Bette Weese's students at The Chantilly Academy couldn't have given her an end-of-the-year "teacher gift" that pleased her more.
A registered nurse, she teaches medical-health technologies for students interested in health-care careers. And, she said, what happened last Friday, was "the most incredible thing in my nine years of teaching. It absolutely left me speechless."
Weese's mother died last summer at age 84 after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease and, naturally, the loss devastated her. "I was very close to her and saw her every day," she said. She died Aug. 24, the day Weese was to return to school after summer vacation.
Then, in October, Weese casually mentioned the George Mason Memory Walk to her first-period class. She told them it was coming up that month and raises money for research for the Azlheimer's Association. And, said Weese, "I told them, if they saw me a little teary-eyed, it was because of what had happened to my mother."
To her delight, her students got excited about the event and organized a team to walk in the fund-raiser. "We had a great time and raised over $500," she said. "And they wore signs saying, 'In memory of Mrs. Weese's mom,' and that touched me so much."
Last Friday, June 10, was the last day for seniors and, said Weese, "We always have a little party and I hand out little gifts." Her 23 first-period, first-year students then said they had something for her, too. They'd collected $100 and written a check to the American Alzheimer's Association, in remembrance of her mother.
"You don't think of teen-agers thinking in that broad picture," she said. "I was absolutely shocked, and then I cried. I was so surprised. This was so meaningful — and from kids. They should make great, health-care professionals."
In addition, her second-year class gave her a money order for $40 and said to donate it to her favorite charity. So, said Weese, "I'll be donating $140 to the Alzheimer's Association."