(Com)passion

In true Shawnigan spirit there has been an outpouring of concern and energy directed towards the people of Haiti and their plight since the earthquake that hit there on January 12th. Small groups sprung into immediate action: a math class organized a collection in Chapel that first Saturday, a fine arts group made and sold brownies, a socials class held a raffle at the Showcase Hockey Game, in Economics 12 sushi sales have been collected for the fundraising effort, and the list goes on. Small but determined gestures of hope and caring.

Following on a chapel presentation by the Headmaster on “passion” and another later in the week from Mr. Holland on “compassion”, a t-shirt was designed with over 600 sold to staff, students and their families. On the front of the t-shirt is the word “(com)passion” and on the back the definition which reads: “deep awareness of the suffering of another combined with unbounded enthusiasm to alleviate it.” At this point, over $11,000 has been raised and will be donated to a Canadian organization, Free the Children. We will not stop here, but continue to focus our efforts in support of those who have suffered and continue to suffer from this terrible disaster. And compassion will be our rallying cry.

– Jo-Anne Kingstone, Deputy Head

Photo by Stephen Lane