1 / 1St. Alexander Students Make a Donation to Wear School Colours in Spirit Day for Haiti. From left to right Ben Dalgliesh, JK, Kalie Bernard, JK, and Scotia Falldien, SK Advertisement
From left to right: Front Row - Mia Hubert, Grade 4, Mason Burgess, Grade 2, Corrie Ash, Grade 3, Amanda Justice, Grade 5. Back Row - Isabelle Summers, Grade 7, Kailan Fraser, Grade 7, Gabrielle Hubert, Grade 7, Kindrie Makuch, Grade 8, Julia Harkness, Grade 8, Rommel Legagneur, French Language Monitor. Photos provided.
Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board News Release
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The spirit of compassion for the people of Haiti is as strong as ever across the Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board. Students and staff have remained actively involved in a number of fundraising activities. NPSC French Language Monitor (FLM), Rommel Legagneur of Haiti, is overwhelmed by the compassion shown for the people of his disaster stricken country. A FLM with NPSC since 2007 and currently stationed at St. Luke Catholic School, Rommel said he greatly appreciates the fundraising, but is especially touched by the prayers and faith-based support he, his family and friends have received from students and staff at the school.
“I am a believer. Faith and prayer are very important to me, especially right now,” he said. “The prayers, compassion and support the students have offered me and my friends and family still in Haiti have helped so much.”
Rommel supports the St. Luke staff with the oral and cultural components of French Immersion. A sports enthusiast, he also assists with coaching the students in basketball and soccer.
Rommel went days without any news from his friends and family in Haiti. Just recently, he learned that the earthquake claimed the lives of several of his close friends and one of his uncles. His mother, brother and sister all survived.
“My sister could have gone to the USA after the earthquake struck because she has a visa, but she’s a nurse so she felt it was important to stay in Haiti to help.” Rommel will be returning to visit Haiti this coming summer.
St. Luke Principal, Marcello Tignanelli, said the students were the ones to initiate the school’s Haiti response. “The day after the earthquake, the students came to me first thing in the morning to say they wanted to do something for M. Legagneur, “ he said. “We saw the concern in our students and it has really touched our hearts.”
In addition to collecting donations, the students have made cards for Rommel and the school’s daily prayer intentions include his family members.
St. Alexander School students have raised $978.00 so far. The students have been fundraising for Haiti for the past two weeks with events such as backward day and spirit day. Corpus Christi School’s recent hat day and chili lunch raised $377.22 for Haiti.
St. Victor School has recently joined Mattawa’s Change for Haiti Relief Committee and will report funds raised in the near future. Please call the school or the town of Mattawa for details.
The Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board is currently collecting donations for Haiti at its Administration Office. All funds will be presented in March to the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace, which is the official international development organization of the Catholic Church in Canada. More information about total funds collected will follow.
