Glenrosa Middle School ACES Program

Be the Change

Community Service Initiatives 2009-2010

This year the ACES students have been active in various social justice activities in our community. Here are some highlights to date:
  • 22 ACES students attended "We Day" in Vancouver on September 29. They spent the day listening to various speakers including the Dalai Lama. As a result of their attendance they have made a commitment to working towards positive social change this year.
  • The Warm Winter Wear Challenge was a district wide initiative where many schools collected winter clothing and supplies for Kelowna's homeless. GMS gathered over 1000 items which were given to the Westside Family Food Bank for free distribution.
  • Our first ever Hallowe'en for Hunger Food Drive was a great success. We canvassed our neighbourhoods and raised $3572 in cash and food items for the Westside Community Food Bank. Students were offered a new iPod Nano as a prize for the highest total of food items brought in. The winners (who brought in 260 items!) decided not to claim their prize but rather take the cash equivalent and donate it to a charity which works to free slaves.
  • Our first ever GMS Day of Silence took place on November 20. Over 200 participating students voluntarily took a 24 hr. vow of silence to protest the world's lack of initiative on the international rights of the child. Our school fundraised $2172.75. The student who raised the most money was Connor Sharpe, who won a $100 gift certificate to Orchard Park Mall.
  • some ACES students have gone beyond expectations this term and have independently fundraised for IJM to free slaves in developing areas. So far they have raised over $1500.00 through various fundraisers including bottle drives, bake sales and displays set up in Wal-Mart!
  • Our 14th Annual GMS Christmas Food Drive raised 1257 items of food and clothing and $174 for the Westside Community Food Bank.