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th ei fp .c a Th e IF P -H al to n H ill s | T hu rs da y, Ju ne 21 ,2 01 8 | 36 A young Emma Jolly would sit at the table with undivided attention, watching mom work on her lesson plan. With each day, her inter- est and admiration grew. Career aspirations were quickly being forged. "She's been very influ- ential... an awesome men- tor," said Emma of her mid- dle school teaching moth- er. "She's the hardest work- ing person I know and incredible with kids. She puts 110 per cent of her heart into everything and if there's a way to help a student reach their full po- tential, she's there. She's amazing." Nowadays it's Emma receiving that kind of praise. "In Grade 6 I was not very motivated or doing as well as I could have and now in Grade 7 my motiva- tion and grades have dras- tically improved and that is because of Ms. Jolly and her ways of teaching," said Daniel Burbach of Oak- ville's Maple Grove Public School. Added classmate Rory Browne, "Ms. Jolly is a great teacher because she is very caring, always wanting you to be the best you can be. She's very orga- nized and makes our tasks interesting, fun and differ- ent for us every day. We re- ally appreciate how much effort she puts in for us so we can have fun and learn." About to close out the school year, Jolly is strug- gling to say goodbye. And the fact that the 27- year-old Halton Hills na- tive has just been named the Halton District School Board's Elementary (Long- Term) Occasional Teacher of the Year isn't making that any easier. "I was completely shocked... it came right out of the blue," Jolly said of the award, which Maple Grove staff nominated her for and her Grade 7 home- room and Grade 8 arts class students whole- heartily supported. "I'm flattered beyond belief." Vice principal Rose- mary Caruso described Jolly as a true team player who has innovation at the forefront of her instruction and planning. "She's open to trying anything if she feels it will benefit her students." One example of that re- cently saw the seventh graders challenged with an 'escape/breakout room' game in order to test their history knowledge. Jolly said it's important to ex- plore different teaching methods to try to "create and foster innovative minds." Having already worked at six different schools in her relatively short time as a teacher, Jolly said the constant movement defi- nitely keeps her on her toes. "You can't fall back on anything," said the LTO Teacher of the Year, whose time at Maple Grove marks her first full-year teaching stint. "You have to develop that rapport with the stu- dents all over again." Of course that hasn't seemed to be a problem for Jolly, whose positive influ- ence at Maple Grove has extended well beyond her lesson plans. She facilitat- ed an art club that provided the backdrop to the school musical Beauty and the Beast, worked on the morn- ing remedial club twice a week, coached the school soccer and volleyball teams and volunteered on overnight student trips to Muskoka and Quebec. Said Caruso, "Emma al- so connects regularly with parents/guardians through weekly newslet- ters, emails and phone calls. She knows that a partnership with families is essential to the success of her students." As the time to move on draws near, Jolly meets it with a heavy heart. "The administration, students and other teach- ers have been awesome. It's an amazing place," she said. "To witness the growth in the kids and re- alize you had a hand to play in that... it's so great." COMMUNITY Continuing family tradition of shaping young minds STEVE LEBLANC sleblanc@metroland.com Emma Jolly proudly displays her Halton Elementary Occasional Teach of the Year award. Emma Jolly/Photo Movers and Shakers Marketplace Your Best Choice For Bin Rentals 6 - 40 cu. yd, sizes available A Family Tradition since 1953! "Scrap or Waste" www.sandersondisposal.ca 519-833-2614 One of a kind same day service diSpoSal CONTAINER SERVICES di S.O.W. BIN RENTAL (905) 873-7955 CARPET, FLOORING & RUGS Est.1993 www.CarpetPalace.ca OVER 3,000 GEORGETOWN HOMES SERVICED! 3 ADAMSON ST. S. NORVAL, ON CARPET, HARDWOOD, RUGS & TILE The One Store For Your Perfect Floor 26 Guelph St., Downtown Georgetown www.carpetone.ca http://carpetonegeorgetown.goldbook.ca 905-877-9896 Floor and Home THREE EASY WAYSTO SHOP. WINDOWS & SIDING www.winside.ca 873-0841905 CHINMEYS Chimney Repairs/Rebuilds Tuckpointing Ken Lahey klahey@cogeco.ca 416-837-6866 Serving Georgetown for over 10 years KEN'S PROFESSIONAL CONTRACTORS CHIMNEYS Locally Owned & Operated Since 1982 ACTON 519.853.3332 GEORGETOWN 905.702.2339 info@wwminc.ca www.wwminc.ca BINS IDEAL FOR: • Renovations • Shingles • Dirt • House & Yard Clean-Up • Concrete • Asphalt • Driveway Friendly • Junk Removal DISPOSAL CONTAINER RENTALS FULL JUNK REMOVAL SERVICES waste disposal containers To advertise in this full colour directory delivered to every home in Halton Hills every Thursday, please call Kelli 905-234-1018 or email kkosonic@theifp.ca