$5000 act of kindness for new school mates
31 October 2006
IN AN award-winning act of kindness, one Lower Hutt school has thrown a party for another.
Decile one Taita Central School received the $5000 day of fun yesterday after Chilton Saint James' year 6 students stumbled across an online competition.
The Random Act of Kindness Challenge awards money to the school that comes up with the best act.
Decile 10 Chilton Saint James , won for its idea to shout a less fortunate school in the area a big day out.
The day started with Taita Central's 174 pupils spending the morning at Naenae pool before having lunch and going to the movies. Chilton's year 6 class catered and organised the event.
Chilton student Brianna Henderson, 11, declared proudly that she had made a friend from the day, pulling over a girl from Taita Central.
Taita student Troy Sellwood, 10, said he was a little shocked when he heard about the day out. "I was a bit nervous because of all the people I wouldn't know."
When Taita Central principle Mike Fackney heard the news of the day he was "absolutely elated".
"At first I was wondering, 'What's the catch?', but when I saw the cheque handed over I knew it was for real."
He was also keen for the two schools of vastly different backgrounds to mix and learn from each other.
"Our kids are rich in culture but some of them do not have much money. Both schools can learn something."
Diane Cummings, who teaches the year 6 Chilton class, said the message of random kindness was a good one. "We don't want to come across as patronising. It's just good anyone to do something without expecting anything in return."
Chilton student Emily O'Shea, 11, was serving students from Taita Central chips and hot dogs as well as grabbing a bite for herself. "It's been an awesome day," she said.
Some of the more bizarre ideas from other schools vying for the prize included tying gift vouchers to balloons and letting them go, showering those below with gifts when the balloons popped. Another suggested covering cars in lollies.
The school challenge is part of the promotion of National Random Act of Kindness Day on September 1. The founder of the event, mortgage broker Josh de Jong, started it to encourage people to take time to perform small, selfless acts of kindness for no personal gain.
This is the second year it has run and the first year of the $5000 school challenge.