The concept of giving back got real in a hurry for a group of Edmonton high school students when they donated blood for the first time earlier this year.
Teacher Anne Fierheller, a lifelong blood donor, sponsored the activity as a way to teach students to give back, part of the Social Studies 30 unit on citizenship.
“It makes me happy to see that kids are still willing to give their time and part of themselves to help others,” said Fierheller, who teaches at Louis St. Laurent Catholic High School.
Through the course of her 25-year teaching career, Fierheller has regularly organized student blood donations. Since donors must be at least 17, the activity is usually targeted at Grade 12 students. Donors must also weigh at least 120 to 130 pounds and have no new tattoos or piercings for three months prior to donation.
“It’s a bit scary for these kids,” she said. “When they realize it’s really not that difficult, and then they get a little card that says they’re a blood donor ... it’s exciting for them too.”
Fierheller has previously been involved in school-on-school donation competitions but says student blood donations aren’t that common partly because they require a teacher sponsor and are difficult to fit into busy schedules. Even so, she would like to see more teachers get involved.
“I think that this can be taken up a notch,” she said. ❚
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONSSuccess Stories is an ongoing feature that enables teachers to share their successes with their colleagues. To submit an idea or an article about a new program or approach that you’ve instituted, please contact managing editor Lindsay Yakimyshyn at lindsay.yakimyshyn@ata.ab.ca. |
