The children were told about Daffodil Day last Friday, 15 August when Bee Wah was asked about the daffodil pin she was wearing.

 

She explained how the Cancer Society was collecting donations on Daffodil Day for the many sick people who needed doctors and medicines to help them get well.

 

She said that instead of paying someone to wash her car, she would be cleaning her car herself, so that she could give the money to help people who were suffering from cancer. Children were asked if they wanted to help these sick people and how they could do so. That was the start of initial ideas from the older children to support the Daffodil Day effort.

 

A package arrived at Titoki on Tuesday, 19th August. During circle time at lunch, Bee Wah and the children checked the contents of the package.

 

 

 

There were daffodil pins, stickers, posters and charts that the school could use to help raise funds for Daffodil Day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bee Wah asked the children if they would like to help the people suffering from cancer. All of them were keen to help ! When asked how they could help, many thought of practical ways like doing chores and asking parents for donations for these chores. Some of the older children had written what they planned to do on Friday; which they read out to their friends. The younger ones started contributing their own ideas of how they could help raise money for Daffodil Day.

 

 

Some of these ideas included collecting the mail, putting out the rubbish, cleaning their rooms and /or windows, making dinner, doing the dishes and collecting eggs!

 

Bee Wah thanked them for their contributions and reminded them that any amount would help, especially when a few children started mentioning sums like $100! Bee Wah said a gold coin or even smaller coins would be appreciated. Children who offered to donate money from their piggy banks were reminded to ask their parents’ permission first.

 

Our message is not to equate doing chores with monetary gains. We just want the children to know that they can make a difference to others by raising funds in practical ways.

 

 

We’ve also been singing “this little light of mine” so that children know that they are special and can let their lights shine for others through kind acts.

 

It’s great that during our self-review on parents’ aspirations for our children’s learning, the top choice of parents in the social learning outcome was compassion. This article that I shared in the last newsletter has useful tips on how to help children grow into compassionate, grateful and happy people, and supporting Daffodil Day is one of these ways!

 

Thanks for supporting a good cause! We will start collecting donations (if your children have not already done so) next Wednesday through a Daffodil Day collection box. Let us know how your children are doing with their chores!