It arrived in the classroom back in February as Nobody. Now, that blank denim doll is Somebody.
The Linklater students in the classes taught by Diane Norris and Sue Whitbread took part in the Nobody is Somebody program this year. Students had to complete tasks that improved their community. They decorated the doll after they complete their service project.
Over the months, Nobody has become Somebody as the doll has developed character thanks to the students.
I learned that doing good deeds for other people makes you feel good inside and out— Tyler Hutcheson, grade 4 student
There was a wide range of projects that the students took on. One student helped out at the Gananoque and District Humane Society, while another donated used toys and clothes.
On June 22 at Linklater, Tyler Hutcheson completed his task during a special assembly. When it was his turn to take home Nobody for a week, he came up with the idea of raising money for the Canadian Cancer Society. Hutcheson vowed that if he raised enough pledges, he would shave his head in font of the school.
With well over $400 in pledges from peers and neighbours, Hutcheson faced the clippers in front of the entire school.
“I learned that doing good deeds for other people makes you feel good inside and out,” the Grade 4 student said before his haircut.
Canadian Cancer Society representative Betty Bates accepted the money from Hutcheson on Friday. She presented Hutcheson with a Canadian Cancer Society pin that reads “volunteers inspire others.”
After taking the doll home for a week and completing their projects, the students had to draw a picture of what they did and make a presentation to the class. Ms. Norris said that students learned a lot about helping others and, in some cases, the world, from their peers.
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Graeme Dorrington raised money for people in Zacatecoluca, El Salvador, to build chicken coops. He go the idea because his sister and people from his church will be traveling to the country in January to help the local residents.
Courtney Gatien has already received a valuable lesson from the program even though she hasn’t yet had a chance to take home the doll.
“I have learned that Nobody can become Somebody as long as he has the help of other people,” she wrote in an essay prior to receiving the doll for the week.
The Rotary Club of Gananoque purchased and donated a Who is Nobody? kit to Linklater Public School.
For more information on the program, you can visit www.whoisnobody.com
This article was published in the The Gananoque Reporter Newspaper on July 11th 2007
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