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Springdale Public School - Mr. Parliament's Grade 4 class
The Brampton Guardian
Students in Mr. Parliament's Grade 4 class at Springdale Public School are using hand signals "M" and "W" to signify that collectively they can make a difference, if we all think less of Me and change our focus to We.
 
BRAMPTON - Mr. Parliament's Grade 4 class at Springdale Public School have used classroom curriculum to elevate social conscience and take action for social justice.
Classroom activities have been a springboard for student involvement with Free the Children, an organization established to free children around the world from poverty and exploitation. This network of children helping children, started by a 12-year-old Craig Kielburger in 1995, also seeks to empower youth to make positive change.
As part of the literacy program, the class read Kielburger's first published book "Free the Children" this past fall. The book generated class discussions about human rights, values and social responsibility on a global scale.
Students have spent the school year raising awareness, in school and the community, about the organization and its work.
Students began by brainstorming ways to help. One idea was to fundraise within the classroom (initially with mock money) through donations, an art auction and by selling items at a classroom general store. The plan was expanded to include the entire school in a real fundraising effort that featured an "everything-for-a-dollar" garage sale.
The students made T-shirts to advertise the event and raise awareness within the school and community, conducted lessons to teach other students about Free the Children, collected donations and made advertising to promote the garage sale.
Donations were collected from the school's approximately 700 kindergarten to Grade 5 students and staff.  The class sorted and prepared a variety of toys, movies, sports equipment and other donated items for sale.
In total, students raised $715 and demonstrated 9 and 10-year-old children are capable of making a difference in the lives of others. They are hoping the proceeds will help Free the Children buy medical supplies, farm animals, and/or build a well for a village in an under-developed country.
The experience has provided students with exemplary lessons in important core values of caring, responsibility, respect and community service being taught at the school.
At the classroom level, it is expected each student has a role to play in the development of the classroom community. Core values of respect, responsibility and caring are at the center of class activities and the way in which each student interacts with one another in the class, community and on a global level.
The students involved are: Sashea Baiju, Shontel Baptiste, Andre Chin, Shayna Favours, Leann Gopaul, Ryan Hosein, Iyanu Ijigade, Jasleen Khangura, Chris King, Muhib Mansuri, Javed Mohamed, Rukhafzo Mukhammadnaim, Kinesha Ravichandran, Gurkirat Sahota, Rhythm Saini, Daman Sandhu, Jaskaran Sanghera, Rajita Sharma, Dalvir Singh, Gursimran Sra, Sheldon Sumiah, Bineet Tak, Maham Tariq. The teachers are Mr. Parliament and Ms. Campbell.
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