Curran Hill Public School students Jasmin Garney and siblings Dilki and Asith Senanayaki lent a helping hand.

Schools 'lend a hand' for tsunami victims

By Kerri Carr

Schools acknowledged Tsunami Education Action Week, February 14-18, in many different ways.

Curran Hill Public School constructed a "sea of hands" to decorate a garden bed in the school.

Fed Rep Roz Budd said teachers talked to the children about how schools had been devastated by the tsunami and it was decided to "lend them a hand" with gold coin donations or the donation of books or pencils.

A few hundred dollars was raised, and books and pencils were collected.

Ms Budd said the "sea of hands" represents "lending them a hand".

"The different classes made the hands during the week," Ms Budd said.

Some have messages on them.

On the Friday about 580 hands were "planted" in the garden.

Mufti days proved a popular way to raise money. Mufti days were held at many schools including Elanora Heights Public, Padstow Heights Public, Penrith High, Milton Public and Eastwood Public schools.

Penshurst West Public also held a mufti day, with a blue and green theme. Further money was raised through the sale of blue and green slushies from the canteen.

The majority of schools in the Richmond Valley and The Wilson networks either held mufti days or a cake day.

Lambton High has adopted a Sri Lankan school and held a dance night. Hamilton Public has adopted a Sri Lankan school and held fund raising events.

Taren Point Public had a day of thoughts where the children made Japanese wishes and hung them in the trees. In theory, the wishes are then blown to their recipients.

West Ryde Public held a pancake day and Hunters Hill High held a film night and a mufti day. Riverside Girls High collected materials students and teachers could use, which will go to containers being sent to Sri Lanka by Ryde Rotary. Ryde Secondary College held a gold coin day.

Cromer Public held a "School in a Box" day on February 22. Students dressed in the colours of the rainbow and had lessons under trees to show what is the current situation for many children in the effected areas. The school raised funds towards a UNICEF "School in a Box", which provides 80 students with basic educational resources.

The Secondary Principals Council has initiated a sister-schools in Sri Lanka project. High schools indicating their support so far include: Davidson, Kotara, Quakers Hill, Normanhurst Boys, Moorefield Girls, Cabramatta, Castle Hill, Deniliquin, Sefton, James Ruse Agricultural, Moss Vale, Bathurst, St Clair, Fairvale, Bowral, Asquith Girls, Hornsby Girls, Tumbarumba, Arthur Phillip, Erskine Park, Merrylands, Murwillumbah, Wollumbin, Dubbo College, Barrenjoey, Hawkesbury, Penrith, Lambton, Richmond, Girraween, Monaro, Erina, Tempe, Sir Joseph Banks, Banora Point, Tuncurry Campus, Moree Secondary College, Murrumburrah, Colo, Cronulla, Rooty Hill, Mitchell, Macintyre, Ryde Secondary College, Fairfield, Karabar, Mackellar Girls, Raymond Terrace, Morisset, Dungog, Temora, Crestwood, Sydney Technical and Prairiewood.

Other schools participating include Coolamon Central, Emmaville Central, Dubbo School of Distance Education and Saturday School of Community Languages.

The Department of Education and Training advised Federation of many of these events.

Australian Volunteers help Maldives victims

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