Heartfelt Kindergarten Video featured on the Jimmy Kimmel Live! Show

Heartfelt Kindergarten Video from Medicine Hat Catholic Schools featured on the Jimmy Kimmel Live! Show

A video featuring Miss Gill’s PM Kindergarten class at École St. John Paul II School captured hearts across the globe - culminating in a special request to feature it on Jimmy Kimmel Live! On Tuesday, June 17, 2025.  

Originally posted on Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education’s social media platforms, the video showcases Miss Gill joyfully guessing each of her 19 kindergarten students by name simply from hearing their voices. The simple, 90-second clip resonated with viewers worldwide, garnering over 81 million views thus far.

The love and authenticity of the video ultimately caught the eye of producers at Jimmy Kimmel Live! Their producers contacted the district with a request to incorporate the video during an opening monologue on the show to recognize Teacher Appreciation Week in the United States. 

Robert Dumanowski, the Principal of École St. John Paul II School, said, "Today, we celebrate not just the power of a viral video, but the heart and dedication of incredible educators like Miss Gill who inspire, nurture, and create moments that truly matter. The kindness and joy our kindergarten teacher shares with her students has sparked a ripple effect, reminding us all of the extraordinary impact of everyday moments. This is a great reminder that there’s amazing work happening in our classrooms every day!"

Miss Gill, the teacher featured in the video, stated, “When I heard the video was going viral, I was amazed! It was simply a sweet moment between my students and I that caught the attention of millions. Then, I got an email from a producer at Jimmy Kimmel Live! and that really blew me away! This experience has been nothing short of amazing. I am humbled that people are responding so positively to a snapshot of a moment in our classroom!”

“I was thrilled when Miss GIll agreed to jump on this trend! We recorded it in one take, posted it the next day and it absolutely blew up! People could see how genuine she is and how much her students adore her,” said Derrian Hallas, Director of Communications for Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education.

Medicine Hat Catholic Schools remain committed to fostering environments where students feel seen, known, and loved - and this (viral) video serves as a reminder of the everyday magic happening in classrooms across the division!

For media inquiries, please contact:

Derrian Hallas, Director of Communications
Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education
Email: derrian.hallas@mhcbe.ab.ca
Phone: 403-527-2292 ext 1024