Mount Gambier High School wrapped up the school year by partnering with local charity Four Reasons Why for its Christmas Kindness Program, supplying presents to Kalangadoo Primary School students.
Four Reasons Why has a long history of helping Mount Gambier High School’s families from assisting students with the costs of sports and school camps to providing Christmas hampers and food vouchers during times of need.
Once again, this year, Mount Gambier High School’s Flexible Learning Options (FLO) class wanted to give back to Four Reasons Why and help spread some Christmas cheer.
With this in mind, Mount Gambier High School Flexible Learning Options coordinator Jamie Ryan along with Four Reasons Why founder Trudi Shelton worked on the Christmas Kindness program for the second year running.
The program not only helps local people in need, but it also ties into the students’ Community Studies subject.
Mrs Ryan said a focus of flexible learning at Mount Gambier High School was to create authentic learning experiences for the students.
“Our teachers work with students to tailor learning around their interests, passions and strengths,” she said.
“Evie (Biddle) has been able to achieve something really special for young people in our local community, as well as attain SACE credits to go toward her Year 11 studies.
“We know that strong connections to community can lead to increased wellbeing outcomes for students.
“The Flexible Learning team at Mount Gambier High School are grateful to Trudi, the Four Reasons Why team and Kalangadoo Primary School for allowing us to share in joy and learning this Christmas.”
Miss Biddle said she learnt a lot while being involved in the project as well as being able to help children in the community.
“I developed my literacy skills by learning how to write a professional email and designing a poster, a table of student information and a social media post,” she said.
“I have never been one for public speaking, so talking to people from outside the school was really nerve wrecking, but it did get easier as time went on.”
Ms Shelton said she was “really touched and inspired” when Mrs Ryan reached out to her to share the FLO students were so encouraged by Four Reasons Why’s kindness to them they were inspired to again give back to their local community.
“The very heart and core of Four Reasons Why has always been to help our community and keep finding innovative and creative ways to do that,” she said.
“Teaming up with Mount Gambier High School students who know what it is to sometimes need additional assistance, Four Reasons Why was able to provide them with a platform to experience what it is to give back to local families with this heartfelt opportunity.
“The Christmas Kindness campaign was one of Four Reasons Why’s very first initiatives and to incorporate learning for local students in the school curriculum within the Community Services subject for a semester is just fabulous, and more than we could wish for as an organisation.”
Ms Shelton said the idea behind the campaign was simple – to make sure every student at Kalangadoo Primary School received a Christmas gift from Santa.
“We reached out to Kalangadoo Primary School and offered their families a secret gift from Santa,” she said.
“Then the FLO team at Mount Gambier High School, led by Year 10 Student, Evie Biddle got busy organising the campaign.
“Evie designed the promotional posters and wrapped and coordinated all the presents that came in.
“Twenty requests for presents were received and the present list was filled within 24 hours by the Four Reasons Why community of supporters.
“I would just like to thank everyone who was a part of this very special Christmas project, from the FLO team, to Evie, the amazing and generous donors and to the Kalangadoo families who let us help them receive some Christmas cheer.”
