On December 10th, the Friends of the Community eagerly counted and packed all the donations received for the Salvation Army’s Toy Mountain. They joyfully worked together to pack the bags and were astounded by the overwhelming generosity of the Lauremont School community. The Friends of the Community members beamed with pride as they looked at the rows of donations, collecting over 900 donations, exceeding their original goal by 200.

The following day, the Salvation Army representatives came to pick up the donations and were astonished by the sheer size of the Lauremont School Toy Mountain. The Friends of the Community members eagerly answered questions and proudly shared their achievements. The question that remained unanswered was, “could we fit all these donations into the two large vehicles they brought?” The Friends of the Community quickly assembled, and with the support of Mr. Cross, Mrs. Marks, and Mrs. Reid, they carried the bags to the vehicles and helped pack them up.

As they played a lively game of Tetris, it became clear that the school’s generosity had exceeded expectations. The Salvation Army would have to return later in the day to collect the rest. The laughter and smiles as students ran back and forth with the bags were a testament to the joy they felt knowing their efforts would make families and children happier over the holidays.

The Friends of the Community is comprised of students from Grades 3-6 who are passionate about making a difference in their community and beyond. At the beginning of the year, the students discussed various causes such as poverty, hunger, climate change, medical research and wildlife preservation.

Student voice is an essential component of this club. They are involved in each step of the planning process when an initiative begins. With teacher guidance, students create a plan of action, decide on roles and responsibilities and establish timelines.

For each initiative, students also come to a consensus on a reasonable goal based on past outcomes. The Friends of the Community create posters, promotes the initiative with class announcements, gather data, collect and pack donations and help load the donations into the vehicles.

At the end of the initiative, the Friends of the Community celebrate their achievements and debrief on what went well and what they can improve next year. By co-planning initiatives and involving students in each step of the process, students attain autonomy and gain a sense of ownership from beginning to end.

The Friends of the Community are deeply grateful for the ongoing support of the Lauremont School community with each of their initiatives. This club helps students cultivate a sense of social responsibility that closely aligns with our school’s Citizenship pillar—fostering a sense of responsibility, empathy and social awareness. By giving back to their community, they not only make a meaningful impact but also experience the rewarding power of kindness and generosity.

They begin a life of service that will hopefully inspire them to see themselves as beacons of hope to others throughout their lives. This is important work, and we are proud of the commitment and dedication of our Friends of the Community, who inspire our students and families to support meaningful initiatives.