Fifteen years ago, preschool teacher Pam Heimstra taught a class of 3-year-olds she would never forget, and it turns out they didn’t forget her either.
Those students, who are now in their graduating year, surprised their beloved Mead Elementary School teacher with a celebration at Crackpots Pottery Studio on Sunday.
“It was nice to be able to do something for her after she had done so much for us when we were kids,” said Jake Gordon, who is now a Mead High School senior.
The surprise celebration was orchestrated by Heather Lesco, a parent of three of Heimstra’s former preschool students.
“The teachers need to know we’ve got their backs, and they do have this huge impact on our kids,” Lesco said.
She purchased a painting session with Heimstra through a school auction fundraiser, but the preschool teacher had no idea who would be waiting for her at the pottery studio.
“They were really good at keeping it a secret from me,” Heimstra explained.
Lindsay Spiegel, a speech-language pathologist at Mead Elementary School, was partnered with Heimstra for the auction and helped to coordinate the surprise.
“The fact that these seniors gave up an entire day in the spring of their senior year to go surprise their preschool teacher — paint alongside her … this was a true testament to how loved Pam is by the Mead community and our students,” Spiegel said.
“Being able to spend time with Ms. Pam again was a great opportunity to connect with her and my classmates a last time,” said Nic Trochman, who is now a senior at Silver Creek High School. “She gave me a great start to school and gave me many wonderful memories that I still look back at today. I'm glad I was able to connect with everyone and remember such great times we had way back then.”
Despite being advised not to take on the class of 16 3-year-olds in her earlier teaching years, Heimstra accepted the challenge.
“Here at Mead we had such a big population of students at our school that I just couldn’t turn them down,” she said. “I was kind of concerned taking that many, but they were awesome. Right away, I was like, ‘well this is great’… they stayed with me for two years, and they were an exceptional class.”
Heimstra said their preschool graduation party was bittersweet.
“As I was talking to the parents about the history of taking 16 3-year-olds, and how wonderful they are, I broke down crying, because I didn’t want them to leave me,” she said.
But they came back on Sunday, and gathered at the pottery studio to remind the dedicated teacher what she meant to them.
“I really wanted to go to Crackpots with Ms. Pam because she was the beginning of my schooling and there was just something so fun back in preschool,” said Zach Barrett, who is now a senior at Mead High School. “Most of my decision was based in either paying her back somehow or simply that she deserves all the time and respect I could give.”
The students made a pottery platter keepsake for their preschool teacher — complete with symbols of their childhood: butterflies, flowers, thumbprints and fingerprints. They also included an image of The Very Hungry Caterpillar — a book she read to them in preschool.
“I loved seeing Ms. Pam during my elementary school years,” said Natalie Yoder, who is now a senior at Mead High School. “She remembered everyone and was always happy to see us. I thought it would be nice to bump into her once more and see how she was doing.”
“She is the one who started us out in school and teaching us things that will always be with us,” said Kylie Prigmore, who is now a senior at Mead High School. “We're all about ready to leave and pursue our dreams, but Ms. Pam will always be a part of our hearts and learning.”
