Faraday School says thanks to local heroes

Faraday School is saying "You rock!" to frontline and essential workers.

On Feb. 11, Faraday kicked off a school-wide project, where students will give the gift of painted rocks to police officers and fire fighters, as well as healthcare, pharmacy and grocery store workers in their community.

As a lead-up to the painted rocks project, Faraday principal Jennifer Cox visited every classroom in the school and read The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein.

"The Giving Tree speaks to giving back and also being grateful for what you have," Cox said. "At Faraday, we use kind words, we treat others with respect, we build each other up and we take care of one another."

WSD program lead Sofia Costantini said every student was provided with a made-in-Manitoba stone to decorate.

"Mariash Quarry in Stony Mountain provided the rocks for us," Costantini said. "I visited the quarry and heard about the importance of what that family has done. I got to pick specific rocks that would provide a great surface to paint on. Then they collected 250 rocks and delivered them to us."

Faraday students concentrated on local heroes when deciding who to give the painted rocks to. Their ideas included their School Resource Officer and local police, a local firehall, a walk-in clinic, a dental clinic and the pharmacy and all the workers at the Safeway on Mountain Avenue.

A Grades 2/3 classroom requested that their rocks go to the workers of a local food bank to thank them for helping to provide food security during the pandemic. The rocks are expected to be delivered to their recipients before spring break.

Grade 6 students Janel and Braidey said the painted rocks project is Faraday's way of expressing gratitude.

"We're giving thanks to the workers who provide us with food and essential items during this pandemic," Janel said.

"And the doctors and nurses who give medical care during COVID," Braidey added.

"We want to give thanks to those who risk their lives for us," Janel said.

Grade 2 student Alayah and Grade 3 student Ariella chose to decorate their rocks with a turtle and a butterfly, respectively.

"We can give them to other people," Alayah said.

"So we can send kind messages," Ariella added.