Students of St Brigid’s Primary School in Healesville had a day filled with fun for a good cause on Friday 21 November.
The school’s annual Social Justice Market day saw all 14 classes involved in running stalls and activities which raise money for St Brigid’s Parish Care Group.
Principal Tess Dwyer said the school has a really rich history of supporting the local area.
“It’s very important that the children really learn how to contribute positively to a community, it’s not just about themselves, it’s about really being compassionate and focused on helping others,” she said.
“St Brigid’s Care Group make a really big difference to the local community in supporting those that are in need and this is just one way that the school connects with the Care Group.”
Money raised by the Social Justice Market each year goes towards Christmas hampers handed out by the care group to people in need within the community.
Ms Dwyer said student leaders of ministry help make sure everything runs smoothly throughout the day.
“Ministry is all about serving other people so it’s really good for them in the development of their leadership skills and a great opportunity for them to practice those,” she said.
“It helps the children to really understand that even these small little things that we do by putting 50 cents in to buy a tattoo or whatever it is, it all contributes to something much, much bigger and really does make a difference to others in need at a difficult time of the year.”
The Year 6 Social Justice Ministry group will also later assist with the buying and packing of the hampers.
Ministry leader Ollie said it’s one of the best days of the year and it’s also great to know it’s going to a good cause.
“It’s really important to us because we have a lot of luxuries of people that other people don’t have and it’s important that we can donate some of our time and money and effort to helping people who aren’t as lucky as us,” he said.
“We all had to bring in a few bottles of soft drink, we’ve got all the tables up and we’ve got the cups and ice cream so today we’ve been bringing them out of the fridge and into the esky and that’s how we set up for today.”
Activities and stalls included spiders to drink, face-painting, a chocolate toss, a disco, a bake sale, a lucky dip and much more.
Ministry leader Amelia said she had been working at the face-painting stall.
“We’ve done a lot of ‘ six-sevens’, we’ve done a couple yin and yangs and rainbows,” she said.
“Everyone’s having such a good time and it’s good that it goes to a good cause.”
