Shoe donation shows character

May 1, 2014

Christian Island Elementary School principal Angela Johnson, back row right, and her Grade 6-7 class hold up new runners donated by Erindale Secondary School, whose principal Sue Turner is back row, left.
Christian Island Elementary School principal Angela Johnson, back row right, and her Grade 6-7 class hold up new runners donated by Erindale Secondary School, whose principal Sue Turner is back row, left.

By Sharon Weatherall

BEAUSOLEIL FN – Students at Christian Island Elementary School (CIES) will be running in style this spring, thanks to a generous donation of sports shoes for senior and intermediate classes.

Fifty kids are receiving trendy new runners valued at $150 a pair thanks to a partnership between Adidas/Reebok and Erindale Secondary School in Mississauga.

“We wanted to be able help give these kids the newest type of shoes so they could be the same as everyone else,” says Erindale principal Sue Turner. “That’s what inclusion is all about. We want the CIES kids to be included and respected.

“This will be especially helpful to the Grade Eights. We heard about the difficult transition these students have to go through when they enter high school and we wanted to help make it easier. Clothing and shoes are important when you enter high school because students can get bullied over them.”

The Mississauga school became a helping partner to the Beausoleil First Nation school three years ago through selling fleece blankets to raise funds. The blankets — which now sell internationally – are made by developmentally-delayed students in Erindale’s “Inclusion Program”. The 1000-student high school also donates food for the CIES Breakfast Program.

“We are trying to get other schools involved so we can spread out the support and help as many First Nation schools as possible,” says Turner. “It’s all about empathy and inclusion. If we could include that aspect into every generation it would be a different Canada.”

Turner says Erindale has initiated a “Character Counts” program which promotes values similar to the Seven Grandfather Teachings.

“We encourage our students to look towards these teachings. What they learn helps to build character. We want brilliant and honest students.”

CIES principal Angela Johnson says her students and staff are very appreciative of the support.

“It is amazing that they keep coming back to donate to our school. The new shoes came at the perfect time with soccer just starting; we have track and field coming up, too.

“It was such a long winter that many of the kids are still wearing winter boots while some are wearing their old shoes from last year. We are having an assembly at school to present the new shoes to students in Grades 5 through 8.”