Belmont students are digging themselves a hole.
On their hands and knees, about 20 Grade 11 and 12 students rake, dig and laugh along the Langford Parkway, planting yellow pansies into the soil surrounding a large City Centre Park sign.
LangfordB次元官网网址檚 park planner Jane Waters said the volunteerism is a partnership with the school that sees the city donate $10,000 to BelmontB次元官网网址檚 annual dry grad prom.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 always thrilled when they come out. ItB次元官网网址檚 one of my favourite parts of my job,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 have a high school daughter myself. I think volunteerism is a really good way of kids for get beyond thinking about just their world, and that itB次元官网网址檚 a great thing to give back to their community.B次元官网网址�
Past collaborations have included building a rain garden at Glen Lake beach and planting a palm tree at the Leigh Road interchange.
B次元官网网址淢ayor and council are just so thrilled that they come out, and with planting they are learning to be stewards of the land and help the city look better in their beautification projects,B次元官网网址� Waters said. B次元官网网址淔unding is really tight in the school districts and everywhere in all levels of government, but you know B次元官网网址� the students have completed 12 years and the city likes to support that kind of thing in the youth of Langford.B次元官网网址�
Belmont principal Ray Miller said it is a privilege to be able to give back to the community in a small way. He said the CityB次元官网网址檚 generous annual donation is not lost on the students who get their hands dirty.
B次元官网网址淭his is the very least we can do in giving back,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲ithout it I donB次元官网网址檛 think we can have Safe Grad. We are here today as a small token of our appreciation and gratitude for the City of LangfordB次元官网网址檚 generous donation every year.B次元官网网址�
Much of the money will go towards activities and elements that keep the graduating students at Eagle Ridge Community Centre late into the night, away from activities that have proven dangerous or unhealthy in the past, Miller said.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 culture shifting. I work intimately with 50 parents who donate hundreds of hours of time. The community donates and contributes lots of resources to change the culture of prom. ItB次元官网网址檚 the expected norm that we pull together and keep our kids safe.B次元官网网址�
Grade 11 student Caleigh Dupuis is not graduating this year, but said she sees the importance of dry grad. She was on hand planting to support the class of 2015 and looks forward to her chance next year.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a big thing and everyone supports it and loves it,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 amazing what the City of Langford does for us and how they donate such an amazing amount of money to help with keeping us safe.
B次元官网网址淚t shows that we are all connected and itB次元官网网址檚 like we are a big family.B次元官网网址�
