Student Raises Funds for Families Affected by Cancer
A major part of CDS’s Grade 12 World Cultures course is a social action project where students are asked to identify, plan and carry out solutions to problems within their school, community, province, nation, or beyond. The goal of the project is to display active citizenship through thoughtful, cooperative, critically engaging, and responsible action. The students not only develop critical thinking and organizational skills, but they hopefully emerge with a feeling that they have helped promote positive change no matter how big or small.
One of the student projects selected this year featured Valentine’s Day as its backdrop. Alexandra Azrilyant ’23 chose to support a cause near and dear to her heart – NANkind formerly known as the Nanny Angel Network Inc. Founded in 2009, NANkind provides free supportive cancer care for children and families who are experiencing a parent with cancer.
As someone who has experienced cancer in her own family, Alexandra came up with the idea to sell cookiegrams (cookies with messages) as a lead up to Valentine’s Day as a way to support this charity and spread kindness. She announced the initiative in last week’s assembly and was met with an overwhelming response. In her words, “Who wouldn’t want to get a cookie on Valentine’s Day?”
In her assembly presentation, Alexandra also shared that “NANkind has supported more than 2000 families through a variety of in-home, virtual, and meal support programs. These programs help kids cope with the trauma of parental cancer by providing a sense of normalcy during an unfamiliar time. I personally have volunteered weekly at NANkind for almost a year and am proud of the impact that I have been able to make.”
Last week, Alexandra took orders during lunch and packaged her cookies with individualized messages in advance of heading to Toronto to compete at DECA Provincials. With the help of Ms. Leacock and Student Council members, 280 cookiegrams were delivered to Homerooms on Valentine’s Day and were reportedly very well received.
In total, Alexandra raised $902 for NANkind, and contributed to the spread of kindness throughout the Middle and Senior Schools through her cookiegram social action project. She looks forward to making the donation in person and sharing her class project in the coming weeks!
Land Acknowledgment
The Country Day School wishes to recognize and acknowledge the land on which the school operates. Our nearest Indigenous Nations are now the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Chippewas of Georgina Island. The Dish with One Spoon Wampum covenant is often cited as an example of the shared responsibility for caring for these lands among the Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples who would call these their traditional territories. CDS respects the relationship with these lands and recognizes that our connection to this land can be strengthened by our continued relationship with all First Nations, by acknowledging our shared responsibility to respect and care for the land and waters for future generations.
School Information
13415 Dufferin Street King, Ontario L7B 1K5
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
