A. A whole lot of awesomeness! (And according to spell check, awesomeness IS a word!)
Late in 2011, we received a very special visit from the grade 1 & 2 students at Garneau School in Edmonton. They came for a tour and made some delicious sandwiches to serve during our drop-in. However, this was only the beginning of our relationship with these great students!
At the end of January, all of the kids came back, bringing with them dozens of backpacks stuffed with hygiene items, bus tickets, blankets and other good things. They had a blast unloading each backpack from the truck in a long assembly line which snaked through our Community Support Centre. Their giggles and excitement were infectious!
Still, I think the highlight for our staff was when two of us were invited to come to the school to check out the amazing models and dioramas the students had created of the different ways The Mustard Seed helps people.
Friday night Movie Nights:
"Peas Be With You" Community Garden:
(Please excuse the poor cellphone pictures!)
The students had made dozens of these dioramas, and each model had an explanation page next to it and a little book where we could write encouraging notes about the projects. Other models included our bread shelf, our Personal Assistance Centre (clothing and hygiene items), and our evening meal program. They had also made a video about The Mustard Seed, and worked on a lot of math and writing projects all based on their experience at The Mustard Seed. It was integrated, experiential learning in the best way!
Some of the students' work spoke most articulately to what they had learned at The Mustard Seed about how people need more than just food and clothes- they need love, support, and a place of belonging. It was an inspiration to see the colourful and creative ways the students had chosen to work through these ideas!
Some of the students' work spoke most articulately to what they had learned at The Mustard Seed about how people need more than just food and clothes- they need love, support, and a place of belonging. It was an inspiration to see the colourful and creative ways the students had chosen to work through these ideas!
Thank you, Garneau School!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for commenting! Your comments are extremely welcome on all Mustard Seed Blog posts. Staff, volunteers and guests are always in need of encouragement and are always willing to participate in healthy dialogue. We ask that all critical comments be fair and relevant to the post.