Busy Giving December in the Senior School

December 3, 2021

Academics

GNS

The first day of December was busy with festivities for Senior School Round Square, but instead of the traditional tree decorating and decking of halls, students put together bags of festive goodies in preparation for the December 10 Winter Market.

The Winter Market is a student-only fundraiser where Round Square students will sell holiday goods, sweets and hot chocolate to their peers. It’s scheduled for December 10 in the Senior School Learning Commons for the entire lunch block.

Thanks to the efforts of several students and Language and Literature Teacher Ms. Catherine Thijs, as well as generous donations from Oak Bay businesses, the event will include a raffle, complete with gift cards and luxurious gift baskets. All the funds raised will go towards both local charities, like BC flood relief, and global charities, like the UNICEF Afghanistan Emergency Fund.

The United Way flood relief supports people who were displaced or disadvantaged by the recent flooding and atmospheric rivers. Citizens of Mission, BC are still affected by the rain which has contaminated their water supplies and created mudslides: Evacuations, mudslides and water issues affecting Mission, B.C..

The United Nations Children’s Fund, more popularly known as UNICEF, helps alleviate the impact of famine in Afghanistan. By donating to the UNICEF Afghanistan Emergency Fund, it enables UNICEF to send much needed humanitarian aid in hopes of providing communities with safe water, medical aid, and protection for families. One of the many issues from the recent military takeover is famine for many families, which UNICEF predicts will extend to one-million children under the age of five by the end of the year.

Keeping with tradition, GNS has decorated a tree for the Festival of Trees in the Bay Centre downtown, with the theme of ‘home’. Both the Middle School and Senior School worked collaboratively to put the handmade ornaments and tree together. The Festival of Trees is a fundraiser hosted by the BC Children’s Hospital with proceeds going towards mental health programs at the BC Children’s Hospital.

The Warm a Soul Stocking Campaign is also back this year. Please bring in items to fill stockings for children or bring in gift cards and cheques made out to Extreme Outreach Society. It is asked that all items be received by December 10. Our very own Ms. Sally Turnbull, Senior School Reception and Office Assistant, has created a beautiful Giving Tree, a tree in the Senior School office that allows students to take what they need and give back if they can.

These various fundraisers are GNS’ way of giving back to the community to help boost the giving spirit which the winter season is so well known for.