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Protestant students open hearts in giving spirit

There are more than 6,600 points of light in the world of St. Albert Protestant schools. That’s how many of the students and budding humanitarians are at the district’s 14 schools.

There are more than 6,600 points of light in the world of St. Albert Protestant schools. That’s how many of the students and budding humanitarians are at the district’s 14 schools.

They give and give with full recognition that school isn’t just about exercising your brain — your heart and soul get a pretty good workout as well.

That’s according to superintendent Barry Wowk. He’s always impressed with the efforts and the excellence, no matter the month.

“The district is just so, so proud of our students and our staff, and the community as a whole — the parents for supporting them,” he said.

“It’s so crucial that we develop citizenship among our students and have them give back to the community. Sometimes people just don’t realize how giving our students are and how cognizant they are. Christmas is a time to be extra reflective on that but they do it all year long.”

Sure, the students have their studies, but just like the saying goes, some of the most important lessons you learn don’t take place in a classroom. These kids know what it means to be a good and gracious citizen of the world and the evidence can be seen in everything they do when not sitting behind a desk.

Here then, is a brief summary of what these schools and their students have been up to in the last few weeks.

• Sir George Simpson (grades 7 to 9): The school held a dodgeball tournament to raise money for the Stollery Children’s Hospital and a collection for the St. Albert Food Bank. Staff and students also put together shoebox gifts for Operation Christmas Child.

• Paul Kane (grades 10 to 12): Staff and students compiled shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child and collected food and toys for the Kinette Christmas hampers. The students’ union held a very successful food drive competition.

• Elmer S. Gish (K to 9): Details were not available.

• Leo Nickerson (K to 6): The school collected 1,400 kilograms of food and $369.65 for the St. Albert Food Bank. They collected 266 Christmas boxes for Operation Christmas Child. To top it all off, the choir sang Christmas carols in the lobby at the Telus World of Science and then went on to entertain the residents of a seniors’ home. Many teachers encouraged their students to donate money to World Vision. A giving tree holds donations of food, new and unwrapped toys, blankets, hats, scarves and mittens for the Kinettes’ Christmas Hamper Campaign.

• Ronald Harvey (K to 6): The school worked hard for the Kinettes’ Christmas hampers by giving toys and food, and also setting up a mitten tree for winter clothing donations. The Miracle Maker Club is collecting used coats, clothing and blankets for the Bissell Centre. The school also helped out the food bank and Operation Christmas Child.

• Robert Rundle (K to 6): The school supported World Vision, the Salvation Army’s Coats for Kids program, and helped the Kinettes with trees for food, toys, mittens and hats. The student council and Grade 6 students delivered handmade Christmas cards to the school’s neighbours and cleared sidewalks throughout.

• Keenooshayo (K to 6): The school has a giving tree to accept clothes for the Salvation Army. Students made cards to be sent to our troops overseas and the Grade 4 to 6 classes have been doing Random Acts of Kindness like shovelling driveways for neighbours.

• Wild Rose (K to 6): The school has supported the Kinettes, the food bank and put together backpacks for inner-city children. A student choir sang for seniors during a special tea and the school held its annual Christmas dinner for the community to commune with staff and students.

• Sir Alexander Mackenzie (K to 6): The school compiled more than 1,000 shoeboxes for both Operation Christmas Child and for students at four Edmonton inner-city schools. The SAM Fundraising Society held a recent Christmas gift, craft, and bake sale with proceeds to support the local Kinsmen and Kinettes. A Christmas tree decorated with toques and mittens will be donated to those needing winter wear. SAM students and families purchased and stuffed nearly 1,000 shoeboxes and, with a co-ordinated effort, presented these Christmas gifts. Student Parliament co-ordinated a food bank collection prior to a ‘Movie Morning.’ These items were transported to the St. Albert Food Bank yesterday.

• William D. Cuts (grades 7 to 9): With the help of the seniors’ club, the leadership class once again helped prepare and deliver Christmas baskets for needy seniors in St Albert. Then they went to the club and helped out with its annual Christmas luncheon. The school also collected donations for the food bank.

• Lorne Akins (grades 7 to 9): Operation Christmas Child and the Kinettes’ Christmas hamper program benefited from school activities. Movember Moustachio raised money for prostate cancer research.

• Outreach (grades 10 to 12): The school held a food drive and put up a clothing tree to collect winter wear for those who need it but can’t afford it. Other events raised money for a school in Cambodia.

• Muriel Martin (K to 6): Grade 6 students committed to various service projects to help such worthy causes as the Humane Society, Hope Mission, Mustard Seed Church, Kinettes, Operation Christmas Child, food bank, seniors’ club, St. Albert Stop Abuse in Families, the Salvation Army and Santas Anonymous. Other recent and notable efforts included fundraisers for pancreatic cancer and helping put with younger hockey and ringette teams. Even local hero, Lola the dog, got in on the action by visiting retirement homes.

• Bellerose (grades 10 to 12): The school collected food and money for the food bank, and gifts for Santas Anonymous, the Kinettes’ Christmas hampers, and Operation Christmas Child. Families who get a new cell phone as a gift during the holidays can recycle the old ones either to WIN House or to the Valley Zoo for its ECO-Cell initiative.


Scott Hayes, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

About the Author: Scott Hayes, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Ecology and Environment Reporter at the Fitzhugh Newspaper since July 2022 under Local Journalism Initiative funding provided by News Media Canada.
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