MASTER TEACHER: BONNIE MARVIN (1961-1983)
Watching the K and the pre-K kids has always been one of the genuine pleasures of working at Graland School.
Having only worked with high school boys when I was teaching in Philadelphia, the littluns truly fascinated me. Nothing daunted them; everything was a bit of an adventure. In my first year at Graland, I was introduced to a group of ladies -- Rhoda Resnick, Sue Kuhn, D.J. Fee, Lu Hiatt, and Bonnie Marvin-- who loved working with these kiddos.
Another giant of the kindergarten team, Mary Ellen Snyder Powell, delivered this touching tribute to Bonnie Marvin:
“Bonnie was a gifted kindergarten teacher with an intuitive quality about what was best for children. Several of her ideas-- the rodeo, holiday gingerbread, and Mother’s Day necklaces-- became Graland traditions. There was magic in the world for Bonnie, and she had a special way of sharing this enthusiasm with others.
“Books were everywhere in Bonnie’s classroom and were the keys to learning. One of the books she shared with me was Tomie dePaola’s Legend of the Bluebonnet. The author says that this legend represents the decisive action of which many young people are capable, the selfless action that creates miracles. Bonnie truly believed in the goodness and potential of others, particularly those children in her care. The wonderful Bonnie Marvin collection of books in the Graland library is the perfect tribute to her memory.”
Graland Country Day School
Graland Country Day School is a private school in Denver, Colorado, serving students in preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school. Founded in Denver in 1927, Graland incorporates a rich, experiential learning approach in a traditional classroom setting, emphasizing the development of globally and socially conscious leaders who excel academically.
