Congrats Chelsey Petersen! The Book Table’s September Teacher of the Month

Congrats Chelsey Petersen!

THE BOOK TABLE’S SEPTEMBER TEACHER OF THE MONTH

CLAIRE ANDERSON contributing writer

This fall, the Book Table began “Making a Difference One Chapter at a Time,” a program in which they have teamed up with vendors, schools, libraries, and businesses in Cache Valley to give back to teachers and students. Their teacher of the month program provides the opportunity for featured teachers to receive a door makeover and a Book Table gift card. September’s Teacher of the Month, who was nominated for the outstanding impact she has had on her students and fellow teachers, is Chelsey Petersen, the special education preschool teacher for children ages 3-6 at Riverside Preschool.

Chelsey and her husband, Chad, have lived in Logan for the past 18 years. They have twin daughters, Raegan and Brooklyn, and two dogs, Bentley and Dusty. Their family enjoys playing games, camping, supporting the Aggies, and spending time with family and friends. Ever since she was a little girl, Chelsey knew that she wanted to become a teacher. This came from her desire to help others. “I believe that all students can learn, just at a different pace and in their own ways,” she said. When she was younger, she played school with her dolls and stuffed animals, and even asked for a whiteboard and school supplies for Christmas.

This is her eighth year teaching preschool in Logan City School District and her second year teaching at Riverside Preschool. She loves being a special education teacher because of how the classroom environment is always changing, making every day a new adventure. She loves interacting and collaborating with her amazing team of special educators.

“Chelsey teaches in the classroom next to me and she goes above and beyond every day making our students feel safe and at home and helping her fellow teachers with any questions they may have,” a fellow teacher at Riverside said. “[Cheslea] forges ahead [through challenges] every day and is always trying to figure out how to best meet the needs of our students and their various special needs.”

It is evident that Chelsey has a genuine love for each of her students and truly enjoys what she does, even when her job isn’t easy.

“It is definitely a team effort,” Chelsea

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said. “As a special education parent, I also have experience on the family side, so I feel like I have a different point of view and understanding because I have experience on both sides. I feel like I am a good advocate and resource for my students and their families.”

An impactful experience that Chelsey shared was an instance in which a student was screaming on the school bus, but stopped as soon as he saw her, embracing her with a huge smile when he got to the door. “In that moment, I knew that I was making a difference for him and that he felt happy in my classroom,” she said. “The relationships and trust that I develop with my students and their families make the hard days totally worth it.” When asked what she loves about her students at Riverside, Chelsey responded saying, “Where do I even begin? They are INCREDIBLE! I am so thankful for the opportunity to be a part of their lives and their educational journey. I love their determination and resilience. Their willingness to work hard and to try their best makes it so worth it. We celebrate the little things and the big things. I love seeing their faces light up when they point to a color that we have been working on, when they count to five independently, or when they say their first word or take their first step independently. I love seeing them include and interact with their peers of all abilities. They truly see each other as equals and are so loving and kind to each other. They are examples of how we should treat others.”

Chelsey is an amazing individual who has contributed much to our community through her patience, love, and attentiveness as a teacher. The compassion that she has toward her students and the willingness to help that she demonstrates with her fellow teachers clearly shows in all that she does. We are thankful for wonderful teachers like her who make Cache Valley a better place to live.

The Nativity Journey at Nibley’s Morgan Farm

EMILY BUCKLEY editor in chief

14 years ago, Richard and Karen Eversull of Nibley wanted to give Cache Valley a non-denominational worship opportunity.

Richard, the caretaker of the historic Morgan Farm in Nibley, felt The Morgan Farm Barn was the perfect backdrop for a Nativity. He believed it would help people have a more realistic view of what the holy Christmas night might have looked like 2,000 years ago.

Over the years, hundreds of volunteers and thousands of visitors have walked through the barn and felt love, peace, and a great appreciation for what they consider the true meaning of Christmas.

“It has always been a very spiritual experience for me to watch people come through and observe the nativity,” Richard said.

Last year, in consideration of the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was changed to a drive-through experience. Volunteers, including Richard’s daughter Adria Eversull and family friends Sabrina and Joshua Olsen, created an artistic and musical presentation that visitors could take part in from the comfort

Richard Eversull has been the caretaker of Morgan Farm in Nibley for the last 14 years.

Adria and Sabrina are lifelong friends and are now both professional artists. You can see their work on Instagram, respectively, at @adriaeart and @thabusart3. and warmth of their vehicles. Live animals and inspiring, hand-painted scenes are displayed around the farm and coordinated to a YouTube video of music and narration of the Biblical Christmas story.

“We received a lot of positive feedback from the community about how it was done last year, and since there are still concerns [regarding COVID], we are having a drive-through Nativity again this year, although I hope we can return to a walkthrough again in the future,” Richard said.

Richard says all are welcome to attend the event. Visitors are invited to leave a $5 or canned food donation to benefit the Cache Community Food Pantry if they can, “but if you don’t have any money or food to spare, you are still welcome,” Richard said.

More than 5,000 cars drove through the event last year. This year’s Nativity Journey will be held on December 10, 11, and 13 from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

The staging point for the Nativity Journey is in the Logan Coach parking lot at 2990 South 800 West, Nibley. Vehicles should enter from the south. As visitors enter, there will be large signs with a QR code to scan and access the audio portion of the experience. They’ll then drive past Morgan Farm and Elkhorn Park where scenes and animals are set. The barn at Morgan Farm was built in 1921 with the help of a local lumber company. At the time, it was a state-of-the-art, privately owned milking barn. The property changed hands over the years and was eventually acquired by Nibley City, who hired Richard to bring his animals and care for the farm which is home to three horses, six goats, a steer, two donkeys, 100 chickens, three foal cats, and a goose, and is now open to the community as a petting zoo of sorts.

“People are welcome to visit the farm anytime,” Richard said. “I love having the kids come by and see the animals.”

Richard, who has been wheelchair bound for over 30 years since sustaining injuries in an automobile accident, says he enjoys taking care of the grounds and property. “It reminds me of my time growing up in the country in Cheyenne, Wyoming.”

Adria says her dad has been an inspiration to her throughout her life. “He has been in a wheelchair since I was 3,” Adria said. “And he never let it stop him from doing the things he loves, whether it was driving Clydesdale horses in a Fourth of July parade or skiing. Taking care of the farm and putting on the Nativity is another one of those things. He loves the story of the Nativity and loves that he can serve the community. It gives him purpose.”