Lynne Bell, Observer Staff
聽Arcola School Grade seven ELA teacher Heather Saarela says this year's class are 鈥淏uilding A Better World.鈥�
聽鈥淭he kids were amazing,鈥� says Saarela. 鈥淭his was our final unit in ELA and these kids were fantastic.鈥�
鈥淭hey had big ideas and they all embraced the project wholeheartedly,鈥� explains Saarela. 鈥淚'm so proud of them all.鈥�
The 17 students made up three groups whose mandate it was to choose a philanthropic project and to carry out a related mission.
鈥淥ne group decided they would raise money and donate whatever the Estevan chapter of the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals),鈥� says Saarela. 鈥淎nother group decided to raise funds for the Regina Humane Society, and the third group decided that their mandate was to 'Pay It Forward' by cleaning up Arcola.鈥�
鈥淭hey held bake sales, approached local businesses for donations -聽 and more,鈥� says Saarela.
鈥淥ne group called the Estevan Humane Society to find out what the organization needed most,鈥� she says. 鈥淎s a result, they'll be dropping off a donation of dog food, cat food and pet toys.鈥�
聽鈥淎nd another group will make a similar donation to the Regina Humane Society.鈥�
鈥淭he third group spent days picking up trash in Arcola and their contributions contributed to this year's SMAK Attack community clean-up competition.鈥�
鈥淣ot only did these students enact and carry out a plan for positive change,鈥� says Saarela. 鈥淭hey also learned personal and professional development skills such as project management and also by took on leadership roles within their groups.鈥�
鈥淎s a teacher, I find it really gratifying and heart warming,鈥� says Saarela.
鈥淚 have no doubt they'll go on to do great - and good - things in the future.鈥�
