Volume 05/09, 31st May, 2009
Halifax Montessori Childcare’s Monthly Newsletter
No.7 Halifax Road, Singapore 229260 Tel : 6392 2007 Fax : 6392 1998
Email : haliparent2006@yahoo.com Website : www.halifaxmontessori.com.sg
21st May, 2009 : Community Project – Charity Bikers deliver drawings, goodwill and friendship of students at Halifax Montessori Childcare to Children’s Shelter Foundation in Chiang Mai
In early May, Mr. Lim Han Woon, father of Khai En (Watermelon class), mentioned to Ms. Maria, our Principal that he and 4 friends were making a trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand by motorbikes and in the process raise funds for a children’s home there. He asked if our children could paint or draw something for these under-privileged children whom he will be visiting and he will bring back momentos from them in return, as a form of cultural exchange.
The school thought that this was an excellent idea and another good opportunity to expose our children to community project, to different cultures and to inculcate compassion for the under-privileged. The Kindergarten children were told about the children’s home, what they were supposed to do and the children were willing to participate in this project. They all enthusiastically agreed. The children then got on to draw and write a message about “My School”. These drawings and journals were then individually framed and laminated.
On 21st May, 2009, the group of 5 Charity Bikers, including Mr. Lim visited the school in their shinning black huge motormikes and well padded travelling suits. They looked like knights on black horses. “So COOL!”, the children (and some teachers) were overheard saying. The Kindergarten children individually presented their work of art to Mr. Lim and his friends in the school’s front yard. After the ceremony, the bikers were very kind to allow the children to sit on the bikes so most children sat on their preferred bike, pretended to ride the bikes and pictures were taken. The Playgroup children were not amused by the sight of these big bikes and most of them clung on to their teachers while a few cried so they went back to their class after a group picture. The bikers distributed BMW-sponsored balls to every child before they left.
Our children and teachers bid them farewell and safe journey as they “vroomed” away on their magnificent machines. Close-up pictures of the Kindergarten children’s artwork and journal will be available on our Facebook page soon.
Background of this project
Mr. Lim and 4 of his like-minded friends started their 8,000 km journey on 22nd May, 2009. They rode BMW bikes meant for long distance travelling to Chiangmai, Thailand. The whole journey would take 2 weeks to complete. This trip is not the first for these adventurers but will be the furthest that they have ventured and a first time for charity. They raised $1,500 for the Children’s Shelter Foundation before their departure and Ms. Hwee Fung, on behalf of our school, topped up with another $500 on the day the bikers visited our school. For more detail about the Children’s Shelter Foundation, you can visit their website at www.childrens-shelter.com.
