(no subject)
Garry Wall's stock and trade
Katie Robinson
The Chilliwack Progress
“Wally the Apprenticeship Guy’s” hard hat is being hung for the last time.
Next Friday, after 32 years, teacher Garry Wall - aka: Wally the Apprenticeship Guy - is retiring.
“I’m not really feeling as good as I should be,” he said, taking a moment to reminisce in the front foyer at Chilliwack Secondary.
Reality is setting in. He’s going to miss the work, the interaction, the kids.
His kids.
His colleagues and students aren’t so thrilled either.
Thirty-two years and four months ago - August, 1975 - Wall walked through the doors of Sardis secondary. A Yarrow boy, born and raised, he felt at home.
He taught classes in typing, accounting, business education and marketing.
“I taught entrepreneurship before it was cool; before it was even called entrepreneurship,” said Wall.
He’ll be remembered for it, yes, but it won’t be the only thing.
Wall is a go-getter. When he sees things needing to be done, he gets them done.
In the early 1990s, he saw a need for trades programming at the high school level. He knew of all these Chilliwack kids who liked the trades, but weren’t finding success in academics. And he knew of a trades program being piloted in Langley and Fort Saint John. He wanted a program like that for his kids too.
The Secondary School Apprenticeship program was in full operation by 1995.
“I’ve been really lucky in Chilliwack,” said Wall. “The district always let me do what I wanted to do as long as it was good for the kids - they gave me free reign. I had support from everyone: teachers, principals, administrators, trustees.”
And as a result, the kids had support too.
The SSA program started out with just six kids; last year, it had 235.
He’ll be remembered for it, yes, but again, it won’t be the only thing.
Wall has worked with kids who struggle in academics; who a few years ago, likely wouldn’t have graduated; likely would have fallen through the cracks. But he never gave up on them. He pushed them; motivated them; encouraged them to succeed.
And now, he sees students - present and former - excelling in their own business ventures; apprenticeships; academics even. He’s proud, yes, but states “I was just doing my job.”
These kids were his job.
Mr. Wall - “They can call me Garry now,” he says - will be missed for his easy smile, hearty laugh, strong dedication, hard handshake, powerful character. Garry Wall will be missed for being Garry Wall.
And as he removed the tool belt from his waist, and the neon vest from his chest, he offered some advice for his replacement as SSA coordinator:
“Work hard.
“Love these kids.
“Provide them with opportunities.”
http://www.bclocalnews.com/fraser_valley/theprogress/lifestyles/12510126.html
Garry Wall's retirement party will be held in the main stage area at Sardis Secondary School on Dec 19 at 3:30pm, and everyone is invited: friends, family, colleagues, current and former students- everyone!
Katie Robinson
The Chilliwack Progress
“Wally the Apprenticeship Guy’s” hard hat is being hung for the last time.
Next Friday, after 32 years, teacher Garry Wall - aka: Wally the Apprenticeship Guy - is retiring.
“I’m not really feeling as good as I should be,” he said, taking a moment to reminisce in the front foyer at Chilliwack Secondary.
Reality is setting in. He’s going to miss the work, the interaction, the kids.
His kids.
His colleagues and students aren’t so thrilled either.
Thirty-two years and four months ago - August, 1975 - Wall walked through the doors of Sardis secondary. A Yarrow boy, born and raised, he felt at home.
He taught classes in typing, accounting, business education and marketing.
“I taught entrepreneurship before it was cool; before it was even called entrepreneurship,” said Wall.
He’ll be remembered for it, yes, but it won’t be the only thing.
Wall is a go-getter. When he sees things needing to be done, he gets them done.
In the early 1990s, he saw a need for trades programming at the high school level. He knew of all these Chilliwack kids who liked the trades, but weren’t finding success in academics. And he knew of a trades program being piloted in Langley and Fort Saint John. He wanted a program like that for his kids too.
The Secondary School Apprenticeship program was in full operation by 1995.
“I’ve been really lucky in Chilliwack,” said Wall. “The district always let me do what I wanted to do as long as it was good for the kids - they gave me free reign. I had support from everyone: teachers, principals, administrators, trustees.”
And as a result, the kids had support too.
The SSA program started out with just six kids; last year, it had 235.
He’ll be remembered for it, yes, but again, it won’t be the only thing.
Wall has worked with kids who struggle in academics; who a few years ago, likely wouldn’t have graduated; likely would have fallen through the cracks. But he never gave up on them. He pushed them; motivated them; encouraged them to succeed.
And now, he sees students - present and former - excelling in their own business ventures; apprenticeships; academics even. He’s proud, yes, but states “I was just doing my job.”
These kids were his job.
Mr. Wall - “They can call me Garry now,” he says - will be missed for his easy smile, hearty laugh, strong dedication, hard handshake, powerful character. Garry Wall will be missed for being Garry Wall.
And as he removed the tool belt from his waist, and the neon vest from his chest, he offered some advice for his replacement as SSA coordinator:
“Work hard.
“Love these kids.
“Provide them with opportunities.”
http://www.bclocalnews.com/fraser_valley/theprogress/lifestyles/12510126.html
Garry Wall's retirement party will be held in the main stage area at Sardis Secondary School on Dec 19 at 3:30pm, and everyone is invited: friends, family, colleagues, current and former students- everyone!