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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday December 15, 2006 - 3 King's Christian Collegiate students lend helping hand to 70-year-old neighbour By Sabrina Byrnes OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF As the holidays are fast approaching and the concern of shopping starts to overpower, the true meaning of Christmas and the spirit of giving hasn't been lost on five Grade 9 students. Showing by example the meaning of `help thy neighbour,' the King's Christian Collegiate students have come to the aid of a 70-year old man who was beaten and robbed when he found two men inside his house after he had been outside doing yard work. The man was a neighbour of the Burnhamthorpe Rd. W school., and when students of James Walraven's Bible class heard about the brutal attack, they wanted to help the victim. The Nov. 26 incident was first raised to the students during an assembly and was later addressed during Walraven's class as he was reading a passage from the Bible. "Right now we're in the middle of a story in the Old Testament where God is teaching his children what it means to follow him," said the Bible teacher. "As we were going through that whole lesson, there's a whole bunch of little details about taking care of our neighbours, and loving our neighbours as ourselves and such," Walraven said. The students suggested helping the man who had been hurt. Ideas such as yard work and snow shoveling came up, but a bake sale was the idea that became the core of their good deed. Grade 9 students Coriander Stevens, Rebekah Stevens, Christina Kessler, Katelyn Charpentier and Stephanie Courture were the ringleaders. Rebekah also came up with an idea to make a large card and the girls went to every class to get the students to sign it. Coriander came up with the idea for the bake sale and did the majority of the baking. The girls took what they learned in class and put it into action. They felt it was very important to help the gentleman. "Because he was our neighbour, and I guess also because in the Bible, God said that we needed to love our neighbours as ourselves. If we are caring for ourselves, and we are all blessed here, then we should bless others," said Kessler, reflecting on why she wanted to help the victim. "He went through a really hard time and I guess he just needs support from people," said Rebekah. "A lot of us, we have so many things that we're blessed with and it's just nice to, you know, share the love of God to others, and show him that we're there for him," she added. The students ran the bake sale from Dec. 4-7 during their lunch hour. Walraven was very pleased how the students took the initiative to help someone in need. "I love it. It just shows that their actions and their words are consistent with each other," said Walraven. "I really haven't done anything other than taught a lesson." The girls had raised $250 at the end of their four-day sale, and they hope it will go to replace what had been stolen from the victim or be used toward installing an alarm system. They presented the card with all the signatures and the money that was collected Tuesday afternoon to the gentleman's brother who is currently taking care of him. SABRINA BYRNES / OAKVILLE BEAVER FRIENDS INDEED: Grade 9 students at King's Christian Collegiate raised money through a bake sale and had a card signed by the students to give to their 70-year old neighbour, who was recently beaten and robbed. Spearheading the effort were (back, from left) Katelyn Charpentier, Stephanie Couture, Rebekah Stevens, (front, from left) Christina Kessler and Coriander Stevens. GLENLEVEN CHRYSLER C H RYS L E R · J E E P · D O D G E Chrysler Aspen THE ALL NEW 2007 LINE UP IS HERE! Chrysler Sebring Jeep Compass Jeep Wrangler Serving the community for 45 years! BRAND NEW Dodge Nitro 2007 DODGE CARAVAN · 3.3L V6 · 4 Speed Automatic Transmission · Air Conditioning · AM/FM/CD Sound System · 7 Passenger Seating ONLY L $ Plus $1,300 Freight 0 17,995 7 YOU CAN'T BEAT THE VALUE OF * THIS VAN! Wise customers read the fine print: Sale price is plus freight $1,300, A/C tax, Protector Plus, P.S.T., G.S.T., and your cost of licensing. Free oil changes are part of the Glenleven Gold Membership ­ See dealer for details. Vehicle may not be exactly as shown, but the employees are. Glenleven's great deals and superior service may cause you to purchase or lease more than one vehicle. EXPERIENCE COUNTS PROUDLY SERVING THE OAKVILLE AREA SINCE 1961 FINANCING PROVIDED BY WINSTON CHURCHILL BLVD. TRAFALGAR RD. FORD DRIVE GAIL · 19 YEARS PAUL · 9 YEARS JEFF · 18YEARS STEVE · 17 YEARS JIM · 18 YEARS EWAN · 15 YEARS RON · 24 YEARS JOHN · 23 YEARS JEFF E. · 34 YEARS GLENLEVEN CHRYSLER C H RYS L E R · J E E P · D O D G E 2388 Royal Windsor Drive Oakville 908.845.7575 www.glenleven.com OIL CHANGES ARE STANDARD! ROYAL WINDSOR DR. \SOUTHDOWN RD. FREE