This December, Breton Elementary School started a service project called blessing bags. Students, staff and community worked together to collect gloves, toothpaste, combs and other items that would help those who needed it. Working together these blessing bags also had a heartfelt sentiment or poem attached to them. Students collected over 200 bags and despite the 40 degree below weather, delivered them to the Warming Hearts Soup Kitchen & Mat Program in Drayton Valley before Christmas.

“I always love when our students get to work on these community projects,” stated Principal, Michelle Kolody. “The kindness they learn here is one of the most important lessons we teach.”

This work was done as part of the overall Breton Elementary School message based around the Leader in Me program. This program prides itself on helping students develop leadership skills and understanding that even small contributions and work they do can impact their community and the world. Using the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People students learn leadership, responsibility, accountability and much more. This week, months after their blessing bag program was completed, students received a heartwarming reminder that their work made a huge impact.

“One of my clients was truly touched by these students’ actions and let me know their gift saved his life when he was considering suicide,” stated Warming Hearts President, Kelly Forester. “I wanted to let the school know how much he appreciated the blessing bag he received.”

The thank you card these students received shows just how much of a difference these students can make. Throughout the school year these type of projects ensure that Breton Elementary students aren't just successful academically but are also learning to be student leaders.