Jacqui Cooper - community

Mordialloc Beach Primary School - Friday 25 June

When I planned on visiting Mordialloc Beach Primary School, I knew I was going to make one very special little boys day.  My 6 year old nephew, Ryan Schadel is in Grade 1 at MBPS; he has been wanting me to come to his school since he first wore his tiny uniform as a Prep last year.
 
During the Vancouver Winter Olympics in February, Ryan made sure his class knew I was his Auntie; he insisted his class hang posters, articles and pictures of me during the games.  He turned his class room into a grade 1 winter wonderland.
 
When I walked into his class room last week (posters of me still on the wall), Ryan introduced me to his classmates; "this is my Wacky, I am proud of her and thank you for coming today".  I nearly started crying; I was so happy to see the pride this little 6 year old showed me and his friends.
 
Spending time with Ryan's class was really special, a day both of us will remember.  When I played a DVD montage of my career, the entire schools eyes watched the TV screen; my eyes didn't leave Ryan.  I watched him, watch me.  He was so excited to see me on the TV that he couldn't even sit down to watch, he was bobbing up and down with absolute excitement.  He would point and the TV screen, then point at me and smile, then turn back and point at the TV again.  This went on for 4 mins.
 
I spoke to his class about being Ryan's Auntie Wacky Jacqui;  I told a short story about my career, at the end of the story I gave the students a quick quiz on what they just heard.  I encouraged the class to work together to get all of the answers right; a sharing of information between them all.  Everyone completed the quiz with all correct answers.  The VIS provided soft balls, wrist bands, stickers and water bottles as prizes; a HUGE HIT with the kiddies.
 
I told them to be a champion you needed to be healthy, happy, to work as a team, listen and always try your best.  Asking his class what they wanted to be a champion at (didn't have to be sport); I got "champion zoo keeper" and "champion lawyer".  I look forward to generation Z grow up!!!
 
When I was leaving the school, kids followed me threw the yard singing out "thanks for coming today Aunty Jacqui"!
 
TOO CUTE !!

Black Rock Primary - Friday 25 June

I headed to Black Rock Primary School for a presentation to Grade 4, 5 and 6; I was the special guest of a very special little girl.  Amina Mahmoud is the daughter of my wonderful Osteopath (Beaumaris Osteopathic health Group; she is in Grade 6 at Black Rock Primary School.  I made a promise to her last November that I would come and visit her at school before she finished her final year there.
 
Amina met me in the school foyer just before the school bell rang to help me find my way to her class room where I was presenting the first of my sessions.  Walking though the school yard at 8.50am with a bag full of goodies (rubber balls, drink bottles, wrist bands and natural confectionary company lollies) gets a lot of attention; I look a little like Santa Claus but with the following of the Pied Piper.  By the time I get to my class I have many many little people surrounding me!
 
I showed Grade 4, 5 and 6 two different DVDs.  One DVD is a montage of TV footage from aerial events throughout my career. The DVD is a good way to start my class;  it gives the kids a good idea on who I am, what I do and what I have done; after a bunch of questions the next DVD gets played.  It's a DVD from the ABC show "Can We Help".  I caught up with Peter Rowsthorn (better known as Brett from Kath and Kim) a little a while ago and filmed a segment together.  He wanted to investigate how aerial skiers train for our winter sport here in Australia.  After spending a full day with him, and putting him  though a very basic crash course in "Aerial Skiing 101" he went off one of the jumps we send our junior team off.  He was so funny but so brave at the same time; the kids just love this segment.  I love watching them watch him do my very tricky sport.
 
My class time passes very quickly; too quickly.  By the time we watch DVDs, and I talk to the students about working hard, having passion for something, and believing in your dreams, I barely have enough time for questions and  my signature "Jacqui Cooper Quick Quiz".  After the quiz..........that's when the students get what they have been waiting for; all the goodies they saw me unpack earlier that day.
 
I reckon Amina would have been the most popular girl at BRPS for the rest of that week; all of her classmates knew that the visit made by me, was specially arranged by her.
 
Thanks Amina.

School Visit - Monday 7 June

Today was my third and final visit with Fountain Gate Secondary College.  My last session concentrated on "drugs in sport"; rules, sanctions and athlete responsibility. 

My presentation really sparked a lot of discussion, some debating and many questions. Drug use in sport is an area of great interest to me; I consider myself well versed in this area because of the years I have spent being involved with WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency). 

The questions and comments made by the students were intelligent and well researched. I brought my World Cup along to today's session so everyone could see what hard work and dedication can do.

Thanks Fountain Gate SC!!