Emma Narvaez
If you’ve ever walked into HS-2, you’ll probably notice a variety of student initiatives on the whiteboard such as charity promotion posters, anime drawings, and club flyers. However, there is one thing on the whiteboard in the Grade 11 classroom that stands out from any other whiteboard at Saint Maur – a bulletin highlighting an obscure holiday, usually accompanied by an illustration. Martin, a Grade 11 student, has taken it upon himself to create these daily bulletins, sparking conversations and adding a daily dose of humor to our classroom.
When asked what inspired these bulletins, Martin explained: “I don’t remember the exact date, but it was some day I remembered Cinnamon Bun Day because we celebrate it in Sweden and on that day, literally everyone eats a cinnamon bun. So I just thought it would be funny to put it up and then I thought it would be a bit more funny to try to push it to be weirder, edgier days.”
Martin has definitely succeeded in choosing “edgier days” to be celebrated. From “National Report IRS Tax Fraud Day” to the “70th Anniversary of Project MK Ultra,” his bulletins have certainly captured the attention of his classmates and teachers. He explained that he purposely selects the most humorous holiday among the variety of options available to be featured on the whiteboard each day.
One day Martin has found to be particularly popular with his classmates was “National Report Pharmaceutical Fraud Day,” and another to be a day dedicated to celebrating the name of Juan’s (another Grade 11 student) dad.
In response to whether he thought the daily bulletins had any impact on the school community as a whole, Martin expressed, “In all honesty, no. I don’t really want them to have any special impact, I just do it because it’s funny.” Despite Martin’s humble intentions behind this daily habit, the bulletins have undeniably piqued the interest of both students and teachers on various occasions, leading to conversations that foster a sense of community as we appreciate a small staple that brings us together every day. Although the bulletins may not have a profound impact on the school community, they have become a beloved daily tradition in HS-2, incorporating light-heartedness and entertainment to the otherwise mundane classroom environment.
In a few short months, Martin will be returning to Sweden for his final years of high school, leaving a void in HS-2. Although he will be dearly missed by his classmates and teachers, we hope that someone will continue the tradition of creating daily bulletins that bring us together in unexpected ways.
And who knows, perhaps celebrating Cinnamon Bun Day back in Sweden will inspire him to find new and exciting ways to spread humor and joy wherever he goes. Martin’s bulletins highlight the impermanence of things in life, and remind us to appreciate the present moment and the people and traditions that make it special, even if they may seem small or insignificant.
Every morning I walk into HS-2 at exactly 7:55 AM, and without fail, Martin has recognized a new holiday to be celebrated. His unwavering commitment to this daily ritual has become a comforting constant in my routine, one that I have come to rely on and look forward to each day. Thank you, Martin for brightening up our days with your quirky bulletins and allowing us to appreciate the small things in our lives.
Emma Narvaez