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20 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday December 12, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com St. Bernadette School helps impoverished Haitian students By Krissie Rutherford OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF T he poorest country in the Western hemisphere is getting a helping hand from a local elementary school. For the third year running, St. Bernadette School is fundraising to send money to Haiti ­ specifically, to assist Notre Dame de la Presentation. That's the name of the school built in Los Palis, Haiti in 2005 thanks to the fundraising efforts of St. Bernadette staff, students and parents. "We refer to the school as our sister school," said Grade 6 teacher LeeAnne Burke, who has spearheaded the Haiti project the past three years. "I am a very firm believer, and I try to impart this value on my kids, that education is freedom," said Burke. "That's the best way to help people in this position, so this school was a really good fit for us. "We've committed to continuing to support them each year." This year, St. Bernadette staff made and decorated pottery popcorn bowls, which are being auctioned off to send funds to Solidarity Haiti, the registered charity that delegates the money where it's needed. "One hundred per cent of the money goes directly to the cause," Burke said, noting administration fees come out of the pockets of those who run the charity. "We feel strongly that the money goes there, and that they use it as they see fit. DEREK WOOLLAM / OAKVILLE BEAVER BOWLED OVER: St. Bernadette staff members Christine Ricci and Helena Costantini show two of the eight popcorn pottery bowls that are being auctioned off to raise money for a school in Haiti. They have so many needs, and the needs change all the time." The deadline to put in bids on the eight popcorn bowls is today at noon. The goal is to raise $5,000 from the decorated bowls, which feature everything from Toronto Maple Leaf logos to lady bugs. "We had lots of traffic when we did this last year, and we expect it to be an absolute frenzy when the time to bid winds down," Burke said. The idea to make bowls and sell them for the cause came from Christine Ricci, an educational assistant at the school. She estimates since the Haiti project began, the St. Bernadette community has raised more than $20,000. "Last year we sent money for washroom accommodations," said Ricci. In 2007, the school donated $5,000, the product of various fundraisers, including 50/50 draws, freezie sales and a parent fun fair. Notre Dame de la Presentation is located in Los Palis, about 12 miles from the capital city of Portau-Prince. Students at St. Bernadette have been learning about their sister school, which is the equivalent to a curriculum offered for Grades 7­10 in Canada, through letters and photos. The need for Notre Dame de la Presentation in Los Palis was dire, Burke explained. "The residents there said they really wanted a school, and they actually, by hand, with hoes, dug a road to the school. They dug out the road, and we supplied the materials with our fundraising. That's how much they wanted that school," Burke said. "Literally, they were building it by hand." Otherwise, children in that area would have to walk to Portau-Prince to go to school, which can be both expensive and dangerous. The whole Haiti project at St. Bernadette began after the late Fintan Kilbride visited the school more than three years ago. A Catholic priest and retired teacher, Kilbride was committed to missionary work and helping those in need. "Fintan really was the inspiration for this whole project. He was a remarkable man, and he really inspired all of us," said Burke. "We embraced the project, and that year we raised $16,000 to build the school." Mississauga Halton Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) Your single source for information on and access to in-home, community support and long-term care services in South Etobicoke, Mississauga, Oakville, Halton Hills and Milton Effective December 1st you can contact all Mississauga Halton Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) locations through one convenient phone number I WANT 905-855-9090 Toll-Free 1-877-336-9090 Web www.mh.ccac-ont.ca Luscious Lips Plump Lips I Erase Lines I Fill Folds Getting Care to People Who Need It Mississauga Office 2655 North Sheridan Way Suite 140 Mississauga, ON L5K 2P8 Receive $100 towards your RestylaneTM treatment Offer expires Jan 18, 2008. May not be combined with any other offer. NEW Etobicoke Office 401 The West Mall Suite 1001 Etobicoke, ON M9C 5J5 Milton Office 12 Martin Street Milton, ON L9T 2P9 TM Pure Med SpaTM (beside Mademoiselle Fitness) 2395 Trafalgar Rd. (Winners Plaza) 1.888.413.5035 www.puremedspa.com