Olga by Olga Kotelko

Hall of Fame and Museum. What may not be as evident is that she has always been challenging herself, as a single parent, as a teacher and in her retirement as an athlete. From first grade she inspired her students to find new challenges, do their best and never, ever give up. Forty-seven years later, we all remembered that. Today, Olga Kotelko promotes sports along with her inspiring outlook on life. She is proof and motivation that advancing in age can be a joy and a challenge as much as any other stage in life. At the Aquatic Center in West Vancouver, and the Burnaby Retired Teachers Association, at conferences, on radio and TV, one can always find Olga Kotelko where the action is: full of life, full of laughter, full of new ambitions and goals and full of encouragement for others.
    It is a great honour to support her nomination to the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame and Museum.
    Caprice Soames August 9, 2005
    My Glenwood School students had located their 1958 grade 1 teacher, Mrs. Kotelko in 2008. Since we reunited they have been treating me to annual dinners at very fine restaurants. My students are now in their 50s: a businessman, a nurse, a teacher, a firefighter, a horse trainer, and two happily married housewives. It is a delight to relive with them those happy school memories. It reminds me of a lovely quote: “A teacher affects eternity; she/he can never tell where her/his influence stops.”
    One of my goals as an elementary school teacher was to go beyond teaching my students the 3 R’s, and to teach them about life and different cultures. I recall one time when my grade 5 class in Nelson School had completed all of their assignments, were tidying up their desks, and then quietly waiting for the lunch bell. I sat on my desk facing the class and decided to introduce them to my family’s Christmas traditions. I shared with them family customs that involved the cooking of special and delicious foods, and explained the intricate preparations that required much effort. I told them that the effort was well worth it because the preparation of the feast created joy and happiness for the whole family. My students learned that for Ukrainians the most beloved and joyful festivity is Christmas.
    My students were particularly interested in the Ukrainian foods I prepare for our Christmas Eve meatless supper. The twelve dishes represent the 12 apostles, and include fish soup, borscht, cabbage rolls, and pyrogies. Kutya is a dish made of whole wheat cooked for many hours and prepared with honey and poppy seed. The dish symbolizes peace, prosperity, and good health, and everyone around the table must partake of the kutya if only but a spoonful.
    When the lunch bell rang and the class left for lunch, Kevin ran all the way home, burst through the door and announced to his startled mother, “Mom, Mrs. Kotelko eats the same things we do at Christmas Eve supper!” His mother later related this to me. What precious moments I experienced with my students.
    During the last 12 years of my teaching career I was a Hospital and Homebound Teacher. This involved helping students with their lessons and helping them stay connected with their peers while convalescing in the hospital or at home. The advantage of this teaching system was that it was learning on a one-on-one basis. This undoubtedly hastened the student’s healing as well.
    Sadly, there would also be funerals of very ill students to attend. I vividly remember one student who was determined to excel in math while convalescing from cancer treatments. What a determined young boy! How he loved to do math and how unfortunate was his early death.
    Most of the time, I found this work rewarding, especially when a parent would take the time to phone me. One mother said, “What have you done with my daughter Mary? She is so happy to get back to school. You must know how shy and quiet Mary was, and now she is like a new person”. I told Mary’s mother that I was able to detect Mary’s