PUPILS at St Patrick’s Primary School in Strathaven channelled their inner Paul Hollywoods and Mary Berrys for Missio Scotland recently as they raised a fantastic £1252.55 for the Pope’s charity.
A cheque for the phenomenal total was presented to Gerard Gough, Missio Scotland’s Communications Officer (above), after a recent assembly, during which he was informed that the schoolchildren had taken part in a Great St Patrick’s Bake-Off competition as part of their fundraising efforts.
“The school’s pupil council and senior pupils gave up their own time during lunch breaks to organise stalls and games for everyone to enjoy whilst donating to charity,” Gillian McLaughlin, Principal Teacher at St Patrick’s said. “We had FIFA tournaments, Hook a Duck, Higher and Lower, Beat the Goalie, Netball Shoots and nail painting to name a few. We also held our Great St. Patrick’s Bake-Off competition, entertained our family and friends with ‘The Greatest Show in Town’ and had a Lenten Coffee Morning. Pupils also enjoyed a sponsored Fun Fitness Day including a visit to our local park. We rounded off events with our favourite event—Sponge the Teachers.”
While the fundraising efforts of the pupils and staff at St Patrick’s are greatly appreciated by everyone at Missio Scotland, they also delighted headteacher Pamela Bradley, who said: “We are extremely proud of all of our children, especially our Pupil Council and Primary 6 and 7 pupils. The whole school community were involved in making all of our events successful and without the ongoing support of parents and carers we could never have reached this fantastic sum. The children thoroughly enjoyed the presentation from Gerard and we know the money will help those most in need.”
The vital funds raised by St Patrick’s will go to the Missionary Children branch of the Pontifical Mission Societies, the Church's Mission Charity for children. In Scotland, it works in tandem with Catholic Primary Schools and asks children to do two things every day: Pray for the children in mission areas of the world and donate a small coin. Missionary Children joins with children all over the world to help some of the poorest children in the world, children of all faiths or none and also seeks to develop young people and prepare them as the missionaries of the future. Its funds help to: Build clinics, supply medicines and nutritional help, support education projects for children (building, funding and supplying schools). The donations help to develop a child both in an educational and spiritual sense.
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