This Nobody is a Somebody at Greendale School

From sponsoring a child through World Vision to taking a vow of silence for 24 hours to raise money for building schools in Africa, Greendale Grade 2 students have made a “somebody” out of “nobody.”

I learned how the smallest things can make a difference— Josh Lemire, grade 2 student

The group of 18 seven-year-olds had their first encounter with the Nobody doll in January when a mysterious package arrived in their classroom. The doll had no gender, no age, no ethnicity and no values and it was up to the students to bring Nobody to life. By providing the doll with positive life experiences, students decorated the doll and a face soon began to take shape. With eyebrows made out of Canadian Cancer Society ribbons and a smiling mouth of pop can tops, Nobody is marked with items representing each of the good deeds the students initiated.

“I learned how the smallest things can make a difference,” said Josh Lemire, who took the time to make and serve his elderly next door neighbour lunch.

Camryn Farquharson also spent time with seniors. She visited a nursing home and took the vow of silence.

“Before we did this project I was greedy but then I started to notice there are other people who need help,” she said.

While on vacation in Cuba for March break, Maya Fetic distributed clothes to children. Megan Stevens collected pet food for the humane society and Connor Logan rounded up food for Project SHARE.

We tend to always think that children are the ones that need the help but they have become change agents— Katy McClymont, teacher

“As soon as you hear people are poor it makes you sad they don’t have the stuff we have,” said Connor.

Nicky Zaniol collected pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald Foundation while Matthew McAllister donated birthday money to the Canadian Cancer Society. His grandfather recently passed away from the disease.

The program was introduced to the students by teacher Katy McClymont, who said she didn’t anticipate the positive response she received from students and parents. But of course, she welcomes it.

“We tend to always think that children are the ones that need the help. They have become change agents, and I am hopeful that the differences they have made and have observed will ripple out and they will hold onto the lessons they learned this year though this program, even if it means forgetting some of the math I taught.”

The students are set to have a Nobody celebration June 10 at 6:30 p.m. to celebrate the things they’ve accomplished. Greendale Elementary School is located at 5504 Montrose Rd.

This article was published in the Niagara This Week Newspaper on June 2 2009