talked about HER sense of humour.

So many of them spoke about how she made them laugh. One child wrote that when their teacher was writing the date on the board and she wrote 2003 instead of 2004, it was Chelsea who said, “Mrs. Mainville is living in the past.”

Cole was known by everyone as a terrific soccer player and the fastest runner around. For those of you who knew Cole, that shouldn’t come as a surprise, for Cole was so tiny that he had to take three or even four strides, when everyone else would need just two.

Chelsea was known very much for her kindness. Several children spoke of how thoughtful she was to others who were lonely or who didn’t have many friends.

My over-riding memory of Cole is at school assemblies when he was in Grade 1. Now in the school I may be the leader, but when it comes to singing, I’m afraid I follow along with the best of them.

And there would be Cole and his Grade 1 buddies, right at the front of the gym and right under my nose, singing the words to the school song all wrong.

“Severn, we go to Severn,

We are proud to be Number 1” really is a line in the song, but it only comes up ONCE in each chorus. Cole and his friends REALLY were proud to be Number 1, and they sang it and sang it at the top of their lungs, no matter how hard their teacher and I tried to lead them down the path towards the words all the rest of us were singing. He was probably still proud to be # 1 when he got to Grade 2, but his class was a little bit farther back in the gym so that I didn’t have to worry so much about him leading me off the tune.

Proud to be # 1? In a poem he wrote about himself a month or so ago, he said that the “G” in Rodgers stands for “Gorgeous.”

The children who were classmates of both Cole and Chelsea wrote out some thoughts for me yesterday to help me prepare my words for this memorial service. It’s important to know that some of the children have only been their classmates for a few weeks, while others have known them since Kindergarten. However the tone is the same throughout.

“I remember when Chelsea let me play with her and some other girls because I was feeling lonely and sad.”

“ Even though I never talked or played with her, I know she’s an honest and caring person.”

“When Cole fell in the snow and he started crying, I tried to help by calling his sister. She started making him better by making him laugh. She made me laugh too.”

“ I remember a time when Chelsea saw me lonely in the playground . She offered to come and play with me. I also remember the time when I had trouble with folding my paper. She folded it for me. She was a very good friend to me.”

“ I never did well in sports. Cole encouraged me to do well so I played really hard. He helped me to succeed.”

“Cole shared everything he had.”

“ Cole had a helping heart.”

That’s just a sample. There were dozens of other comments which were all pretty much the same.

One girl in Grade 4 wrote “Chelsea loved her family. She loved them because her family was patient with her. Chelsea would do anything for her parents because she loves them.” I know the same could have been written about Cole.

Cole and Chelsea Rodgers.

Chelsea and Cole.

What great kids! What a joy to their family! What a tribute to the way

they were raised!

Lynne McCarney

Principal, Severn Avenue School

February 5, 2004



	This candle burns for all the sweet Angels .... Who are no longer with us.
	Lynne McCarney Principal, Severn Avenue School February 5, 2004 Cole and Chelsea Rodgers. Chelsea and Cole. What great kids! What a joy they were to their family! What a tribute to their mother and to the way they were raised! Over the past few days I have been asked many times to speak about Chelsea and Cole, and also to speak about the other children and the staff at school. In the beginning the first question from reporters was always, “Did you know them?” Did I know them?? What kind of a foolish question is that? Of course I knew them. I know all the children. And then I began to realize that the reporters were thinking of me as - THE PRINCIPAL. You know, the one who hangs out in THE PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE - the place where no child wants to go because all it can lead to is trouble. So I began to think about what it would be like if I really ran the school in such an old fashioned way. Would I have known Cole and Chelsea? For Chelsea, absolutely not. If I knew only children who were in trouble, I never would have met Chelsea at all. As for Cole - the little guy with the twinkle in his eye, and the “let’s see what we can do to stir up some excitement around here “ outlook on life - yes, our paths probably would have crossed from time to time. Chelsea was the more serious of the two, but you didn’t have to look far to find her fun-loving side. Cole was the class clown, but there was a serious side to him as well. Just the other day Cole showed his class his impish streak. As many of you know, his teacher is pregnant, but she really isn’t very far along. So last week , there was Cole with a balloon stuffed up his sweater calling, Mrs. Azar. Mrs. Azar. This is what you’re going to look like.” Yes. You had to laugh. Chelsea’s friends also talked about HER sense of humour. So many of them spoke about how she made them laugh. One child wrote that when their teacher was writing the date on the board and she wrote 2003 instead of 2004, it was Chelsea who said, “Mrs. Mainville is living in the past.” Cole was known by everyone as a terrific soccer player and the fastest runner around. For those of you who knew Cole, that shouldn’t come as a surprise, for Cole was so tiny that he had to take three or even four strides, when everyone else would need just two. Chelsea was known very much for her kindness. Several children spoke of how thoughtful she was to others who were lonely or who didn’t have many friends. My over-riding memory of Cole is at school assemblies when he was in Grade 1. Now in the school I may be the leader, but when it comes to singing, I’m afraid I follow along with the best of them. And there would be Cole and his Grade 1 buddies, right at the front of the gym and right under my nose, singing the words to the school song all wrong. “Severn, we go to Severn, We are proud to be Number 1” really is a line in the song, but it only comes up ONCE in each chorus. Cole and his friends REALLY were proud to be Number 1, and they sang it and sang it at the top of their lungs, no matter how hard their teacher and I tried to lead them down the path towards the words all the rest of us were singing. He was probably still proud to be # 1 when he got to Grade 2, but his class was a little bit farther back in the gym so that I didn’t have to worry so much about him leading me off the tune. Proud to be # 1? In a poem he wrote about himself a month or so ago, he said that the “G” in Rodgers stands for “Gorgeous.” The children who were classmates of both Cole and Chelsea wrote out some thoughts for me yesterday to help me prepare my words for this memorial service. It’s important to know that some of the children have only been their classmates for a few weeks, while others have known them since Kindergarten. However the tone is the same throughout. “I remember when Chelsea let me play with her and some other girls because I was feeling lonely and sad.” “ Even though I never talked or played with her, I know she’s an honest and caring person.” “When Cole fell in the snow and he started crying, I tried to help by calling his sister. She started making him better by making him laugh. She made me laugh too.” “ I remember a time when Chelsea saw me lonely in the playground . She offered to come and play with me. I also remember the time when I had trouble with folding my paper. She folded it for me. She was a very good friend to me.” “ I never did well in sports. Cole encouraged me to do well so I played really hard. He helped me to succeed.” “Cole shared everything he had.” “ Cole had a helping heart.” That’s just a sample. There were dozens of other comments which were all pretty much the same. One girl in Grade 4 wrote “Chelsea loved her family. She loved them because her family was patient with her. Chelsea would do anything for her parents because she loves them.” I know the same could have been written about Cole. Cole and Chelsea Rodgers. Chelsea and Cole. What great kids! What a joy to their family! What a tribute to the way they were raised! Lynne McCarney Principal, Severn Avenue School February 5, 2004


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