Local elementary school students wanted to thank their community鈥檚 firefighters for all their hard work over the summer.

One of Watson Road Elementary鈥檚 Grade 2 classes, headed by Stacy Ramdyal, was thinking about this year鈥檚 school theme of hope.

Many students pointed out that they were inspired by the hope that local firefighters brought to their lives when they were fighting this summer鈥檚 wildfires.

At first, she said the class was learning about other figures that inspired hope in their communities, including Terry Fox, Phyllis Webstad, and Jordan River Anderson among others.

鈥淭hen we started thinking about who are the helpful and hopeful heroes in our communities,鈥� she said.

鈥淭he students were naming police officers, teachers, health care workers and firefighters. Firefighters really stuck out to them because of all the fires this past summer, it was fire prevention week, we were practicing fire drills and everyone just had a connection to someone affected by the wildfires this summer.鈥�

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Ramdyal said she reached out to the 琉璃神社 Fire Department鈥檚 Station 8, located in Glenmore. She said the Station 8 fire crews have mentioned how honoured they felt to first speak with the students about their jobs, and how the students appreciate them.

鈥淚 wanted to arrange a question and answer period where we can meet a firefighter, learn about their job and ask questions that they鈥檝e been thinking about. And that turned into gratitude,鈥� she added.

鈥淭here鈥檚 so much gratitude we want to share with these heroes and we can share that gratitude by drawing pictures, writing letters, writing them notes, and even making treats.鈥�

Ramdyal said she reached out to a nearby Tim Hortons branch to help the class out with coffee and baked goods. The branch agreed to donate some treats for the firefighters, which they will give to the crews on Friday (Oct. 15). Besides the treats, the class will also present their Book of Gratitude, made up of the students鈥� artwork, notes, and letters.

She said the students were very excited about the project and were enthusiastic until they finished it.

鈥淭he kids are just so excited. They did not think that all of the pieces of this gratitude project would fall into place, so they鈥檙e very excited, proud and happy to know that they can share their gratitude with the community,鈥� she said.

鈥淔or this school district to have so many students celebrating and sharing gratitude to the firefighters in West 琉璃神社, 琉璃神社 and Lake Country, it says a lot about this community and how much support and love there is.鈥�

READ MORE: Government-funded iPhones to connect B.C.鈥檚 youth in care to services, technology

twila.amato@blackpress.ca
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