Octavia Owl feels a touch of melancholy as her summer break comes to an end. What a wonderful summer it was! The camping trip with her dear grandchildren, the shopping trip in the city with her sister, relaxing days at home working in her garden, renovating the kitchen with her husband, reading books late into the night free from alarm clocks. Cherished memories to carry with her as she returns to her classroom.

Bedecked in her new fall outfit, her feathers looking great with their auburn highlights, Octavia prepares for a new group of students, young minds she can inspire and ignite with her passion for learning. Some students will be scared, nervous to be away from home. Others will be defiant, challenging her at every turn. Then there are the know-it-alls who don’t give other students a chance to speak. The deeply troubled students who live in dysfunctional homes touch Octavia’s heart most of all. All of her new students will need kindness, patience, love, and encouragement. They will need someone who believes in them even when they don’t believe in themselves.

Octavia stands in her classroom and surveys her new autumn themed wall displays and activity centres as the bell rings. She listens to the chaotic shouting and foot pounding in the hallway. As the door opens, children rush in, jostling each other. A young hedgehog is crying because her hair has been pulled. A little rabbit has hidden under a desk. Octavia relies on her years of experience and her skillful classroom management as she writes her name on the board and calms her class, “Good morning. My name is Mrs. Owl. Each desk has a name plate. Please find the desk with your own special name plate, and take a seat. Who wants to play a game with coloured jelly beans?”