March 9, 2023 (Cornwall, ON) – Grade 6 students at Viscount Alexander Public School are spreading kindness throughout their school community and across the city of Cornwall with their 10 Months of Awesome initiative.
The initiative was the idea of Grade 5/6 teacher Andrew Gilmour and began back in August 2022 with a collaborative conversation with Viscount Alexander PS Principal Lorelee Hamilton and Vice-Principal Carrie McDonell. The idea is to have all Grade 6 students at the school engage in a month-long plan to do something kind for the school or larger community.
“I wanted our students to realize that reaching out and helping someone is something that is worthwhile and makes you feel good inside,” explains Gilmour.
September marked the launch of this initiative, and the school tied it to the annual Terry Fox School Run and raising funds for cancer research. Students sold freezies at recess on Fridays to increase the total amount raised for the Terry Fox Foundation, which was close to $2,400.
Grade 6 student Rowan Gillespie explains that selling freezies at recess was her favourite activity so far. “It was rewarding to see the younger students excited to purchase a freezie from us,” she says.
October was named October Giving, in accordance with Thanksgiving. The classes collected food donations, which was displayed in the front entrance and later donated to the Agapè Centre, which runs the largest food bank and soup kitchen in Cornwall.
In November, the initiative was focused on providing community members in need with warmth. Students collected hats, mitts and other warm clothes and donated them to the Agapè Centre
“The warmth event was very important because we were helping people in need during the winter,” says Grade 6 student Keira Rheaume.
In December, the group discussed alternative ways to spread kindness and giving their time was one of the ways students felt they could do this. The group took a trip to the Agapè Centre and helped fill stockings for an upcoming event and put together bags of animal food for centre’s Kibble Kupboard.
January brought the idea of “Chips for Champs,” where students sold chip bags each week and donated the proceeds to the Upper Canada District School Board charity, Champions for Kids.
The most recent kindness initiative in February was named Letters from the Heart and each student wrote a letter to a senior at the Riverdale Terrace retirement home. “Now cooking is my hobby. I like it a lot. What’s your hobby if you have one?” reads an excerpt from Grade 6 student Indie Harrop’s letter.
For March, the group of 66 students are set to complete at least 30 random acts of kindness from a list of 150 examples. These acts of kindness range from holding the door open for someone to being kind to yourself.
“This month is another way to show that helping others does not always have to be donating funds or items. Sometimes, it’s as simple as spreading words of encouragement to others,” says Gilmour.
“This group of student leaders are getting more excited and involved each month,” says Hamilton. “It’s heartwarming to see their genuine kindness in action and I’m excited to see what the rest of the year brings.”
For media inquiries, please contact:
Lorelee Hamilton
Principal
Viscount Alexander Public School
[email protected]