Submitted by Mr. Afshin Keyvani & Mr.Tyler Marr (GFESS Faculty)

March 17, 2022, VOL. 3 ISSUE 15

Greater Fort Erie Secondary School’s Take Action Committee and Culinary Arts Program Bake-Sale has generated over $1400.00 in a fundraiser for Ukraine, a total to be matched by the Canadian Red Cross’s Ukrainian Humanitarian Crisis Appeal.

When high school students participate in community-based activities through a school program, they have to be aligned with the curriculum and must contain a social justice connection. The culinary arts program as well as the Take Action committee participants had powerful conversations about the war in Ukraine. They were encouraged to discuss the issue at hand, ask questions, and eventually participate in the planning and running of the bake sale. Through this community-service project, students combined academics with making a difference in the world by raising money to donate to the Red Cross.

Being able to bring the real world into the school, known as experiential learning, is a great way for students to demonstrate what a positive citizen is and what a positive citizen can do in the world. Culinary students made chocolate chips cookies, banana bread, muffins, focaccia, ciabatta, and braided bread. Take Action committee members were involved in planning and preparing for the event and baked assorted cookies and cupcakes at home to be sold at school. Students designed tags with messages in support of Ukrainian people, including, “No War on Ukraine”, “Love Ukraine”, “Peace.” For our students practicing hard democracy has become a way of life at GFESS.

With the leadership of Take Action faculty advisor, Ms. Suntz, our students learn to be more involved in their communities. The primary goals of the bake sale for Ukraine were to help students realize the value of participatory citizenship and how their efforts can make a difference in the lives of Ukrainians, thousands of kilometers away from home.

The sense of community was on full display Thursday. Many students were lining up to buy baked goods and others were buying bread to take home for their families. It was rewarding to see students and staff come together to support the cause. Teachers pre-ordered cookies for their class which were delivered during the fourth period by Take Action Committee members.

Thanks to all students, faculty, and school leadership for supporting this humanitarian effort. For more information about ways to have donations matched, please visit the Canadian Red Cross at https://www.redcross.ca/.