Georgia Park Elementary’s Acts of Caring

At Georgia Park Elementary, students are learning that even small acts of kindness can create ripples of hope and healing in their community. As part of the Planting a Promise project, these young learners didn’t just plant daffodils; they planted seeds of compassion.

This spring, two classes, Grade 1/2 and Grade 4/5, embraced the Canadian Cancer Society’s “Help Hope Bloom” campaign. They learned that April is a month dedicated to raising awareness and support for those affected by cancer. Inspired by this message, the students created daffodil-themed cards with heartfelt letters and vibrant artwork.

The older students collaborated on a letter that beautifully captured their learning journey and shared how the cards would be used to uplift cancer patients at the local Cancer Care Clinic. These cards weren’t just tokens of creativity — they were messages of hope, carefully crafted to brighten someone’s day.

The response was overwhelming. The clinic staff were deeply moved, and patients were invited to take a card that resonated with them. One Facebook comment from a patient described how a simple card brought comfort and strength during a difficult time.

Tanya Lightbody’s Story: Turning Flowers into Fundraisers

At Sunrise Ridge Elementary in Surrey, Grade 2 teacher Tanya Lightbody has also found a powerful way to connect agriculture education with compassion. Inspired by the Planting a Promise program, Tanya’s class decided to take their daffodil project a step further — turning it into a fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society.

The students sold their homegrown daffodils to family members, school staff, and their big buddy class. They’ve raised an incredible $350! For Tanya, this initiative carries even more personal significance as she was diagnosed with breast cancer last year. Watching her students and the school community come together to support this cause has been deeply moving and healing.

Tanya shared:

“We had a powerful discussion about the impact we could make if every class that grew daffodils organized a similar fundraiser. The difference it could create is truly inspiring!”

A Promise of Kindness and Hope

These projects remind us that teaching agriculture and food, like planting daffodils, goes far beyond the soil. It’s about nurturing empathy, community connections, and a sense of purpose. In these classrooms, learning to grow a plant also meant learning to grow kindness and to plant seeds of change in the hearts of students.

As Mary Morrow, the teacher-librarian at Georgia Park Elementary, shared:

“Thank you for providing this opportunity to learn not only about the daffodil plant itself, but how we can extend a simple gesture and care for others in our community.”

At BC Agriculture in the Classroom, we’re inspired by stories like these, where a classroom lesson turns into a lifelong lesson in caring for others. Thank you, Georgia Park Elementary and Sunrise Ridge Elementary, for Planting a Promise of kindness and community support!