Davis Bay principal Sally Thicke was brought to tears when she was surprised with a Citizen of the Year award from the Davis Bay/Wilson Creek/Selma Park Community Association on May 11.
“I was totally overwhelmed actually and just delighted. It was a huge honour and very, very special to have that recognition,” Thicke told Coast Reporter this week.
She thought she was attending the general meeting of the association to give an update on what her school has been up to, but upon completion of her presentation she was surprised with the Citizen of the Year award, which is given to one person from the community annually.
Thicke was among three nominees this year and the association chose her based on her “brilliant” contribution to the area as principal of Davis Bay Elementary.
“Her contribution to this community has been amazing,” said Thicke’s nominator and vice president of the association, Maggie Guzzi.
“A few years back Davis Bay school almost closed as there was only 40 something students. With the support of the parents, Sally saved our little school by implementing a few more programs that brought our numbers up. Like the SPIDER program (home schooled children) and NEST (nature school).”
The population at Davis Bay Elementary School today is about 175 students and many of those students take part in the nature school program that sees them spend much of their time outdoors.
Thicke said she wanted to bring the nature program to Davis Bay elementary for three reasons.
“One is that there’s a growing body of research that says that this is a strong and powerful way for many kids to learn,” Thicke said, noting she also saw a demand in the community for the program and realized that Davis Bay Elementary needed to grow or risk being shut down.
“It needed to grow in a really dynamic way that would allow a school that was moving towards closure to come into its
fullest in this most beautiful location.”
Guzzi said Thicke is a “true visionary” who “thinks outside the box” and she was excited to honour Thicke as a Citizen of the Year who has made a big difference in Davis Bay.
When Thicke was presented her award by kindergarten student Oscar DeLeo at the association’s general meeting on May 11, Guzzi said Thicke was moved to tears.
“She cried and was visibly surprised,” Guzzi said.
“A heart-warming moment.”
Thicke will be retiring from her role as principal of Davis Bay Elementary at the end of this school year, but not before she helps get another project for students at Davis Bay Elementary School off the ground.
Thicke is helping with a fundraising campaign to erect a donated 30-by-100-foot greenhouse at the school and fill it with garden beds and a teaching space for students and community members to learn and grow in, quite literally.
“We had a tremendous response from the community. We’ve got about $8,000 towards what we think might be a $40,000 project, but a whole lot of that will come through grant and donation,” Thicke said.
“I was wanting to see it there before I retire, but each thing we go to do just kind of peels another layer that we need to make sure we take care of. It will come, but probably not until next winter.”
