Students of beloved teacher fighting cancer show up on her front lawn to sing her Christmas carols

Students of beloved teacher fighting cancer show up on her front lawn to sing her Christmas carols

Students of beloved teacher fighting cancer show up on her front lawn to sing her Christmas carols.
Students of beloved teacher fighting cancer show up on her front lawn to sing her Christmas carols. Courtesy of Glen Erickson

We’ve all seen those holiday movies where carolers show up on someone’s front lawn and start singing to lift someone’s spirits – but that never happens in real-life…right?

But that’s exactly what just happened in to a beloved teacher who’s been fighting for her life in Canada.

A second grade teacher from Vancouver, Laurie Burpee, was resting in her home prior to a chemo appointment when she caught the glimpse of a light out of the corner of her eye and then looked over only to see “little Santa hats” in her front yard.

Students of beloved teacher fighting cancer show up on her front lawn to sing her Christmas carols.
Students of beloved teacher fighting cancer show up on her front lawn to sing her Christmas carols. Courtesy of Glen Erickson

“I thought there are kids out there and then I thought, there are a lot of kids out there,” Burpee told Good Morning America.

“When I went to the door and saw they were kids from school, the tears started to flow.”

And just like in the movies, there were 30 kids standing on Burpee’s front lawn, singing Christmas carols for their beloved teacher, who has been out on medical leave since October.

Students of beloved teacher fighting cancer show up on her front lawn to sing her Christmas carols.
Students of beloved teacher fighting cancer show up on her front lawn to sing her Christmas carols. Courtesy of Glen Erickson

Burpee was diagnosed with cancer in May and has undergone 6 rounds of chemo since then.

When she went on medical leave from York Elementary School earlier this year, Burpee left behind 30 second-grade students but she also left a legacy of kindness.

“She’s just this loving heart,” York Elementary principal Dawn Harris said of Burpee. “She reminds us that we need to show kindness every day … and we’re continuing to live that in our building because of her.”

Students of beloved teacher fighting cancer show up on her front lawn to sing her Christmas carols.
Students of beloved teacher fighting cancer show up on her front lawn to sing her Christmas carols. Courtesy of Glen Erickson

Harris, who also worked with Burpee at another elementary school, helped organize the Christmas carol surprise after a parent of one of Burpee’s former students proposed the idea.

As Burpee walked out to her front lawn and listened to the kids sing on Monday night, she had another surprise in store. Police cars started racing down her residential street.

“I went into teacher mode, thinking, oh no, something is happening and I’m going to need to put all these kids in my house,” recalled Burpee. “I had no idea.”

Police officers were not arriving to handle a disturbance in her neighborhood, as Burpee had feared, but to give her what they call a “kindness 911 citation.”

The citation read, “You are the embodiment of kindness and have a positive impact on every person you know … and many you don’t know. Thank you for being an example of kindness, compassion and goodwill. Even when faced with overwhelming circumstances you are a light. Thank you for your commitment to your students and your York Elementary family. May this night remind you that you are never alone and we look forward to walking with you through your metamorphosis where you will most definitely be a beautiful butterfly.”

Students of beloved teacher fighting cancer show up on her front lawn to sing her Christmas carols.
Students of beloved teacher fighting cancer show up on her front lawn to sing her Christmas carols. Courtesy of Glen Erickson

The citation was presented to Burpee by Kindness 911, a Washington state-based nonprofit organization that partners with police to recognize kindness in the community.

Police officers and the county sheriff showed up on Burpee’s lawn to present her with not just the citation but also VIP tickets to watch her beloved Seattle Mariners play baseball and tickets for a local concert venue.

Students of beloved teacher fighting cancer show up on her front lawn to sing her Christmas carols.
Students of beloved teacher fighting cancer show up on her front lawn to sing her Christmas carols. Courtesy of Glen Erickson

“It was just overwhelming but what a wonderful, wonderful, surprise,” said Burpee. “The best part was the kids. I miss those kids so much and I miss my colleagues.”

Burpee said she is most happy that the message of kindness is being shared.

“This should never be about me,” Burpee said. “It should just be about kindness growing and people realizing that sharing that is powerful.”

“To build that culture and that climate around just noticing the tiny, little things you do make a huge difference and to know the importance of kindness and how you can just incorporate that easily into your day, it’s just phenomenal,” she said.

Well Laurie, your kindness has officially rubbed off on not only your students, but the entire community.

This just goes to show the power of kindness, because not only does it make people feel better, but it makes them want to pay it forward.

So you can make a strong case that kindness changes the world, because it starts with one act and exponentially spreads as others replicate that behavior – And that my friends, is Majic!


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