Hero Holiday

April 30, 2008

Dear Absolute,

We write this letter with much appreciation for what your organization does. Our school, Master’s Academy and College, participated in both a chartered Hero Holiday trip to Mexico and a motivational assembly.

As a result of our trip, students and teachers were deeply challenged in their thinking and gained an increased understanding of social justice issues. This trip was so much more than just a humanitarian trip. It was truly an opportunity for our students to serve and gain an increased perspective on the world. They have learned more through experience than is possible to achieve in the classroom alone. They were left with a challenge that one person can make a difference and we believe that these experiences have impacted them to do so, challenging and encouraging their future life goals. As teachers, the leadership and organization that was demonstrated from the absolute team for this trip was executed without flaw or confusion. The Hero Holiday staff was well trained and very knowledgeable. They took time to relate to our students, making a connection and showing them that they were not just another group.

The motivational assembly took place after our trip. Our high school students were engaged in the experience that was created for them. They listened to the stories shared and were able to relate them to their own life issues. The band was great, right on target for our students. We were able to integrate our own student’s testimonies of their Hero Holiday into the assembly. They shared and instantly made a connection between our school and your organization. We see this as beneficial for both our school and your organization.

While in Mexico we were introduced to One: A Face Behind the Numbers by Vaden Earle. This is a perspective changing resource. Since our trip, we have decided to use this book as a classroom resource, integrating it into core curriculum. It is a real-life book into key statistics and case studies. We look forward to challenging our students with the information that it provides.

We look forward to staying connected with Absolute in the future. We feel that Absolute offers an enriching and impacting experience for all high school students. We would highly recommend this organization to any school interested. By making experiences like this the norm and not the exception, our future generations will be provided with tools to make a difference.

Thank you for providing us with this opportunity.

Sincerely,

Hayley Blain
Marlene Fehr

Master’s Academy & College
4414 Crowchild Trail SW
Calgary, AB
T2T 5J4