Upper Grand schools fundraising for Fort McMurray fire relief
For Immediate Release
May 12, 2016
GUELPH, Ontario – It’s been just over a week since the province of Alberta declared a provincial state of emergency. More than 80,000 people fled north and south of Fort McMurray after a wildfire near the city ballooned in size. People fled their homes, leaving behind pets and belongings, as fire destroyed entire neighbourhoods.
According to provincial officials, the fire conditions in Alberta remain extreme. A total of 19 wildfires are burning, two of them out of control. Two fires in the Fort McMurray area have joined – the wildfire is now approximately 229,000 hectares.
Both the Alberta and federal governments have pledged to match donations made to the Canadian Red Cross. As of Thursday morning, the donation tally had reached $79 million.
Staff and students across the Upper Grand District School Board are pitching in to the relief efforts, holding fundraisers for Fort McMurray.
Below is a sample of what some Upper Grand schools are doing to support those affected by the fires.
- James McQueen Public School in Fergus is collecting donations for the Canadian Red Cross. On Wednesday, the school raised more than $250 selling lemonade. There overall goal was to raise $1,000 and as of Friday afternoon the primary students had raised more than $2,300.
- John Black Public School is having a four-day fundraiser, selling items daily during nutritional breaks. On Friday, staff and students brought in nut-free treats for a school-wide bake sale. All proceeds will go to the Red Cross.
- Also on Friday, the Centre Peel Public School community hosted a bake sale, raising $1,200 to support the Fort McMurray community.
- At Brisbane Public School in Erin, a few students asked how the school could help families that lost their homes to fire. As a result, the school began collecting donations for the Red Cross, encouraging the school community to make a donation at the school or through the school’s online system.
- Students at Elora Public School are encouraged to bring in coins for donation from May 11 to May 17.
- Students at Drayton Heights Public School are organizing a school-wide challenge, asking classes to compete with each other to raise the most money.
- On May 13, members of the Laurelwoods Elementary School Student Council are selling freezies with proceeds going to Red Cross.
- This Wednesday, Gateway Drive held a bake sale for Fort McMurray fire relief.
- Centre Wellington District High School in Fergus is holding a “Falcons for Fort McMurray” fundraising dinner on May 26. At that dinner, the school will show a presentation that was created by the Exploring the Arts class. Students recorded a song about Fort McMurray and are also creating a video and album cover, encouraging people to donate to the Red Cross.
- A grade 8 student at Erin Public School is organizing a fundraiser where students bid to ‘pie’ their teacher. Students will drop money in the teacher’s bucket they’d like to see get a whipped cream pie in the face. Students can also donate money in a bid to be the student that gets to throw the pie. All proceeds will go to the Red Cross to help fund emergency food supplies, clothing, shelter and more.
- A grade 7 class at Taylor Evans Public School in Guelph is selling ice cream sandwiches and collecting donations over a number of days. They raised $627 in the first day.
- On Tues. May 17, Centennial Hylands Elementary School’s Me to We group is holding a bake sale with all proceeds going to the Red Cross’s Fort McMurray fire relief.
- For the next two weeks, the staff and students of Minto-Clifford Public School are collecting funds to help the people of Fort McMurray. The school’s Me to We group is hoping to raise $1,000 to send to the Red Cross. Donations can be made at the school or online.
Meanwhile, Rickson Ridge Public School has come up with an innovative way to help support parents, teachers and students affected by the wildfires.
The school’s Teacher-Librarian Jessica Patrick contacted the Fort McMurray Public School District, asking if they required donations of school supplies or books. Instead, the school board asked for book recommendations regarding natural disasters.
And so, Jessica created a Google site that Upper Grand Teacher-Librarians can add recommendations of useful resources. There are resources for parents and teachers, resources about overcoming fear, understanding disasters and resilient heroes in times of disasters.
Students, staff and families who have been evacuated have free access to public libraries in Edmonton, and of course, access to all the local book stores in any place, said Dr. Brenda Sautner, Associate Superintendent at Fort McMurray PSD.
“Hopefully it can help the families of Fort McMurray, and in the future, may be a support to people affected by other natural disasters in Canada,” said Jessica.
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For more information:
Heather Loney, Communications and Community Engagement Officer
Upper Grand District School Board
519-822-4420 ext.725
[email protected]
Categories: News