Schools North East knows that hundreds of schools across our region have rallied round to support the people and children of Ukraine at this terrible time. We collated as many of these stories as possible to share the excellent work which North East schools are doing during this particularly distressing time.
Oxclose Community Academy
The school is having a non-uniform day to raise funds for the Red Cross and collecting essentials for a humanitarian drop off in Sunderland. They are also selling cakes with Ukraine flags to raise funds.
Federation of Mowden Schools (Infants & Junior)
The school asked the children to wear something yellow for Ukraine, to complement their school uniform blue in order to represent the Ukraine flag. They also asked for a donation for the Red Cross’s emergency appeal and have raised a magnificent £1280.
Beech Hill Primary School
The school has approached this issue in multiple ways, they have put on a KS2 assembly explaining the current situation as a news / historical event, spoke to Y6 pupils about the situation and addressed their questions and concerns, responded to all children with reassurance if the subject arises, they have launched an appeal for needed items and the schools families have responded positively. It is thought that items will start to come into school next week. These will be delivered to a local collection point. They are also having a ‘wear yellow and blue’ awareness day next week when families may donate money or practical items.
Nicholas Postgate Catholic Academy Trust
Thousands of Teesside and North Yorkshire school pupils have heard an emotional message of peace from a Ukrainian woman living in the UK, during a day of prayer for her country.
Children attending the 27 schools in Nicholas Postgate Catholic Academy Trust stopped their lessons and prayed for peace on one of the most important days in the Christian calendar, Ash Wednesday.
They also watched a video recorded by Veronika Tsap, 28, who is the fiancé of Teesside songwriter and Cattle & Cane frontman Joe Hamill.
Veronika’s parents, grandparents, cousins, sister and brother-in-law are all still in Ukraine. Her cousin, who is pregnant, and her two young boys have fled to Poland – but their husband stayed behind.
Joe and Veronika were due to marry in Ukraine in June, but like millions of others, their lives have been turned upside down by the Russian invasion.
The couple are now raising funds to buy the basic necessities people need to survive.
King Edwin School
The school is going to send ‘Buddy Hugs’ to children in the Ukraine – they have opened their school each day as a drop off spot for donations of children’s clothing, supplies with the help of Buddy the dog and are encouraging a soft toy donation of a yellow or blue bear to give the children some comfort during this trauma. King Edwin students will send the bear with a ‘hug’ a note for a child to tell them we are thinking of them.
Belmont Community School
They have put on a Non-uniform day and encourage the pupils to wear the Ukrainian flag colours of yellow and/or blue with a £1 donation. Ms Pickard the Head of Department for History has facilitated form time discussions and assemblies all week with focus on children/young people and the positive impact which they can have within the global community.
Hillcrest School
Every day the students at Hillcrest School watch the local and national news so they are aware of the Aid needed for Ukraine. One of the school’s teachers emailed to let staff know she would be taking donations to a local collection point. The 6th Form students asked if they could help with collections of urgently needed items for Ukraine. They started by sending a letter home to staff and families asking for donations, outlining what was desperately needed. They have collected lots of items from all of the class teams and collated and bagged everything. One staff member, (who’s car was full) took the items to a local collection point. The school will be continuing to collect items over the following weeks and sending thank you letters to all staff and students for their generosity.
Red Hall Primary School
They held a blue and yellow dressing up day asking for cash donations and donations of essential items, such as medical supplies, nappies, toiletries etc. The school raised £490 in cash, as well as 3 car loads of donations. Their Head of School, Laura Snowdon said that they are absolutely blown away by how the community came together and felt incredibly proud.
Hexham First School
Hexham First School is holding a fundraising and support for peace in Ukraine day. Consisting of a non uniform day ( wearing blue/yellow), staff baking peace cakes to sell at a coffee afternoon and children making peace bracelets (made out of loom bands) and selling them, any loose change anyone has will be placed on a giant Ukrainian flag. All proceeds are going to Save the children so the school can fund as many “School in a bag” for Ukrainian refugee children as possible.
The Duchess’s Community High School
In conjunction with the efforts in the Town (led by a local pub landlord Jackie Mcdougall) they have a large parcel trolley in reception for staff, students, parents and the local community to drop off essential items. Already, the school has received over three trolleys full of items. This will be transported to the North East central collection using donated vans from Blackshaws garage. As well as this the school is hosting a bake sale to raise funds for the Unicef Ukraine fund.
Sugar Hill Primary
They are coordinating a collection with one of their families and are wearing yellow and blue with donations of items for this collection by parents/carers. There will be blue and yellow ribbon on the school fence. As part of their Global curriculum, in certain year groups the children have been learning about what it’s like to be a refugee and also Peace and Conflict both in the past and now. This has made the children want to discuss what is going on and ask many questions.
Reid Street Primary
One of the pupils in Year 6 has a family in Ukraine. Her family were collecting supplies across Darlington and the North East so Adele asked The Reid Street family to support her too. The list was extensive that went around Darlington but at school Adele asked for toiletries including: nappies and female sanitary products, medical supplies such as bandages, first aid kits. They also collected batteries, torches and pet food. The supplies were packed up and sent on with a Ukrainian Lorry driver. Adele’s mum Lena could not believe the support she has received from school and the people of Darlington they have filled a HGV with supplies in 4 days.
Holy Trinity First School
The children and the School Council highlighted they were distressed by the worsening situation in Ukraine and as a school community they decided to do something to help. They joined with Holy Trinity Parish Church to gather donations that will be sent to help the people of Ukraine. Seeking to collect the following items – Thermal blankets, sleeping bags, sleeping mats, good quality blankets, personal hygiene products, toothpaste, toothbrushes, wet wipes, nappies (particularly sizes 0 and 1), sanitary items, paper towels, antibacterial fluid, medical supplies, batteries, candles, all kinds of instant food (like soup that can be rehydrated with boiling water), baby milk and bottles, baby food, pasta and dry food for dogs and cats. The school sent a call to action to their parents and on Social Media asking that if they had anything that spare and would like to donate.
The English Martyrs Catholic School and Sixth Form College
On Monday 7th and Tuesday 8th March, staff and students at The English Martyrs Catholic School and Sixth Form College in Hartlepool rallied to donate essential items for the people of Ukraine. The response from the families and school community has been huge, filling 2 minibuses with donations of medical supplies, nappies, pillows, duvets and other essential items. The students donated pocket money whilst others gave items that showed their compassion and concern for families in the Ukraine. The young people and their families have been moved to make the world a better place and support those in need. School Chaplain Anne- Marie McKenna said ‘ students have contributed bags full of items and their kindness is nothing short of inspirational.’
Schools North East are incredibly proud of the hard work which all the schools in the region do and the response and willingness to help during this crisis is a testament to this. If you have any stories which you would like to share you can fill out this form.
