SOCIETY HILL – Rosenwald Elementary/Middle School was pink on Friday, Oct. 17.
There were pink ribbons and banners in the halls, pink balloons on the posts and pink outfits on staff and students alike. There were even pink cupcakes as treats at the end of the day. It wasn’t the latest fashion trend that turned the school pink; instead it was the support and love for a teacher and a parent/volunteer that made the difference.
Parent and school volunteer Charleen Gardner was diagnosed with breast cancer last year. She has two children at Rosenwald Elementary/ Middle School, Donovan and Persha.
“I asked the principal, Mrs. Mason, if I could do something simple to help educate the children about cancer,” said Gardner. “It just ballooned from there.”
Gardner, who is optimistic about her diagnosis, said cancer made her appreciate every day as a gift. “Every day does count, so I believe I should make it a good day,” she said.
As she talked, her husband, Joseph McClain, stopped by with a cart full of pink cupcakes. Her youngest child Zakiyah tagged along to help pass out the goodies.
“When I look around at all the children and teachers in pink, I feel surrounded by love,” said Gardner. “There are a lot of people in our community that are struggling with cancer. I want our children to see what can happen when we all come together to support each other.”
Eugene Bacote, a math teacher at Rosenwald, understands exactly what Gardner is talking about. He was diagnosed with Hodgkins Disease in 1975. He’s a 33-year survivor of cancer.
“Unless you’ve been there, you can’t imagine how it feels to hear your doctor tell you that you have cancer. After that, every day you wake up and thank God for another day,” said Bacote. “When I spoke to the children this morning, I told them you never know when life can change. You should enjoy every moment and always do your best because you just don’t know what the future holds.”
Bacote graduated from Rosenwald. He began his teaching career at Rosenwald High School before moving on to Brunson-Dargan Junior High, Darlington Junior High and Brockington Elementary School. He left the district briefly to serve as a teacher specialist for the State Department of Education before returning to his roots and teaching at Rosenwald.
Both Bacote and Gardner said they hoped the children would go home and talk to their parents about cancer and the importance of early screening.
“Everyone’s life is affected by cancer in some way,” reminded Bacote. “Old and young, rich and poor, cancer doesn’t discriminate.”
Principal Kim Mason said she was proud of the way her students and staff all showed their support. She said she looked forward to more activities that allow the students the chance to come together and work as a team for a good cause.
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