There is nothing random about the act of kindness a Banded Peak School class is doing to help make a child’s wish come true.
Banded Peak School teacher Shara Masiuk’s Grade 1/2 class will host an art gala exhibition and silent auction on Friday May 31 in support of the Children’s Wish Foundation.
Her young students have worked hard for months creating beautiful art pieces they will sell to raise funds for the children’s charity.
At the beginning of the school year, Masiuk’s students named themselves, The Kind Karate Kids and have studied the concept of kindness and how to show good citizenship.
After choosing the class slogan Kindness is Power! these young students decided to spread kindness and help others less fortunate.
The class chose to raise funds for the Children’s Wish Foundation after their classmate Arianna Haar told them how her family sponsored a child by hosting a garage sale to raise funds for the organization last summer.
“Arianna described the event to us at show and tell and we decided it was a good thing for us to do too,” said Masiuk. “Children helping children is such a beautiful thing.”
Kyla Martin, Children’s Wish Foundation chapter director for Alberta and Northwest Territories, came to the school to explain to the class how her organization grants wishes to children who are facing life-threatening illnesses.
Martin said she shared the story of Miley, one of the charity’s wish children, with the students.
“I was impressed that they wanted to learn about philanthropy at such a young age and that they understood it,” said Martin. “The kids wanted to give back to another child who is facing a life threatening illness.”
Arianna Haar and classmate Jake Moran said their class is selling their art work to raise money to help Miley because it is the kind thing to do.
After they were told Miley has brain tumors and has had many surgeries, the students developed great empathy for the young girl.
“We are helping a little girl who is younger than all of us, and she is suffering, and we don’t want her to be,” said Moran. “We are helping a little girl because it is nice.”
“We are making art and we’re going to sell it for Miley to make her wish come true,” said Haar.
Martin said Miley and her family recently came back from her wish trip at the Give Kids the World resort in Florida, a place she described as being magical.
“The class is raising money in the spirit of Miley’s wish,” said Martin.
“We really appreciate all the kids’ hard work and dedication,” she added. “We appreciate all their support and their desire to give back to the organization and our kids.”
According to Masiuk, her students see themselves as fairy godparents after Martin gave them sparkly toy wands during her visit.
“Our wands represent our ability to put magic in every piece of art we make,” said Masiuk.
This past month the class has been so dedicated to perfecting their craft they have been working on their art pieces every day.
Local artists have also joined the project volunteering to help the students create some true masterpieces.
“We are trying to make the art perfect,” said Moran.
Martin is attending the art gala and said she can’t wait to see the artwork.
“I’m just impressed with the kids I met and can’t wait to see the outcome of their event,” said Martin. “It’s going to be a lot of fun so I am excited.”
Masiuk invites the public to attend the event and support her school’s art sale fundraiser.
The Kind Karate Kids of Banded Peak School Art Gala Exhibition and Silent Auction will be held May 31 from 4-6 p.m. at Banded Peak School in Bragg Creek.
