Las Vegas Magic Travels to Littleton

While vacationing in Las Vegas in the summer of 1995 with my husband, I was determined to not let the "magic" of Las Vegas stay only in Nevada. My ultimate "Las Vegas souvenir" from that trip proved to be one that touched thousands of people over subsequent years....right here in Colorado. Let me share with you this story!

Being a counselor at Deer Creek Middle School here in Littleton, Colorado, I often did classroom presentations that had a distinct lesson plan, highlighted by a few simple "slight of hand" magic tricks I would throw in to hold the middle-schoolers' attention and to emphasize the points being made.

While in Las Vegas for a summer trip, I viewed the opportunity to go to a David Copperfield magic show in Caesar's Palace as both a wonderful evening's entertainment and also as an opportunity for inspiration for future classroom presentations to give in Littleton, Colorado.

Copperfield's presentation was amazing, and his "out of no where" ouverture appearance while on a fully running motorcycle in the middle of the seated audience dumbfounded everyone. From the start of the show to the finish, the entire audience was spellbound. Following the standing ovation at the end of the show, it was announced that Copperfield would be signing autographs in the lobby, to raise money for an organization of volunteer magicians who visit children's hospitals across the United States and entertain the young patients with magic acts .

I was bound and determined to not only help this organization, but to get a personal photograph of this spellbinding magician, riding his motorcycle, to display in my counseling office.

By the time that I had convinced my husband that I wasn't leaving Las Vegas without Copperfield's autographed image to grace my counseling office wall, we realized that we were the last two persons remaining inside the theater. Subsequently, we found ourselves at the very end of the line in the hallway, waiting for the coveted autographed photo of Copperfield himself.

We had finally attained the front of the line. With no one else left in the hallway, and with David Copperfield sitting by himself at a large wooden desk, there was an unspoken understanding that it was, indeed, late at night, and that, indeed, we were all tired.

Quite unexpectedly, David Copperfield looked directly at me, acted like he needed a change of pace, and quizzed me in a most friendly manner, "You know what I do. What do you do for a living?"

I felt just like Dorothy in the "Wizard of Oz," speaking to the Great Oz himself.

I stumbled a bit and mumbled, "I.....I work in a middle school." ("I am Dorothy the meek and humble.")

Copperfield then looked at me straight in the eyes again, and said, "Well, then, you do magic EVERY day."

He autographed his photo with, "To Jo Wessels and the Magic of Middle Schools. David Copperfield."

I framed the autographed photo of David Copperfield sitting on his motorcycle and kept it in my counseling office at Deer Creek for the remainder of my 16 years before I retired.

Throughout the years in my counseling office, both students and parents would comment on the personalized note, and ask about it. It proved to be a most wonderful icebreaker. I would tell them that I agreed with Copperfield, and that, indeed, there WAS magic in middle schools. Magic happens when a seventh grader enters middle school at 4'6 inches tall, but leaves two years later at 5'3." Magic happens when a struggling student improves reading comprehension, masters division with fractions, or creates a spectacular piece of mosaic artwork. Magic happens when excellent teachers work with struggling students, and instill in them a love for lifelong learning.

Copperfield had it right. There is magic in middle schools.

My long tenure at Deer Creek Middle School had given me the opportunity to let me share my Las Vegas story with literally thousands of students and parents. It was a story of inspiration and looking at every day patterns of student growth and learning as a reflection on the magic that is around us all the time. For this I am grateful to David Copperfield. The magic that started in Las Vegas continued here in Colorado and was shared with many. Long may this magic of growth, learning, and wonder continue in our schools! Thank you, Las Vegas, for a unique way to share this with our community!