For the end of the year, Year 9 students were given a group project to make meaningful connections with the people in our communities. We were allowed to choose whoever we wanted and what we would do for them.

One group got together and decided to make gingerbread cookies and a gingerbread house for a local kindergarten, Kidsfirst Riccarton. Each child was given a gingerbread cookie to decorate and use as they please. The Kindergarten wrote about us in their newspaper and forwarded it to us with a blurb and some very cute photos.

“A very warm thank you to your group of Year 9 students for their gift and thankfulness in this project.” Read the email one of our correspondents sent to us, “Our children were squealing with delight at the sight of this wonderful Gingerbread House and really enjoyed designing and icing their extremely tasty Christmas Trees.”

We were extremely pleased to see the email and images and are proud that we were able to spread some Christmas cheer to the kindergarteners.

Another group: We chose to do Ronald McDonald because they support the ones in need and they put up effort, time and patience to the little kids and their families. Our group decided to make Christmas cards to families because we wanted them to feel appreciated and loved. We worked together and used our art skills to create these heart felt holiday cards. We hope they enjoy.

Another group: We chose to give our shortbread to a retirement home because we felt that because of Covid, we felt like the elderly would like something to look forward to. Honestly Covid has meant that some loved ones can’t see their family and we felt that a retirement home would be great place to give a nice gift, since it’s almost Christmas.We had great time making this and we loved the feeing of achievement and the feeling of love that we got back from the retirement village. 

Another group: We chose to do Ronald McDonald because they support the ones in need and they put up effort, time and patience to the little kids and their families. Our group decided to make Christmas cards to families because we wanted them to feel appreciated and loved. We worked together and used our art skills to create these heart felt holiday cards. We hope they enjoy.

(Mrs Jardine-King delivered these cards before Christmas to Ronald McDonald house in Cashel Street and they were very much appreciated both for the thought behind them and for the how beautiful and well crafted they were.)