Junior School Students Learn to Stand Up to Poverty

During the week of November 23rd, students at the Junior School didn’t just learn about poverty – they did something about it.

The success of that week was the result of meticulous planning and hard work by the Fundraising Committee. Comprised of Grade 5 students, the Fundraising Committee forms one of the leadership groups at the Junior School; all Grade 5 students must join one of these groups.

With the assistance of staff, the Fundraising Committee decided their efforts should go to Pour un avenir sans faim, a local organization that feeds needy Francophone families in the GTA. That organization also holds their annual fundraiser on CBC’s Radio 2 each November. By combining their campaign with Radio 2’s, the students thought they could have a bigger impact.

Throughout the week of November 16th, the Committee visited each Junior School class to talk about Pour un avenir sans faim and their plans to help. They also prepared a presentation for the Stand Up to Poverty assembly held on November 23rd.  The assembly addressed global poverty, but more particularly, the local poverty found around us.

On the 24th, the Committee made a PA announcement reminding the student body that November 25th was their day for fun and action. And on the 25th, if you happened to be in the Junior School or see the students on the field, you would have noticed the unusual head gear the children were wearing. It was Crazy Hat Day and each fashionista donated $2 or more to the cause.

Then in the early morning on November 27th, the Committee went to CBC headquarters to talk about their efforts and the amount of money raised – live on Radio 2. Listening to their peers were the Grade 4 and 5 students back at TFS. In total, the Fundraising Committee raised $880 at TFS.
They also raised their own awareness. Travelling downtown, one student said to Sylvie Andrew, Vice Principal at the Junior School, “I can see poor people on the street.”