Master storyteller Jim Cogan has been a beloved guest speaker at the lower school for many years. He returned in early October to entertain students at the Bucknall campus with his heartwarming tales of quiet courage and compassion.

Cogan enthralled the audience of students and faculty with two stories. The first, a Nez Perce (Native American) fable called “One Day, One Night” offered a lesson in dealing with a bully by standing up for yourself, cooperating with friends and learning that inclusiveness gets everyone working together. The second fable, “Anansi and His Children,” about the well-known storybook character “Anansi the Spider,” focused on cooperation. Anansi is among the most important characters in West African and Caribbean folklore.

A former actor, teacher/administrator, journalist and author, Cogan used material from his new assembly programming, which encourages youngsters to stop bullying by uniting against it.