Student’s Quick Thinking Helps Save Classmate

CHATHAM – Chatham Elementary School first-grader Wallace Goodwin-Wright was enjoying lunch with his friends one day recently when he noticed one of his classmates was in distress. Some of his tablemates had also noticed and raised their hands, but they weren’t getting the attention of the adults in the room.

So Wallace got up from his seat and went and told an adult, who he knew as a sometimes-assistant in his class, that he thought his classmate was in trouble.

“I knew that if I just raised my hand it would take longer to get a teacher over,” he said.

Wallace’s decisive action is credited with saving his classmate, who had started coughing and choking.

“When people experience a life-threatening emergency, every second matters,” Deputy Chief Ryan Clarke said during an assembly last week. Wallace displayed both bravery and composure in alerting an adult, “despite experiencing a very scary event.”

“Because of his bravery and composure, he did the exact right thing at the exact right time, and his actions made a tremendous impact on the safety and well-being of his classmate,” Clarke said. It can be hard for kids to differentiate between horseplay and a problem situation, but Wallace recognized the seriousness of the incident and took appropriate action. While the classmate was able to dislodge the obstruction and was OK, “Wallace made sure help was on the way.”

Wallace was declared a “Super Shark” and first grade hero at last week’s assembly. He not only received a commendation from the fire department but also a special gift. A hockey player and fan, he received a gift bag of Boston Bruins swag, including a puck autographed by player Charlie McAvoy.

The 7-year-old Chatham resident said he felt “good, grateful, happy” being able to help his classmate. The lesson of the incident, he added, is to pay attention and help people if you can.

His teacher, Oona Melanson, said Wallace is always watching out for safety and often points out situations where that might be an issue. “He seems to always need to do the right thing,” she said.

When he isn’t playing on the Coyotes youth hockey team, Wallace said he likes to read. This summer he plans to do more reading and go swimming, fishing and help his father gather oysters.