Principal Report

THE GIVING TREE

Once upon a time, there was a big apple tree. A little boy loved to come and play around it. He climbed to the tree top, ate the apples, read a book under its branches. He loved the tree and the tree loved seeing him. Time went by, the little boy grew older, and he no longer played around the tree.

One day, the boy came back to the tree with a sad look on his face. "Come and play with me," invited the tree.

"I am no longer a kid, I don't play around trees anymore," the boy replied, "I want a computer but I need money to buy one."

"I am sorry," said the tree, "but I don't have any money. You could pick my apples and sell them so you can buy your computer." The boy excitedly picked all the apples on the tree and left happily. The boy didn't come back. The tree was sad.

One day, the boy, now a man, returned. "Come and play with me," invited the tree.

"I don't have time to play. I have to work for my family. We need a house to live in."

"I am sorry," said the tree, "I don't have a house, but you can chop off my branches to build your house." So the man cut all the branches off the tree and left happily. The tree was again lonely and sad.

One hot summer day, the man returned and the tree was delighted. "Come and play with me!" invited the tree. The man said. "I am getting old. I want to go sailing and have some fun. I need a boat."

"I am sorry," said the tree, "I don't have a boat but you can use my trunk to build one. You can sail far away and be happy." So the man cut the tree trunk to make a boat. He went sailing and didn't come back for a long time.

Finally, the man returned after he had been gone for many, many years. "I am sorry," said the tree, "but I don't have anything left to give you. No more apples to give you."

The man said. "I don't have teeth to bite."

"No more branches or trunk for you to climb on."

"I am too old for that now," the man said.

"The only thing I have left are my dying roots," the tree said.

"I am tired after all these years," the man replied.

"Good!" said the tree. "Old tree roots are the best place to lean on and rest." The man sat down and the tree was glad and smiled.

Like the apple tree, our parents love to help us, all through our lives. Too often, as we get older we come and see them only when we need help. Remember your parents and all they do for you and thank them with your love and care. And always keep in touch and visit often.