Source: StarPhoenix
Proceeds from the raffle of the 1968 Ford Mustang will be dedicated to Habitat for Humanity, turning some hot wheels into a new home.
Clarke, a Grade 12 student at Mount Royal Collegiate, worked on the car nearly every day last year in automotive class. She worked extensively on the car's interior and had the chance to showcase the vehicle at the last Draggins Rod and Custom Car Show, where she confronted stereotypes head on.
"People thought I was just there cheerleading for my school," she said, noting viewers at the car show were surprised to find out she knew so much about the vehicle. She says she enjoys the automotive world and learned a lot working on the car's detailed interior.
Students at Mount Royal Collegiate have worked on the car for six years, says principal Dave Sloboda, building a legacy project that more than 150 of the school's automotive students have had some part in, from salvaging the frame in a scrap heap to hand-stitching its interior.
The decision to donate proceeds from a raffle of the car to Habitat for Humanity came from the school's long partnership with the organization. Habitat works to build affordable housing projects in the city and students in the Mount Royal carpentry program have helped build homes with Habitat since 2004.
"People are pumped up," said Sloboda, who noted sales of the $5 tickets are "brisk." The draw for the car will be held in June 2011.
The project is just one example of the many philanthropic efforts students in Saskatoon take on throughout the school year, combining learning with community engagement.
While the holiday is a time of charity and giving, students are busy doing good for others at home and abroad all year long at the city's public and separate schools.
In the month of November, 14 students and teachers at E.D. Feehan High School put their facial follicles to good use.
Participants in the project grew beards and moustaches all month long while collecting pledges for the Pennies for Pakistan campaign. Funds support victims of flooding in Pakistan earlier this year.
At Wildwood School, students hosted a community garage sale for Pakistan flood relief and raised $1,800, which was matched by the federal government for a total of $3,600.
Students at Prince Phillip School sent 115 Christmas shoeboxes to Haiti and students at Brevoort Park School held a "coin trail for Haiti," which raised $960 for the Broken Wings Mission in the earthquake ravaged country.
Students at Bedford Road Collegiate contributed to Free the Children, an organization founded by Craig Keilburger. The school will support a campaign to adopt a village by raising money to build a school in Kenya.
Locally, students at Saskatoon's public schools raised money for Adelle House, baked holiday treats for families at Ronald MacDonald House and donated books to the Friendship Inn. Students at Holliston School made Christmas ornaments for patients in oncology wards, donated books to the children's ward at a hospital or Interval House and donated food and cat litter to the Saskatoon SPCA.
Students at Saskatoon schools collected more than $15,000 for the Terry Fox Foundation this fall and a volleyball tournament at Centennial Collegiate raised $1,800 to build a new playground at Westmount Community School.
"One of the things that we try to pride ourselves on is teaching kids in school about values. One of those values is giving back to the community," said Ray Morrison, board chair of Saskatoon Public Schools. "We think it's really important that as a part of public education that we teach kids about being citizens of the global community. Part of that being a citizen is giving back to the community whenever you can."
At Bethlehem Catholic High School a unique partnership allowed students to focus on social justice and fundraising, all the while corresponding with a team exploring the Amazon rainforest.
Students worked with an organization called Impossible2Possible (i2P), co-founded by Canadian ultramarathoner Ray Zahab and endurance athlete Bob Cox. This year organizers led a 200-kilometre trek through the Amazon rainforest to raise funds to build a school in Taguara, one of the communities the team visited.
Students from 116 schools around the world, including Bethlehem, were able to follow the expedition via video conferencing, receiving live broadcasts from the Amazon.
The Bethlehem fundraising campaign for i2P began with a Bingo for Biodiversity event, with students competing for prizes. This event, in combination with snack sales, allowed students to raise more than $1,200 for the new school in Taguara.
"One of the hallmarks of our division is the fact we encourage students to serve others. That whole belief about making the world a better place -- I think we have to not only say it but we have to live it," said Diane Boyko, board chair of Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools.
At St. Philip School, a mere 200 students raised more than $700 to support breast cancer research in the province with its Think Pink campaign this fall. During the month of October, the school held a raffle in which students could buy tickets for prizes donated by business around the city.
Staff at the school also volunteered to be pied in the face by students, who bought $1 tickets for this prize. Students were also able to choose which teacher they wanted to "pie" in the face. The raffles and "sea of pink" day -- where students and staff dressed in pink -- brought in $738.05 for research in Saskatchewan.
"There's lots of good kids out there. They care about the world," said Boyko.