Helping Hands

We have focused much of our conversations in class this year around empathy, putting yourself in someone else's shoes, and giving back to others. After having read the book, Ryan and Jimmy And the Well in Africa That Brought Them Together, the students in 5M wanted to create an organization that would help people in our community just like Ryan had when he built fresh water wells for communities in Africa. 


The students democratically decided on a cause: Homelessness

This most likely came about from another book we had read called Fly Away Home by Eve Bunting.



Next, the students decided on how they could help the homeless: Giving them adult sized hats and mitts to be warm through the winter.

A name was then chosen for the organization: Helping Hands

A logo needed to be created so we had a contest and decided which design was best: 

The winner was Robert A.'s design
The colours were chosen by Hailey O.

The students thought this was the best logo because it showed both, hats and mitts, with the string between the mitts representing a smile. The colours represented both males and females.

Our Mission:

Collect donations of hats and mitts from the students and families of West Gate Public School. Each hat or gloves brought in will be good for two tickets to enter a draw for a pizza lunch with a friend. 

So far, we have collected numerous hats and mitts. Thank you for your generosity and thank you Mrs. Laforet for supporting the efforts of Helping Hands.

Here is our school tree decorated with some of the hats and mitts we've collected.
Thank you Mr. De l'Eveille for decorating.