Coin-spiracy 2003/04
UNI Coins in Action - Prince George

The following story has been written and submitted by Glenview Elementary.

Glenview Elementary School is located in Prince George, Central British Columbia and has a student population of 183. The classes range from kindergarten to grade five. The social- economic profile of these students varies from a predominantly lower income population to a middle class income. We became involved in the Coin-spiracy through the sponsorship of Canfor, BC, a local company.

Click on the thumbnails below to view the larger image.

In a morning school assembly, just before Christmas, our students were presented with the opportunity to become involved in the Coins-piracy. They embraced the idea whole-heartedly and we began our 3 acts of kindness in the New Year.

As an act of kindness to self the students voted to become involved in Jump Rope for Heart which not only focused on improving their cardiovascular health but also raising funds for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. As a whole student population, they raised $1500.00 to be donated to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. This was remarkable given the small student population! Our students also voted to use an anti-bacterial gel in the classroom, as a kind act to self to help reduce the incidents of spreading cold and flu virus.

Our next focus was our school environment. With the support of our custodial staff, we set up a goal for each classroom to look at both improving the cleanliness of their class; and for being recognized as the cleanest classroom in the school. Each week the two classrooms, the cleanest and the most improved classroom receives recognition for theirefforts. These results are posted on the hallway outside the library for all to view.

And, our final focus but most intense and rewarding effort was the work done by the students on their kind acts for others. We engaged the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation in our Coin-spiracy. They agreed to be the recipients of our UNI coin and continue in spirit of kindness.

Our kind act to others was two-fold. For Valentines Day the entire student population hand made over 100 Valentines and presented them to the non-ambulatory patients at Jubilee Lodge in Prince George. It was reported back to the students that many of these residents had not received a Valentine from anyone for several years, some as many as sixty years.

Click on the thumbnails below to view the larger image.

The second part of our kind act to others focused on a fund raising cakewalk. The parents of our students donated 96 cakes for this occasion! A total of $100.00 was raised. The money was then donated at a school wide assembly to the PGRH Pediatric Ward in tribute to Pam Loveng a sibling of one of our students and a child heart recipient. We presented the UNI along with the tribute to David Wharrie who accepted them on behalf of the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation.

This experience of making a conscious effort to act in a kinder way to self, environment and to others has made a positive impact on the children and staff at Glenview Elementary School. We have book marked on our library computers the KindActs Website so that they can follow their UNI as it travel to the hearts of other lucky recipients.

Community awareness was raised around our student's commitment to a kinder world through media support that we received on our various fund raising occasions and when the UNI coin was passed on to the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation. I know that our students will continue to keep the spirit of giving alive as long as there are those of us that believe in the universal nature of kindness.

"The students of Glenview Elementary participated whole-heartedly in the many events they planned for our Acts of Kindness. The senior students developed leadership skills through their ability to organize and support the main activities such as the card making and cake walk. I was heartened by the level of understanding that acting in a kind way can impact others and self. This concept was used in learning situations for the students to offer students positive options to 'bullying' or other negative behaviors", reports Patricia Toma, Teacher at Glenview Elementary.

Click on the thumbnails below to view the larger image.

Glenview held a special assembly on June 9, 2004 to celebrate the school's participation in the Invest in a Kinder World Coin-spiracy.

School Board Trustee Mr. Lyn Hall presented the students with a certificate of acknowledgement. Ms. Glenda Waddell, Environmental Manager for CANFOR (the organization sponsoring Glenview's participation in the Coin-spiracy), presented the students with a special Coin-spiracy Treasure Book for winning the campaign's "Special Acknowledgement" award. Glenview won the award for illustrating that you don't need to be a big school with a big budget to make a big difference in your community.

Congratulations Glenview Elementary!

Top