Unusual Christmas Gifts

Teachers Receive More Than Just Apples These Days

What do a horse, a parking spot, bones and a motorcycle have in common?

They are some of the more unusual gifts teachers who live or work in Garden City have received from students.

Several teachers shared their stories with Garden City Patch:

Ms. H, a nursery school teacher : “One memorable gift that I received from a parent was a sweet, slow thoroughbred filly from the racetrack! The dad was a trainer at Belmont and Aqueduct, and I taught his little boy in nursery school. One day while pushing children on the swings, we got into a conversation about horses, and I mentioned that my 13 year old daughter was an avid rider and that we borrowed and leased ‘schoolies’ (school horses) for her to ride and show. He said that occasionally a horse doesn't work out and the owners happily give them away.

"Long story short, he gave us a beautiful 2-year-old, not-too-bright filly and my daughter trained her to actually walk, trot and canter in local shows by the next summer. Orchid actually got a few blue ribbons! The amazing thing was when we entered her in the Hampton Classic in August. This throwaway horse earned a baby-blue ribbon (10th place) in the Walk-Trot-Canter class against many $30,000-$40,000 horses who'd been bred and trained for shows!"

James McCrann, band teacher, Garden City High School (GCHS):  “The most unusual gift I ever received was a parking spot from the class of 2003. Knowing how a parking spot at the high school is at a premium, my extraordinarily gracious and thoughtful students expressed their appreciation by arranging with the high school principal, superintendent and the board of education to have a nearby parking spot permanently reserved for me on Rockaway Avenue. John Okulski, the principal at the time, was so touched by this gesture that he actually gave up his own personal reserved parking spot for this purpose. Not only would he not accept ‘no’ for an answer, he actually presided over a small ceremony with the students as they installed the ‘Reserved for James P. McCrann, from the Class of 2003’ sign in front of the spot.

"It was a truly memorable moment in my career to experience such warmth and generosity from the students and leaders in the school district. In fact, a noted author and conductor from the community who learned of this gift actually included this as an inspirational story in one of his recent books.

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