STAFF and students at St Joseph’s School, North Ipswich, walked in the footsteps of the poor, raising almost $1000 for Catholic Mission.
School pastoral worker Robyn Harm said the school’s “Walk to the Well” was an experience that brought students a little closer to what was a daily chore for many living in developing countries.
“This involved the whole school and we deposited $660 into our well that will go to Caritas,” she said.
She said the lower primary students walked one kilometre while the upper school could choose to walk two kilometres around the ovals.
“The students were really enthusiastic too,” she said.
“Also, as part of the fund-raiser and a maths activity, the Year 6 students decorated cupcakes and made boxes for their stall and made $320.
“What a week. But a huge effort to keep contributing to the wonderful work carried out by Caritas.”
Joining the community on the walk to the well was the school’s newly adopted cop, Constable Ian Stephens.
She said Constable Stephens, a parent at the school, was keen to foster a positive relationship between the school community and the police.
She said the school was without a school police officer for a few years as the original Adopt-A-Cop had been transferred.
“My son is his school’s adopt-a-cop so I thought I would ask our police parents if they were interested,” he said.
“Straight away Ian said yes and we had an official ceremony at which he took his oath and both he and the school received a framed copy of the adoption papers.”
She said Constable Stephens participated in the walk as his first major event with the school.
“He has also visited classrooms and had a walk around the playground during lunch times,” she said.
“We look forward to many more opportunities for Constable Ian to be involved in our school and to provide a positive role model for the children.”
