Leo Lehman Helps Raise Money for Mental Health
Last month, Westberry School undertook a challenge last month to do 2000 push-ups a day to promote mental health. The challenge was also an engagement challenge, which the school holds each month, with February’s based on the Cree Tipi teachings of *LOVE and *STRENGTH.
“We jumped on board with CMHA and joined the 2000 push-ups per day for #bettermentalhealth. Our school set a goal to do 2000 push-ups per day and families were encouraged to participate with their children at home too. We met and exceeded our goal every school day in February. We also raised money for the campaign,” shared Joanie McLay, who planned and organized the event. “Every classroom was a team. We tracked the total push-ups for each team, every day and our school raised $920 all together and accomplished 63,878 push-ups!” After the challenge was over, every class received heart shaped cheerios on the last day of the challenge as a prize.
One dedicated and passionate student, Leo Lehman, vowed to do 60 push-ups per day at home—and he did! His family joined Leo and he was able to collect donations from his family. Leo and his family worked hard, became stronger and showed such love by encouraging each other and raising $200 for our local Mental Health Association.
“Leo received a ‘Strength and Love’ feather at our monthly assembly, for his self-determination and the commitment with his family to #pushformentalhealth,” shared Joanie.
To receive a feather, students nominate students or staff or parents and vice versa if they want to recognize someone who is a great example of that quality. At the monthly award ceremony, those people receive a paper decoration feather with the tipi teaching on it and a write up from the person who nominated them. It describes why that person was nominated. All of the nominees stand at the front of the gym and the principal reads out loud, why that person was nominated to the whole school.
Now, as the school moves into its March Family Engagement challenge, it’s clear that these activities are more than just challenges; they are opportunities to strengthen bonds between school and family members, promote important values, and make a difference!
Thank you to Leo and everyone at Westberry School for your donation to mental health!
*Cree Tipi teaching for love: We must learn to accept one another as we are and accept others who are not in our circle. Love means unconditional kindness to one another.
*Strength: We must learn to be patient in times of trouble and not to complain but to endure and show understanding. We must accept those hard times and work to give others strength.
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