Hitchin school is full of good deeds both at home and in Africa

Wilshere Dacre Junior Academy pupils wash police cars on their 'Good Deed Day' (Image: Archant)

Pupils at Wilshere-Dacre Junior Academy, on Fishponds Road, have not only helped to spread community spirit in the town by volunteering to clean up graffiti and brighten the lives of elderly people – along with many other helpful acts – but through the scheme Operation Sunshine also helped African children by donating old uniforms to children in Zambia.

Head Sarah Smith said: “I am so proud of all our pupils for the way they helped our community on our ‘Good Deed Day’ on Friday.

“They helped clean up 25 foot of graffiti, and clear rubbish in an alleyway near Benslow Rise. We also visited an African Carribbean seniors and careers luncheon club at Bancroft Hall, and took cakes we baked to Westbourne Residential Care Home on Bedford Road.

“The feedback we had from the elderly people there was great. Our pupils sang popular songs such as: ‘It’s a Long Way to Tipperary’ which the audience loved. A 91 one-year-old resident at the home actually said: ‘Thank you for making our young lives feel good!’

Pupils in Zambia have benefited from Wilshere Dacre Junior Academy donating their old uniforms to them. (Image: Archant)

“We also did a litter pick at Ransoms Recreation Ground ahead of the Triangle Community Garden open day – and they said they were very impressed with the enthusiasm and attitude of our pupils.

“Our pupils also washed police cars, and popped in to York Road Nursery to read to the little ones there.

“I’d also like to say a big thanks to one of our teachers, Tessa Alexander, for all her hard work in organising our ‘Good Deed Day’.”

Teacher Tessa Alexander added: “The children did brilliantly. The idea was for them to undertake selfless deeds that would help our community.

Pupils in Zambia have benefited from Wilshere Dacre Junior Academy donating their old uniforms to them. (Image: Archant)

Year Five pupil Eleanor Street, 8, who was one of the pupils who sang to the elderly said: “The old people were really nice and it’s good to help people in our community and in Africa.”

Executive head Philip Gray said: “It was an amazing day as our children transformed so many areas of our community. It was a proud day.”

The school, through Operation Sunshine, also donated their old uniforms to a number of schools in Zambia.

Sarah added: “The Zambian children are absolutely delighted with their uniforms. We have a Hitchin lady Sue Delaney to thank for the idea.

“The schools are based in very poor areas but our pupils sent the Zambian children letters telling them about Wilshere-Dacre, and what it’s like to live in Hitchin, so there may be a few ‘pen pal’ friendships formed.

“One of the Zambian teachers we heard from was overjoyed with our donation to her community school – she said our uniforms were ‘peppered about’ Zambia!”