A group of Grade 4 students at Sigurbjorg Stefansson Early School (SSES) has turned kindness into action, raising more than $450 for the HSC Children’s Hospital’s Child Life Department.
The Terrific Kids group at SSES includes more than 25 students who meet during lunch breaks with teacher Stephanie Mills. Together, they explore ways to help their community and the wider world, while also setting personal goals for self-improvement.
In the past two years, the group has organized a blanket drive annually — collecting about 450 blankets last year alone. When it came time to choose this year’s major fundraiser, Mills asked whether they wanted to continue that tradition or try something new. The students opted for change.
Mills guided the class through a brainstorming session about who and what they’d like to help. Two causes came out on top: animals and children. The group then decided to run two separate fundraisers — one for each cause. The first took place on March 6, in support of HSC Children’s Hospital’s Child Life Department.
The Child Life Department offers support, expertise and engaging activities for infants, children, youth and their families as they navigate the challenges of acute or chronic illness. The Terrific Kids chose to support the department to help brighten the days of young patients.
To raise funds, the students decided to sell hot chocolate and handmade bracelets. The school’s parent council donated all the hot chocolate supplies, while each student in the group contributed by making loom bracelets. They taught each other — and even Kiwanis volunteers — how to use the looms. One student, who had never made a bracelet before, committed to creating one every evening after school.
By March 6, the Terrific Kids had crafted more than 250 bracelets. On the day of the fundraiser, they split into teams and visited every classroom in the school to sell the bracelets and hot chocolate. There was no set price — students were simply asked to donate what they could. Those who weren’t able to contribute still received a bracelet and hot chocolate so that every student could participate.
Mills said the original fundraising goal was $100. By the end of the day, they had collected $458.30.
“It’s lovely to see them grow and learn what it takes to help others and that they can actually do it,” said Mills. “It was quite a neat moment.”
The Terrific Kids are now preparing for their second fundraiser — a “bubbles and lemonade” event in the coming months to raise money for the Gimli Humane Society.
