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Name: Mr. Al Sivell c/o C. Sivell
Website:
I've been here: because of friends.
From: I've never signed this guestbook before.
Time: 2 Mar.-02 08:26:39 AM
Comments:
Allan Sivell, my father, was principal of Erindale from 1973-1978. He has always spoken with great affection for all the schools he worked with, but there has always been an extra measure of pride for Erindale. Having those years with the great students, staff and parents of Erindale was the highlight of his career and he stills speaks with great fondness of individual students and staff with the names rolling out as if it were yesterday.
When he left Erindale, to the sounds of a piper, in January of '78 he was headed for a sabbatical in Wales to further develop his outdoor education skills; he was to head a new outdoor-focussed school when he returned. During his term away, the board made some changes and Allan Sivell was placed elsewhere and the dream of an outdoor educational facility for Peel faded away. He enjoyed his next school principalship, but always maintained that he never would have left Erindale if he could have forseen there would be no outdoor education school.
In 1982, Mr. Sivell retired, and after paddling across Scotland to celebrate, moved closer to the ski hills. He has had years of good health and fun, enjoying his family and his many friends and travelling to new parts of the world to paddle, hike or ski. Allan is dying of a rare neurological disease compounded by cancer. He is going through this with his usual great sense of humour and, of course, more concerned for his wife of 52 years, Dale, than himself.
He will never change his fundamental belief that teenagers are terrific, terrific people and says, "Give them schools like Erindale, teachers who are genuinely interested in them, be there to welcome them the first day and every day. Believe in them and just watch what they'll accomplish."
It was his great pleasure and privilege to work with students over the years. He was very proud of the students who went on to scholarships and other accomplishments. And speaks with tremendous affection for the students who disliked or struggled with school, saying he'd been one himself and that for many kids life would be most interesting post school. The times when things went well for kids and anything he did to help it happen, were the the moments he most enjoyed.
Although there is a picture of Mr. Sivell in the halls of Erindale, he said something to the effect of, " What teenagers need a red-faced, balding old man staring down from the walls at them?" He was also less than enthusiastic about being the recipient of their spitballs. He asked instead that books that would be of interest be purchased for the library.
Mr. Sivell has received several hundred cards and letters since word of his illness has spread, many from former students and staff. They have cheered him on tremendously and he sends his most appreciative thanks and best wishes to all. If you wish to send an e-mail, click on the name above.
Sincerely, his daughter, Christine |
