Young students at Bermuda High School learnt about the spirit of giving by raising money to buy Christmas toys for children less fortunate than themselves.

Students in year 5 and 6 were tasked by their teachers with raising funds by doing chores such as helping an elderly relative or neighbour, or helping their parents around the house.

The two groups collectively raised close to $2,200 which they then spent on brand-new toys that will be handed out to two separate charities.

The $1,100 raised by 57 year 5 students went towards toys for those helped by The Family Centre, while the $1,093 raised by the 44 year 6 students went towards the Toys for Tots programme. Year 6 teacher Tracy Renaud and Sue Chlebek led their students through the Pay It Forward project which is part of the school’s citizenship unit.

Ms Renaud told The Royal Gazette: “The children raised the money through everything from doing chores at home — doing the dishes or helping a grandparent, friend or a neighbour. After they raised the money we went to Phoenix and bought toys for all different ages. It is something Toys for Tots does assisted by Coldwell Banker and they have the contacts through the Coalition for the Protection of Children in terms of who needs these types of things at this time of year.

“The children were thrilled from start to finish.

“First of all they enjoyed hearing about the other children and just learning that there were others out there who were less fortunate and who might not have as much as they have this year.

“They gave us ideas about the type of things they thought the children might like so we went with a list and purchased all the toys and brought them back.

“The girls were able to see all of it today and talk about the kinds of chores that they did and they were absolutely thrilled to see what they were able to accomplish with their money and how far it went.”

Year 5 teachers Nichola Cunha, Stephanie Cordeiro and Mary Kennedy led their students through the programme.

Ms Cunha said: “Last year I did it as part of my assembly and this year I asked The Family Centre if they would be happy if the whole year group did it.

“I want the children to see that it is helping in their own community. There are children out there who don’t get Christmas presents and so this year we did the whole year group.

“The children were so excited they took it on wholeheartedly.”