HamperTime is hopping time at Dakota Collegiate

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This article was published 20/12/2016 (3440 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

One teacher is dressed in a flowered swim cap, goggles and shorts. A few colleagues sport Christmas turkey hats.

While some students compete in a morning trivia game, others are busy packing Christmas hampers in the library.

The occasion? ‘Tis the season at Dakota Collegiate.

Citizenship and community involvement are key components of everyday learning at Dakota, but things are turned up another notch during what is affectionately dubbed HamperTime.

Over the past few weeks, the 1,200 students and staff at the St. Vital-area high school collected 4,000 food items for hampers designed to help 20 families for a couple of months, as well as $1,400 in cash for the Winnipeg Free Press Miracle on Mountain campaign in support of the Christmas Cheer Board.

“It’s kind of become the culture of the school for the month of December,” said Charlene Leslie, one of the teachers co-ordinating the drive and activities. “Kids know it’s coming and they’re asking, ‘When’s HamperTime,’ and they want to be involved. It’s very rewarding.”

About 40 students packed the food items into hampers and delivered them to families in the community Tuesday.

“I’m super-proud of the student body in this school in general; everyone is so enthusiastic about it,” said student council vice-president Alex Kitt, 16, who is in Grade 11. “I think all the students go through the same thing I did when you first come to this school, you’re kind of swept up in it all. Everyone was part of it and, of course, I wanted to get involved, too.”

Principal Jill Mathez said the Miracle on Mountain donation and the hampers are two of five student-driven initiatives at the school at this time of year.

In November, 350 seniors living nearby were invited to an evening of coffee, tea, treats and student entertainment, and each went home with a gift. Earlier this month, 150 youngsters from elementary schools in the area — Victor Mager, Lavallee and Hastings — visited Dakota for Breakfast with Santa — a jolly teacher — and each youngster left with a gift. Last week, students in foods classes baked 1,200 gingerbread cookies that were donated to Siloam Mission.

“It’s empowering, for sure. I know what kids are capable of and they can see it too because they’re following through on something that’s great, it’s a tradition here and makes a difference,” said Mathez, also known in Winnipeg’s sports community as the first woman inducted into the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame for her service as a player and a longtime coach.

“Our school really takes the whole notion of citizenship very seriously and and we take great pride and effort in ensuring our students and staff work together during this time for the common good.”

Robbie Scott, a bundle of energy — and a science teacher — at Dakota, was dressed as the swimmer/tourist to participate in Tuesday’s I Wish It Was Summer Day. Scott, the driving force behind HamperTime for the past 14 years, said the various events help students see many ways to have a positive impact on their community.

“It’s great for school spirit, but it’s really about giving. We’re trying to build that idea of community, locally, globally — build that message into these kids. Some of the kids getting hampers could be kids in your (class) room,” he said.

“We’ve had families who come back and donate money to our Miracle on Mountain campaign and tell us, ‘We got a hamper from you and it’s the only reason we made it through January and February and we want to give back.’ Those are heartbreaking stories, but it’s awesome for our students to make a difference.”

This year’s theme is HamperTime Go with characters called Dakemon (short for Dakota Pokeman). Each morning throughout December, Scott has been taking over the school’s public-address system for a trivia competition. Students who know the answer race from their classrooms to the office to earn points for their rooms. A bulletin board in one of the hallways keeps track using photos of each teacher’s face on a “Dakemon” body.

Each morning, 13 youths in the Skills for Living program for students with physical or cognitive challenges made the classroom rounds to collect Miracle on Mountain donations.

“It’s our chance to get out and meet other students and show that we’re part of the community. We can contribute, too,” said teacher Tim Conrad, the SLP co-ordinator.

ashley.prest@freepress.mb.ca