It's a school of only 100 students or so but that close-knit sense of comradery is leading them in helping out a very worthy cause.
When Typhoon Haiyan tore through the Philippines a couple of weeks ago, killing at least 5,235 people and leaving several more missing or severely injured, families shattered, homes reduced to rubble, lives permanently altered, many across the world have stepped up.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced Canada would assist in any way it could, and Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird reiterated that sentiment, saying Canada would provide as much as $5 million to support humanitarian organizations addressing the disaster.
The Canadian Red Cross, Unicef and many other rescue organizations are collecting donations, and smaller fundraising efforts are taking place too.
Even in a tiny, non-descript corner of the world, a little dot on the map.
Englefeld, Saskatchewan.
The second that news hit on the destruction Haiyan left in the Philippines, Englefeld School, without the bat of an eye, immediately stepped up.
"We've been working on this since day one," said Corinne Harcourt, a teacher at the school. "We knew we had to."
Why, you may ask?
Because like the enormous ripple effects Haiyan itself caused, it's not just the residents of the Philippines who were affected by this.
It has left two Filipino students at the school, whose aunt and uncle are presumed killed in the disaster, devastated.
"We had parent/teacher interviews this week and their mother came in," said Harcourt. "She was just beside herself. It's so awful," she continued, her voice trailing off.
"It makes you realize how lucky you are to have your home, your life. Everything."
So the school set to work, no questions asked, on raising money for relief efforts.
"The kids are happy to do this," Harcourt said. "When stuff like this happens, they know it's up to us to step up."
And oh they have.
With fundraising initiatives like the typhoon toonies campaign, bake sales and an upcoming spaghetti hot lunch, the Englefeld School staff decided to set a goal of $600.
"At $100, we'd have our teacher Mrs. Knafelc teach in a moustache and unibrow," said Harcourt, adding that each 100 dollar milestone will guarantee a funny event, like having a male student get his legs waxed, or former principal, Mr. Biemans, dress up like a woman.
"Finding size 12 stilettos for him is hard though," laughed Harcourt.
However, staff at the school either aimed too low on their efforts, or completely underestimated the generosity of their community.
With still days to go with the campaign, the school has already well surpassed their original $600 goal.
Saying that they've decided to bump up the final donation sum to $1000, Harcourt added that the school is now scrambling for ideas on how to mark each 100 dollar milestone before reaching one thousand.
"We might get a teacher to kiss a pig or something funny like that," Harcourt chuckled. "I'm not sure, but I guess it's good that we're trying to think of extra ideas."
There are a few ways Humboldt and area can help out Englefeld School's noble fundraising efforts.
The big one is toonies. Toonies, toonies and more toonies.
The public can deposit toonies in a bucket at the front counter of the school, and never underestimate the power of two dollars, because the money quickly adds up.
"Just this morning, I counted $150," Harcourt said.
Or, for those wanting to make a larger donation, they can either bring it to the school in Englefeld or contact Corinne Harcourt at 306-287-3881.
Those in the Humboldt area can bring monetary donations to our Humboldt Journal office at 535 Main Street, where we'll be bringing the donations to Englefeld Dec. 3. All donations of $20 or higher can be issued a tax receipt, so it's important to include your name and address when making a donation; cheques should be made out to the Englefeld School SRC.
The federal government has promised to match any donations sent through a humanitarian organization until Dec. 9; Englefeld's student representative council (SRC), who is in charge of the fundraising efforts, are going through the Canadian Red Cross.
Even after Dec. 9, the school will continue to collect donations from the public, sending them off through the Red Cross, although the sum will no longer be matched by the government.
But any penny helps and the students are continuing their fundraising efforts until Dec. 6 in school.
Yesterday, the students held an ice cream sundae sale and this whole week, if students pay $1, they will be allowed to wear a hat indoors, usually a no-no in schools' dress policies.
On Dec. 6 a spaghetti hot lunch will take place as well and it'll be after all this has wrapped up, toonies counted and cheques collected, that the SRC will know what their final tally is.
One thing is already certain though:
Mr. Biemans, get those panty hose ready.
