Shoe box idea gifts children at Xmas
A shoe box idea has turned into a massive project at a South Canterbury primary school.
Senior pupils in year 7 and 8 classes at Pleasant Point Primary School have created shoe boxes full of gifts for other children this Christmas.
The selection of boxes were collected by Family Works on Thursday.
Pleasant Point Primary School year 7 and 8 team leader Catherine Gibb said the project was the second time around for pupils, following the success of last year’s event.
Gibb said 60 senior pupils from the school had taken part in the initiative.
‘‘Each child has put a lot of thought into the shoe boxes.’’
Pupils have each filled a shoe box with pre-loved goods, aimed at children between the ages of 5 and 11.
‘‘Some spent money on it and the shoe boxes are filled with lots of lovely items.’’
‘‘We wanted to keep the giving idea locally and we talked to the kids about what we wanted to do and then they put the shoe boxes together themselves.’’
She said children had enjoyed the project.
‘‘They’ve all wrapped the shoe boxes in Christmas wrapping and have put a note in with the presents.’’
Gibb said the purpose of the project was to create awareness for children about the world around them.
‘‘We follow the Roald Dahl quote ‘teach your children to be kind’.’’
She said Christmas could often turn into a time of ‘‘taking and selfishness’’ and it was important to teach children about the value of empathy.
‘‘We’re trying to teach children to be givers and think about their fellow man.’’
They were also taught this in class through stories about children from other countries including Cambodia.
‘‘The kids learn as they grow up ‘how lucky am I?’.’’
Gibb hoped the shoe box initiative would become a tradition at the school. ‘‘We’ve loved doing it.’’ ‘‘The kids have enjoyed finding the things for the boxes. The parents love it as well.’’
The school was already thinking about the next Christmas project.
‘‘I think there’s a lot more we can do.’’