Dear Editor:Never underestimate the kindness of a stranger. That stranger might end up becoming a friend, or feeling like family. Such is the case with Southland Assisted Living resident Emma "Tiny" Hobson. It was only a few years ago that Emma, known affectionately as Tiny, became a fixture on the campus of West Middle School. Tiny would visit West daily and help keep the campus clean and the students in check. She soon became close with the staff at West, and they would look forward to her visits. Recently, I heard that Tiny was a resident at Southland Assisted Living in Norwalk and wanted to do something special for our honorary Spartan. On May 19, a group of students and staff from West Middle School visited Southland Assisted Living to honor Tiny. Even Phil Davis, who was the principal during the time when Tiny would visit, came to pay homage. Davis started the celebration by giving a speech about Tiny and singing the Beatles' classic "In My Life." He even bragged about the kiss Tiny planted on his cheek upon his arrival. I shared stories about Tiny's visit and gave her a beautiful orchid. The West Middle School Jazz Ensemble, led by teacher Todd Miller, continued the celebration by playing four blues songs, including a lively "I Heard it Through the Grapevine." Soloists featured in the Jazz Ensemble included Osvaldo Zarate, Jared Topacio, Jakob Miller, Mario Acosta and Daniel Vazquez. Next, two students from West's Edgar Alan Poe Poetry Society, Joshua Lopez and Natalie Khansari, shared original poems. Lastly, West Drama's Club, directed by teacher Andrea Procter, performed a couple songs from their recent production of the musical, "Annie." Sixth grader Valeryee Jimenez sang the optimistic ballad "Tomorrow" and the orphans, featuring seventh grader Mehrasa Mazandarani, sang a rousing "It's a Hard Knock Life." After their performances, the students spent some time meeting the residents of Southland. On the bus ride home, the students boasted about the wonderful experiences they had, and looked forward to doing it again. Honoring a woman like Tiny was a learning experience for the students. You never know how the littlest deeds will leave a lasting impression. - Craig Bertsch, Principal, West Middle School

********** Published: May 28, 2010 - Volume 9 - Issue 6