Three Grade 4 students from École Dundonald School are proving that you are never too young to make a difference. When students found a cause that spoke to them, they brought together the whole school to host a fundraiser with a creative twist!
Last spring, Alice, Ella, and Sloan watched the Telemiracle fundraising drive on TV. The stories of families and kids facing complex medical needs and bills stuck with them. Knowing that some students at their school had similar experiences, they decided to do something to help.
They brought their idea to their principal, Ms. Chantelle Balicki, to create a plan. With Ms. Balicki's help, they organized a school-wide art contest during student-parent-teacher conferences in October. Students from Kindergarten through Grade 8 created works of art leading up to the show which were hung in glass display cases by the school entrance. The School Community Council got involved, donating prizes for winning artists.
During student-parent-teacher conferences, Alice, Ella, and Sloan accepted donations for Telemiracle. In return for a donation of any amount, donors received ballots to vote for their favourite pieces of art.
By the end of the night, the students had raised $208 for Telemiracle. Parents commented that it created a sense of community in the school and gave them something to gather around during three-way conferences. The overall winner of the show was Grade 8 student Roman, whose drawing of the Titanic titled Among the Oceans received the most votes.
Alice, Ella, and Sloan are excited to make their donation to Telemiracle this March and have been brainstorming ideas to raise more money.
We are incredibly proud of Alice, Ella, and Sloan for their initiative, leadership, and compassion. Their idea not only helped raise money for a cause close to their hearts, but also rallied their whole school community around a worthy cause.
