ELORA – Students in the Bookmark Club in Rosa Newkirk’s Grade 6 class at St. Mary Catholic School in Elora have been selling bookmarks since September.
They brainstorm designs, create the bookmarks and track sales during free time at school and at home.
Most Wednesday mornings, student Avery Ziegler reminds students they can purchase bookmarks during first recess through the morning announcements.
Bookmark Club – Grade 6 students at St. Mary Catholic School Elora have been making and selling bookmarks to raise money for the Grove Hub in Fergus. Photo by Robin George
The students have weekly discussions about how many bookmarks sold and which designs were the best sellers, said student David Atkins.
Their teachers said all she does is set up a table and help with the lamination.
So far, the students have created about 170 bookmarks, raising $177.83 for the Grove Hub in Fergus.
The idea for the fundraiser came from Atkins and Ziegler.
Once they got their teacher’s approval, Atkins said the initiative made a strong start, with lots of people signing up to help out.
It was David Atkins, left and Avery Ziegler’s idea to start making and selling bookmarks with their classmates. Photo by Robin George
Of the 21 students in the class, 17 are in the club.
Atkins said the club has shown him what he, his classmates and teacher are capable of when they work together.
“Everyone really showed their creativity and it showed us that we could handle money, too,” Ziegler added.
Two of the students who made the most bookmarks were Annie Trott and Brielle Gemin, both often finishing more than 10 in one week.
Gemin said the first bookmark she made was of a sunset, and she decided to keep going with that theme as “they sold really quickly.”
She also makes sport-themed bookmarks with soccer balls, basketballs and hockey sticks.
Gemins said her mom, Laura Gemin, is a teacher at the school, and she got ideas for bookmark designs from her students.
Trott said she spoke to her three younger sisters to get inspiration for designs, and they suggested she make Ninja Turtles and Pokémon, which also sold quickly.
Popular bookmark themes also include Taylor Swift, Minions and brands including Sephora and Nike, Atkins and Ziegler said.
Trott said she spends so much time making the bookmarks because it’s fun, and she likes to be creative.
Grove Hubs
Gemin said her brother sometimes goes to the Grove Hub, so she knows a little about the space.
“Its a cool hangout place were you can eat, play games and relax,” she said.
Atkins said they initially planned to direct the money raised to their school, but Newkirk encouraged them to donate the money to a community group.
“She researched a whole bunch of places, and chose the Grove,” Ziegler said.
On Jan. 8, the students presented a cheque to Grove Hubs director Jeff Hoffman, who took the opportunity to help the students understand what the Grove is all about.
Hoffman said as the students are all turning 12 this year, they are welcome to spend time at hubs, which he described as cool, safe places to hangout.
Grove Hubs director Jeff Hoffman told the students what the hubs are all about. Photos by Robin George
“We’ve got lots of food,” he said, and invited the students to let him know what their favourite snacks are so the Grove can get it in for them.
He said the Fergus hub also has video games such as Fortnite, “an art room as big as your portable here,” a music room, a basketball court, a library, board games, and people to talk to.
“Everything for a young person is available at the Grove,” he said, including tutoring for school work and people they can talk to for support with mental health.
“These are places that are designed for you,” Hoffman said. “We asked youth, what do you want to see? What do you think is fun?”
The students were quick to bounce questions back at Hoffman, with the first one about whether youth could play other sports at the Hubs.
Hoffman listed soccer, floor hockey and ping-pong.
When a student asked if they could play badminton, Hoffman said, “We should do that! I’m going to add that in.”
But when they asked about football and ice hockey, Hoffman chuckled and said they didn’t have space – or ice – to offer those sports.
One student asked if parents think the Hubs are cool places too, and Hoffman explained that while parents are welcome to visit for tours, the space is for youth and volunteers only – not a place for parents to stay to hang out.
Another asked if everything is free – “Even the food?”
And Hoffman explained that thanks to generous community members, including those who contributed to the bookmark initiative, everything at the Grove is free.
“Your donation is exactly why this works,” he said.
The class is set to visit the Fergus Grove Hub for a field trip in early February.
