by Sharon Francis

On the second last week of term, our Year 9 students were involved in COW-Community Outreach Week. This year we decided to raise money for an organisation called Backpacks4VICKids. This organisation makes up backpacks containing a range of essential items, to support children and young adults who have been removed from families and forced into emergency care.

I would like to profusely thank our wonderful Year 9’s who were passionately involved in this project. We had a group of students sewing beautiful toiletry bags and stationery bags which they then stamped with a made with love stamp. We had students in art painting pots in beautiful colours to sell. We had students making planter boxes from old pallets which they filled with plants. We had a group making and selling bacon and egg rolls and coffee which were a big hit with staff. And lastly a large group of students made and sold 55 boxes of homemade biscuits and ran a coffee and cake morning tea.

To say the students worked hard is an understatement. Well done to everyone - They were all amazing and I was so proud of them. As a result, we were initially able to raise $1,100. I would like to extend my extreme gratitude to our Principal Rosina Fotia and our Business Manager Tracey Green, who then contributed an extra $900 to make the total amount raised $2,000! This is just fantastic – thank you.

A huge thank you also to everyone who supported this event. Our great teaching staff made it happen and our school community and friends were wonderful in supporting the events. We have now purchased much needed items for backpacks and for Christmas packs which will be gratefully received.