Students as young as five years old in Yellowknife Catholic Schools are being taught how they can help the community by performing acts of kindness.
At St. Joseph School students from grades 3 to 6 prep and cook meals for clients at the downtown day shelter. In addition kindergarten students have started planting fresh herbs to garnish the meals. Soon enough the older students will harvest the plants as a way to garnish their dishes.
The students have been very receptive to the idea, said Grade 6 teacher Jennifer Genge, who helped her class – made up of all boys – make dishes for the homeless. Genge said cooking has also benefited students who are being acquainted with certain specialized skills.
Michael Hugall/NNSL photo
When asked in class on Monday who would be willing to help the homeless in the future, a majority of students raised their hands, Genge said the students have been enthusiastic and receptive to the projects.
“Anytime I offer any kind of suggestion they are always 100 per cent in,” said Genge. “Going forward one of the biggest things I want my class to take away from this is they can make a difference ... It might just be by making someone smile.”
The idea of cooking meals for the day shelter was instituted by St. Joseph assistant principal Tony Florio was part of a Yellowknife Catholic Schools initiative promoting student-community participation.
"The teachers have really embraced these projects," he said. "We are happy because this is all extra work for them and they are really receptive to the ideas.”
Florio added: “Our goal is to build awareness and empathy in all of our students. It's important for these kids to make a difference even if it is a small one ... it's everything to make our students socially aware of what's going on in the community.”
One of the Grade 6 students at the school, Justin Quito, said he enjoys making a difference in the community. He said a favourite activity to help the homeless has been cooking and that it makes him happy to think about how the homeless people must love receiving the gifts.
“I just want them to be happy with the food we give them,” said Quito when asked about why he thinks it was so important to help. “I don't even need them to say thank you.”
Cooking has been one item on a list of school-wide initiatives to get students thinking about ways to help the community.
Florio said students have been participating in canned food drives, knitting winter-wear for homeless children and raising money to provide the homeless with more than what it is given to them by other organizations.
Florio said the school is trying to donate more than non-perishable food items.
“We provide them with carrots, eggs, baking powder and lard. We know that some of the homeless population love to cook bannock so we want to give them the opportunity.”
The school is able to provide additional funding for supplies through pizza days and toonie days. Florio added because of the donations, the school has been able to raise $2,400 which goes toward any additional purchases.