If You're Trying to Skip School, Ask the Mayor to Help You Out
When 11-year-old Chloe Atherton missed school this week to visit City Hall, she was fortunately saved by an exceptionally cute excuse note written by the town mayor to her principal.
The letter, dated February 12th, reads: "Please excuse Chloe from class this morning as she had to attend an important meeting in my office with me and Deputy Mayor Steve Desroches. In recognition of today also being Chloe's birthday, I think it would be worthy of consideration to give her less homework on this special day. Sincerely, Jim Watson "
Chloe is a fifth-grader at St. Emily School in Ottawa, Canada, and won a contest to design a holiday card for the office of Mayor Jim Watson. As her prize, the young artist received a tour of City Hall, and was awarded a plaque. Furthermore, Mayor Watson decided he'd send Chloe home with one more memento.
"We did this letter because we'd seen President Obama do it and thought it was cute," Mayor Watson tells the Good News blog, referencing a similar letter Obama wrote for a boy a couple years ago.
Mayor Watson says that Chloe's design was selected from hundreds of entries, and stood out due to the material she used and the unique concept.
"Most kids would do a painting with markers, but she did it in plasticine, and it was a beautiful card," the mayor explains. "It was a picture of a Christmas tree and a fireplace, and you can only see half of Santa."
According to Chloe, it's a technique she's done in the past that worked well for birthday cards, and seems to have impressed the VIPS of Ottawa too. The little girl says she enjoyed the experience of meeting Mayor Watson and seeing his office, and appreciated the note as well.
"I've never been to City Hall before, it was a really cool building with a neat history and some very nice art," she describes to the Good News blog.
As far as homework goes, Chloe says she doesn't get too much anyhow, but her principal insists the school honored Mayor Watson's request.
Principal Suzanne Fitzgerald adds, "We usually listen to the mayor!"
More of the Good News:
Boy with Down Syndrome Gets Huge Surprise when He Receieves Acceptance Letter from Clemson
Elementary School Student Embraces the Old Fashioned Love Letter
No Thanks, Santa! 6-Year-Old Writes Letter Requesting Her Holiday Gifts Be Sent to Poor Kids
