Students at Gracemount High School were treated to a gift from a very special donor recently as part of a scheme set up to help and encourage young people to work together. A six foot oak tree was gifted by Prince Charles and planted in the school grounds.
The tree was donated in appreciation of Gracemount's contribution to the Learning For Life scheme. Prince Charles, patron of the scheme, gave the tree as thanks for the pupils' participation in the programme, whose aim is to reflect on the qualities and values children believe are important in life and work.
During the last three years, pupils from Gracemount and across South Edinburgh have participated in the project. By creating posters that mirror the children's emotions in life, it is hoped others will be encouraged to relate to their own thoughts and feelings. The initiative has proved highly popular with students and schools alike, with cash prizes for the best posters and incentives that will make even the most stubborn teenager think about life from a different perspective.
Gracemount's adoption of the scheme has provided the students with a real chance to open up and express their opinions. And while a tree may seem like a peculiar present, it seems quite fitting for a school that has expressed its desire to "go green".
Adelle Fleming, a teacher at Gracemount said, "This has been an amazing time for us in school and the pupils have really enjoyed completing the posters. Many pupils have been both moved and challenged by their research. When we stopped to think what really was important in life, a lot of our pupils came to value much that they had previously taken for granted. Having an oak tree will be very special for us. It will be a reminder to both our pupils and the wider community of the values and priorities that we choose to build our lives upon."
Gracemount pupil Stefana Djokic said, "This project has helped me realise how one person can change many people. I understand that you should make the best of what you have and always think about things in a positive way."
