Wrapping themselves around good causes
March 9, 2010
By Ingrid Hearn, principal assistant, Robert Bateman Secondary Centre
Robert Bateman High School celebrated a Winter Olympics of its own. And in the process, a wonderful fundraising and spirit-lifting initiative evolved, linking all of the participants and beyond — much like the real Games do.
Each of the 1,200 students who were able participated in the many activities and events around the Vancouver Olympics theme. Many of our Center-based students got very excited about the various opportunities to be involved in the larger Bateman events and were ready, willing and able to join in the festivities.
One of the Communication Class teachers, Deb Trimble, and Educational Assistants, Irene Brown and Lucy Barry, made the decision that all of the students in that class would be assigned to Canada.
Signs and banners went up in the classroom. Assignments around the Olympics and its many events were tackled and before you knew it, Canada had an amazing, loyal group of supporters.
But the project really took off when Trimble, an avid fabric shopper, noticed some fleece material with maple leaves all over it. One mass of fabric was white with red leaves and another was red with white leaves.
“What a great idea for the class. We'll make some scarves to wear to the events, “ she thought to herself and purchased the material.
The scarves – with proceeds going to a series of initiatives including supporting relief efforts in quake-struck Haiti – were measured and cut out. Students wore them in school and talked about them everywhere they went. Parents wanted to join in the fun and asked to purchase a few.
One of the students in the class, Luc Marshall, had the privilege of watching his father carry the torch for some distance during the actual Torch Run. He and his family wore our scarves to the event.
Some have purchased the scarves in support of Canadian troops stationed in Afghanistan.
The scarves became increasingly popular as people watched these brightly-coloured symbols of national loyalty being sported around necks. Orders began to pour in.
Our principal Regan Heffernan began wearing his everywhere and soon the entire Board was talking about, and ordering, our fleece cozies.
The Burlington Post even came in to take a picture of these very excited and confident students who helped build Canadian spirit one scarf at a time.
As of March 1, 1,200 scarves had been sold and the orders hadn’t stopped at that point.
Small ideas can blossom into big things. We can all help each other in many ways.
Haiti survivors will see some of these scarf funds as well as our own Halton Angel Fund. Some of the proceeds will also go to the Relay for Life in September and stay in the Center to purchase a much-needed television and DVD for the class.