Truly Being Thankful for Harvest

Well this year pupils at St Osmund’s Middle School near Dorchester explored this question during their Harvest Festival celebrations. And they came up with the answer that it means that no-one ever feels “left out, no one feels left behind” 

While some pupils explored the value of thankfulness by looking at their school verse and what it means in practice. 

"So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (MSG).  

Others looked at creating it through donating non-perishable food to a local food Charity and creating hampers that could be delivered to local Care Homes, homes for children with disabilities and the local women’s refuge. 

Lydia Topp, St Osmund’s School Chaplain, who worked with the pupils in the explorations, said: 

"They created thankfulness boxes so that our wider community know that they are valued, loved and respected. Living out our school bible verse that no-one ever feels “left out, no one feels left behind”. We hope that the small token of our hampers made people feel that they are in our thoughts.  

"Each tutor group decided where to send their hamper and what they wanted to include in them. Items such as chocolates, colouring, puzzles, biscuits, bulbs to plant, bath toiletries and many other lovely treats. 

"The Pupils really took ownership of their hampers. Some pupils even brought a special box for theirs donations to go in and others had a personal connection to a local home and delivered it themselves." 

The school had  some wonderful feedback about how well the hampers were received.  

Kat, the Companion Team Leader  at Castle View Care Home in Poundbury, said  

“On behalf of Castle View residents; we would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude for your generous hampers you kindly provided us with, our residents have been enjoying the goodies whilst playing games and receiving pampers with the smellies. It has made our residents feel very loved and appreciated.” 

They also received lovely feedback from one home where one child created a thank you note and a drawing with the items we sent.  

Jim Collins, Resource Manager Children in Care & Care Leavers, Dorset Council thanked the pupils personally: 

“Thank you so much for the lovely treats which the pupils from St Osmund’s have gifted to our children at The Cherries. It is much appreciated. To know that we are in your thoughts does indeed make us feel part of the community.”