May 28, 2003

HARRISON TOWNSHIP, Mich. -

By Paula Rose and Nancy Corsetti, L'Anse Creuse Public Schools

Chesterfield Elementary second-grade teacher, Nancy Corsetti, loves teaching and hockey. This year, as part of the school-wide theme, "Celebrate the World", Corsetti's class studied Canada. Naturally, Corsetti turned to the Wayne State University Men's Hockey Team, which has seven Canadian players, for help.

The class e-mailed their new hockey buddies with questions all year to learn about Canadian life. The children learned about the prairie dogs and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Alberta, the Ogopogo Monster (Loch Ness type monster) and the Rain Forest in British Columbia, the snowy conditions and fishing in Sault Saint Marie, Ontario, and the French influence in St. Leonard, Quebec. The players interjected real information and related it to their own lives. The messages were relevant and meaningful, according to Corsetti. By the end of the year, the students compiled two binders of the e-mail replies and stories from their Canadian buddies.

In addition, Wayne State's goalie, David Guerrera, who grew up in St. Leonard, Quebec, and his roommate/teammate, Marc St. Jean, who also speaks French, helped the students with their pronunciation skills. "The children are able to do addition, subtraction, multiplication and division flash cards using French words, not digits," said Corsetti. "They actually do the math in French instead of English."

Many of the children and their families have attended Wayne State University Warrior hockey games and twice got to meet the players in person at two "Skate with the Warriors" skate nights after hockey games this year. The students have an intense interest in Wayne State now, and many of them are talking about going to college: to Wayne State University, of course!

On Friday, May 16, one of the seven Canadian players, David Guerrera, the goalie, came to Chesterfield to spend an afternoon with the class. In preparation for the visit, one of the mothers, Kim Frank, and Corsetti along with the Title I aide, Pat Evangelisti, made homemade hockey jerseys for the children with the students' names on the back to wear during Guerrera's visit. They also had their own WSU hats, which were donated to the class by Wayne State.

"It was a wonderful culmination to a great year studying Canada," said Corsetti. "We are very grateful to the players for their patience with the children this year."

Along with Guerrera and St. Jean, Nathan Rosychuk, Billy Collins, Travis Rycroft, Derek MacKay, and Dustin Kingston all e-mailed the students, some numerous times. The MacKay family, Kingston family, and other relatives all were involved with sending the class items, postcards, etc.

"The guys and their families were very generous with their care in addressing the questions of the children and in sending them things--were very appreciative," added Corsetti. "The children always mailed homemade thank you cards, and the families and players seemed to get a kick out of that, too!"