Updated December 20, 2019. The stories keep rolling in – here’s a few more for our Caring and Sharing series!

Vista Virtual School

The Edmonton Campus of Vista Virtual School is unique among Pembina Hills schools; we are the only school situated in the downtown core of a large city. Every day as we move to and from our workplace, our staff encounters people living with the challenges of poverty. Each December, VVS Edmonton collects items to assist fellow Edmontonians in need of extra support. The warm clothing, toiletries and coffee supplies are donated to Edmonton Bissell Centre, which since its formation in 1910 has helped people to move from poverty to dignity. (photo right)

The Calgary Adopt-A-Family program pairs families in need with local donors who purchase and wrap individual Christmas gifts and goodies. Over a two day period, donors drop off their presents for the families to pick up at a warehouse – this is where VVS Calgary staff and students volunteer. When the families arrive, children are surprised with the chance to choose a stuffed animal; their excited reactions are priceless! Volunteers then locate the family’s goods in the warehouse and help load the packages in their cars. Many families are positively overwhelmed by all the gifts they receive to put under the tree. This year, 175 families were helped. VVS is grateful to have participated at the Adopt-A-Family warehouse the last five years.

VVS Associate Principal Treena Bradbury, VVS teachers Shelley Rizzo and Phoebe Arcilla, and VVS students Jordan Sabad and Keyla Gilbeau

Busby School

Busby School’s Tree of Warmth (right) is filled with new mittens, hats, socks, scarves and blankets to help keep the less fortunate warm this winter season. Donations were accepted between December 4th and 18th, and will be given to the local FCSS to distribute to those in need.

École Westlock Elementary School

Westlock News – At Westlock Elementary School, students collected $350 in the annual Toonies for Toys campaign, which Pidsadowski’s IDA Pharmacy matched, to contribute to Westlock & District Family and Community Support Services’ Christmas Spirit program. Gail Abrams (left), who used to teach at the school, coordinated the donation and toy purchase, and was joined by (L-R) FCSS family school liaison Debbie Miller and WES students Keegan Scarnati, Lucy Dvernichuk and Jazmyn Lawrence for the Dec. 6 donation at the school.

Barrhead Composite High School

Barrhead Leader – The students at Barrhead Composite High School (BCHS) appear to have exceeded last year’s fundraising totals with the Staying Up for the Stollery 2 wake-a-thon on Nov. 30. A total of 84 junior and senior high students at BCHS participated in the wake-a-thon, which ran from 4 p.m. on Nov. 29 to about 8 a.m. on Nov. 30. Any student in good academic standing was welcome to participate.

During those 16 hours, students set up an elaborate collection of TVs, computers and gaming systems in the centre gym at BCHS. Throughout the night, they watched movies and played video games. “The event went swell! The students had fun and most stayed up all night,” noted teacher Michael Smith, who has been involved in the organizing of the wake-a-thon for the past two years. Smith they also had three staff members stay up all night with the kids and 10 other staff volunteered to help with the set-up and clean-up, as well as making dinner and breakfast for the students.

The purpose of the wake-a-thon was to raise money for the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation, and to do that, students collected pledges both online and in-person. Last year’s fundraiser brought in a total of $8,800. Noting that they surpassed this year’s fundraising goal ealier in the month. Smith indicated they have grossed approximately $12,000, though they are still waiting on some donations. After deducting the expenses from the event, that means they will have raised around $10,000 for the Stollery Children’s Hospital. Individual students raised anywhere between $25 to $1,110, though most brought in donations in the $100-150 range.

Swan Hills School

R.F. Staples Secondary School

Westlock News – For the fourth year in a row, the Giving Tree at R.F. Staples School is back this holiday season, and residents are encouraged to come down to the school, pick a star off the tree and help make a student’s day this Christmas. Located in the front office, the decked-out Christmas tree glows with red lights and has all the usual seasonal accoutrements, but is also decorated with a few dozen numbered stars. Each star corresponds to a student who may, for one reason or another, need a little pick-me-up heading into the new year.

“These are students that are identified as needing a little extra Christmas cheer,” said principal Wayne Rufiange, adding students are nominated by teachers, counsellors or staff. “They’re not identified, we just note their age and whether they’re male or female. The person would then buy some gifts for that student and then the week before our Christmas break we deliver the presents to those students.” The tree made its first appearance at the school four years ago under principal Courtney Lawrance and has been a big hit in every holiday season since.

Rufiange is also part of the group of staff that gets to deliver the presents as well, as such, he’s seen a variety of reactions from students. “We get reactions from giggling with happiness to a little tear, or they’re worried about why they were selected. They can be nervous about it, but the bottom line is someone thought they could use a little Christmas cheer and there is no other explanation,” he said.

Parents, teachers, businesses and all community members are encouraged to take part. Just come down to the office, pick a star and then buy a gift. “It’s just fun for them to give back.”