Paying it forward this Christmas

Mount Gambier High School & local charity Four Reasons Why join forces

It was a simple campaign and it has been a huge success as Mount Gambier High School and local charity Four Reasons Why combined forces to provide some Christmas joy.

It is the second successive year the two have combined as part of the charity’s Christmas Kindness Program – the program not only providing assistance for people in need but also doubling as a key part of the curriculum for Community Studies students.

Four Reasons Why founder Trudi Shelton said the idea behind this campaign was simple, to make sure every student at Kalangadoo Primary School receives a Christmas gift from Santa.

“We reached out to Kalangadoo Primary School and offered their families a secret gift from Santa,” Ms Shelton said. “Then the Flexible Learning Options 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’d 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,” said Ms Shelton.

Four Reasons Why has a long history of helping Mount Gambier High Schools families including assisting students with the costs of sports and school camps to providing Christmas hampers and food vouchers during times of need.

And that is why Mount Gambier High School’s Flexible Learning Options (FLO) class, under the tutelage of FLO coordinator Jamie Ryan, wanted to give back to the locally focussed charity and help spread some Christmas cheer.

“I was really touched and inspired when Jamie reached out to me to share that the FLO students were so encouraged by Four Reasons Why kindness to them that they were inspired to again give back to our local community,” Ms Shelton said. “At 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.

“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.”

“…Evie has been able to achieve something really special for young people in our local community…” Evie Biddle (Mount Gambier High School student)

Ms Ryan agreed regarding the value of the partnership for her students.

“A focus of flexible learning at Mount Gambier High School is to create authentic learning experiences for our students,” she said. “Our teachers work with students to tailor learning around their interests, passions and strengths.

“Evie 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 MGHS are grateful to Trudi, the FRW team and Kalangadoo Primary for allowing us to share in joy and learning this Christmas.”

Being able to lend a helping hand to her local community and adding value to her education made the project a win-win for FLO student Evie Biddle, who spearheaded the campaign at the school.

“I developed my literacy skills by learning how to write a professional email, designing a poster, a table of student information and designing a social media post,” Evie said.

“I’ve 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.”

LENDING A HELPING HAND:
Mount Gambier Hight School FLOcoordinator Jamie Ryan, Four Reasons Why founder Trudi Shelton and Year 10 student Evie Biddle finish wrapping the huge collection of presents ready for the Kalangadoo Primary School delivery.