Good deeds with a difference
Donagh classroom project encourages students to create special “birthday bags”
A group of P.E.I. students is making sure every Islander can feel a little more special on their birthday.
The Grade 3 and 4 combined class at Donagh Regional School participated in a special project this year with students learning how to be community-oriented while also helping to brighten someone else’s day.
Students performed good deeds and special chores outside of school, with each act earning them an item such as cake mix, candles or icing to be put together and donate to the Charlottetown Food Bank as a “birthday bag.”
“I cleaned part of my room because it was a mess,” said Ava Fall, adding that she also started filling her dog’s water bowl.
Other chores ranged from folding clothes and setting the table to visiting seniors and even scoring a goal in hockey.
“Some of them loaded dishwashers and did laundry, things they hadn’t done before,” said teacher Jo-Anne White.
“It was really fun and raised the kids’ awareness.”
White got the idea of making birthday bags from a friend in the Rotary Club and decided to do the project in memory of her mother.
“I explained to my class my Mom never had a birthday cake until she was an adult,” said White, noting that the project also opened many of her students’ eyes.
“I told them there are children and seniors on P.E.I. who don’t have birthday cakes because they can’t afford it. That really floored them, they couldn’t quite comprehend that.”
The class donated 32 birthday bags, with students doing enough chores to fill up 23 of them, while White topped off the extra nine in memory of her mother.
Parent Bobbi Ford said she felt the community-oriented initiative was great for the kids.
“(Giving a birthday cake) is such a simple act that can make somebody feel special,” said Ford, noting that White had previously taught one of her other children as well.
She described the teacher as “exceptional.”
“Ms. White has always been very conscious of showing gratitude and thinking beyond herself. She really exhibits that all year,” said Ford.
White and the project also earned some major praise from her students, all of whom are hoping to continue doing good deeds in the future.
“She’s awesome,” said Connor Ford on his teacher. “I’m really going to miss her when she retires.”
Although White is retiring at the end of this year, the good deeds will likely continue.
White said another teacher has already approached her saying she would like to carry on the project.
“Just because it was such a positive experience. It’s been such a good empathy builder and a feel-good project,” said White.
“But the reason it was a great project was because I have great families and great kids in my class.
“The students and their parents really got on board and made some personal connections to it.”