Bishop Pinkham Junior High Plays from the Heart

A committee of students and teachers from Bishop Pinkham Junior High (CBE) organized a beach volleyball tournament entitled, “Play from the Heart”.  Over a two-week period of time, homerooms were challenged to raise a minimum of $100 as an entry fee into the tournament.  All classes exceeded the challenge.  There were a variety of fundraising initiatives, such as the Dance Dance Revolution Challenge, a putting green, bake sales, a craft fair, raffles and a silent auction. 

On Friday, January 21, the tournament wrapped up with the grade 9 champions playing the teachers.  The trophy was resplendent with a golden statute hitting a colourful beach ball; it is proudly displayed in the victors’ staff room.  Prizes were awarded to the winners of the grade 7, 8 and 9 tournament and to the class that brought in the most money. One grade 9 homeroom brought in $930. Prizes were donated by the school council, parents, community members and local businesses.  Prizes included: a chocolate fondue party, a pizza extravaganza luncheon, a continental breakfast and a jammin’ karaoke party. 

In all, Bishop Pinkham students raised over $8386 for the Canadian Red Cross’ Asian Earthquake and Tsunami Initiative. On January 28, Sylvia Hawkins, a representative from the Calgary chapter of the Red Cross, came to the school to accept the cheque, to thank the students for their hard work and update us on the reclamation work that has begun in Asia. Ms. Hawkins estimates that the work of rebuilding communities and rebuilding the psychological well-being of survivors will be a ten-year project.

The BP mission reads:  We will extend our hands to lift you up, and you will fly.  Originally, the statement was meant to capture the promise that staff members make to each student at Bishop Pinkham.  This school-wide service project illustrates how the students of our school also take the mission statement seriously; through their hard work and initiative, people half a world away will be able to gather their lives up and fly once again.