Touched by disaster

AMELIA JACOBSEN/East & Bays Courier

COMPASSIONATE: Meadowbank School students Tom Cunningham and Sophie Clarkson, both 10, spoke to the principal of a Melbourne School about Victoria's bush fires.

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Caring kids at Meadowbank School are reaching out to their mates across the ditch after the devastating bushfires that have rocked Australia.

All money raised from the school’s mufti day today will be donated to Red Cross to help Victorian communities affected by the fires.

In a live television broadcast this afternoon, the whole school will gather in the hall to link up with Serpell School in north-east Melbourne.

The two schools have developed a partnership over the last six years.

Serpell School was not at risk of burning down but some of its teachers live in the rural areas that suffered badly.

Today’s broadcast follows on from last Friday’s assembly, in which the students were shown Youtube footage of the fires and an interactive map outlining the locations.

They even phoned Serpell School principal Wilma Culton using Skype and talked to her about how it had affected them.

Principal Peter Ayson says seeing the children mesmerised in assembly is rare.

"There was stunned silence," he says.

"Usually at the beginning of the year, especially with five-year-olds, they’re a bit restless but there was nothing. They were fixated on the screen.

"When Wilma was speaking they were hugely attentive. She got quite emotional at one stage."

Specialist information technology teacher David Kinane says a question from 10-year-old Tom Cunningham asking how Meadowbank School could help "took the carpet out from under Wilma’s feet".

"They were overwhelmed that we were concerned. I think they just thought it was their problem," he says.

He hopes the Serpell School children will be able to share a slideshow today, while talking about each image.

Mr Kinane says it will solidify their relationship with Serpell as well as showing the kids and teachers an "authentic" way of using information technologies both in and out of the classroom.

Mr Ayson says Meadowbank families will give generously to the appeal.

"A normal mufti day would raise about $700 or $800 but I’d expect it to
be more than that this time."

To make a donation directly to Red Cross visit www.redcross.org.au.

To tune in to the broadcast from 2pm visit http:mogulus.com/mpstv.

- © Fairfax NZ News