Operation "Happy Project" on Saturday night before delivery.
The teachers of Te Waka Ako thought the tamariki in our classes were feeling a bit down and flat with having to stay online for their learning in Term 4, so we came up with a plan to bring a smile to their faces. :) It started off small with a chocolate bar, some seeds and a drawing of messages from us in a paper bag that we could put in the letter box. Then it grew.
We decided to add some blank t-shirts so the students could pay if forward by writing happy messages and delivering them into random letterboxes. THEN .....Mrs Jones decided to make WORRY WORM bookmarks for ALL the bags! Crazy!! Fabulous! She was in her happy place! THEN school had some extra 'YUM' snacks we could add in, pavement chalk boxes were shared out between them for outside creativity and finally Mr Jones found some cool Warriors items he wanted to gift to them all. Hats, bottles, socks, balls. It was a lucky dip bonanza! Wow, just WOW! The bags needed to be bigger! Again Mrs Jones put her creative hat on and wrote everyones name and a gorgeous message on the front. They were ready for the 'JONES FAMILY OPERATION DRIVE BY'. Three teams set off to different areas in the neighbourhood and surrounding suburbs to reach all our wonderful students. They were happy faces they saw! The smiles were back! Mission accomplished on a Sunday afternoon in Auckland's Level 3+ Lockdown at the end of October 2021.
Many lovely messages came in too. Check out this document above for many photos and comments.
That is so AWESOME! What a nice surprise for everyone. It makes me want to do something to put a smile on other people's faces too. I love random acts of kindness. Pay it forward!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment Paul. It really helped us the adults too as were equally down and wanted to make sure we were not wallowing and keeping the kids in that space. It is too long a term with too many cancelled plans to be in that space. This gave us all such joy!
DeleteWow, wow, wow! What an amazing thing to happen for our lucky tamariki. Thank you so much to everyone involved in bringing joy to the Te Waka Ako students' day - all the staff in Te Waka Ako, this was so kind and thoughtful of you. Jones family - you're fabulous! So proud to be part of this school.
ReplyDeleteCheers Helen. The Jones family really went 'above and beyond'. I think it really was a Happy Project (coined by Rachelle) for them altogether and Rachelle commented that their buckets were full at the end of the day. So a simple idea impacted a lot of people. Kia kaha.
ReplyDeleteOperation successful! I like how you worked together to make this happen. What started off as an idea released a chain reaction of CREATIVITY that even got whanau involved. This certainly would've lifted the students spirits. Josie posted her happy message on the tshirt in our neighbour's letterbox. Lovely way of paying it forward. Fa'afetai lava mo le alofa ❣
ReplyDeleteThanks Sally. So nice to hear the students did create messages on their T-shirts and deliver them. We will have a padlet of them all to share soon too.
DeleteSimply WONDERFULL !!!🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩 What a fabulous idea that grew and grew into a project that bought smiles and joy at a time when we all need some.
ReplyDeleteWell done and congratulations to all involved.
From Shona Mackenzie
Thanks Mrs Mackenzie, it was really needed and we all feel a little bit more upbeat because of it. We have a padlet of positive messages to share soon as well.
DeleteThank you, thank you, thank you! Your Happy Project did bring the students and families so much joy! It was a brilliant idea that spread happiness like a big hug all around us. So many smiles, so much aroha, it really made my day. I shared with friends and they were filled with joy also. We loved the photos of happy tamariki and their kind words. Arohanui to you all.
ReplyDeleteIt has been sooooo cool receiving all your comments on the student blogs Mrs Butler. They are so very positive and thoughtful, with connections frequently made. You are a welcome and positive addition to our team. I am glad you shared this project on as the more people we could have smiling the better.
DeleteArohanui to you too.
Kia ora Te Waka Ako. Wow, what an inspiring blog post! I love the idea of designing a t-shirt and sending it onto someone else. I'd love to see some of the designs on your blogs...
ReplyDeleteWow! you probably had a lot of fun, what did you guys enjoy the most? That's all I have to say for now. Bye!
ReplyDeleteMariam, New Windsor School
Wow!
ReplyDeleteYou guys had a lot of fun!
Bye!
Tayyibah Rm 22 New Windsor School