Gardiner Public School students are puzzled
and they couldn't be happier 

March 12, 2010

By Jason Misner
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER, HDSB STAFF

Laid out on a table are more than a dozen puzzles carefully crafted by Gardiner Public School students.

Among these proud works of art is a pig, a turtle, an apple, a guitar and the Batman superhero logo.

These are the kinds of impressive puzzles that have made their way to Sri Lanka to provide kids there an activity to keep their minds busy and stimulate learning.

Made in the Gardiner’s woodworking class, dozens of puzzles were donated by the school to Sri Lanka last month after parent Janet Murphy - through her association with the International Baccalaureate, a non-profit educational foundation - informed them of the need in rural village schools. These schools, she said, are located in tsunami- and war-ravaged areas with no sanitation or running water.

Since her son attends Gardiner, Murphy asked the school what would become of the puzzles once the students have been graded on the work. She has visited the country a few times and has seen first-hand the need for educational resources.

It was decided the best re-use of the puzzles would be to send as many to Sri Lanka as they could so kids there could find a purpose for them.

Teacher Randy Potter teaches the intermediate gifted class and wood shop on rotary. He loves the idea of sending the puzzles to Sri Lanka. 

“I thought it was a fantastic opportunity for the kids,” he said, adding the school adheres to stringent safety rules when kids are in wood shop.

Murphy was so proud of the kids’ decision to send their puzzles overseas to help fellow students. When she brought with her to Sri Lanka in February, she said the students were thrilled.

“They were so happy,” Murphy said, adding she hopes to go back in the fall with more puzzles to give.

And Gardiner students are really happy to have contributed to helping kids like them in a country far way.

Grade 8 student Rebecca, 13, called the puzzle donation a “great thing ” to do.

“This way the kids have an activity,” she said. “I think all kids should have something to do.”

She created a cut out of the country of Canada and painted it in the style of the Canadian flag.

“I think it’s pretty cool,” said Grade 7 student Brad, 12, adding he’s upset to see kids barely have enough resources to staff a school. “It makes me feel good half-way around the world we can make their lives better. I know I have a lot of stuff.”

He made a blue whale.

Thirteen-year-old Brendan said he’s glad to see Sri Lankan students would have “something fun to do.”

The Grade 8 student crafted a red guitar.

According to UNICEF (United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund), Sri Lanka faces Challenges in the aftermath of the catastrophic December 2004 tsunami, which claimed tens of thousands of lives in the country.

Property damage was extensive and thousands of people have fallen into poverty after losing homes and jobs, stated UNICEF’s website.