Animal Club members enjoying a movie afternoon at Clifton Hills Primary School

On Friday 30^th of March, after school, Clifton Hills Animal Club had their first movie afternoon for 2007.  The purpose for the movie afternoon was to raise food and supplies for the Animal Protection Society on Talbot road in Gosnells.

We decided to watch an animal related movie called ‘Doctor Dolittle’.  It was really funny and we really liked how Doctor Dolittle helped the animals!!!! It would be good to be able to talk to animals too!

To come to the movie afternoon you had to be an Animal Club member and you had to bring some food or other item off the ‘APS Wish List’. We collected a lot of really good items for the Animal Protection Society and they will really help the animals.

We are starting to raise money for the Diamond Creek Donkey Shelter. We are going to sell baths, paint t-shirts and one of the mum’s is going to bake some biscuits for the donkeys too!  Written by Nicole 3/4C

The 'Heads and Tails' Animal Club would like to ask the Donvale community to donate a small animal related prize.  For example a new calendar, a poster, a book or animal playing cards would be fantastic. You can be as creative as you like. We would really appreciate new items, or items in very good condition.  Once we have made up the basket, or baskets, we will sell tickets and donate the money to buy lots of scrumptious donkey food. There are going to be many activities to help the donkeys this year, supported by a few marvellous and caring parents. So look out for how you can help in the future.  If we raise enough money to help the donkeys, one of them will even come to school to meet the whole Donvale community!  Thanks for your support everyone.  Happy animal caring!

I am very excited to be here again to tell you about the second year of our Animal Club. We are of to a flying start this year, as you know, by proudly participating in the art workshop and awards events in Sydney<.  This was a very exciting moment for our entire school and community and we are very proud of receiving the runners up award for the ‘Humane School Prize Award’.

For the year 2007 we have extended our membership to include Year 2 and Year 6 students and we have currently have 80 students who have signed up for membership.  We are also very fortunate to have two additional staff members, Year 4 teacher, Ms. Rachel Della Franca and Educational Assistant, Ms. Julianne Stoaks who are extremely committed to the task of helping our animal friends and have joined the leadership team of our club.

Our club’s first meeting was held on the 14^th of February and we had 40 students in attendance.  At this meeting, we covered house keeping objectives, such as, parental permission forms and membership contracts, and we discussed the direction and objectives of our club for the 2007 year.

Our club’s second meeting was held on the 21^st February and was coordinated and conducted by Ms. Rachel Della Franca and Ms. Julianne Stoaks.  Again this meeting covered house keeping objectives and students were introduced to the RSPCA’s ‘Paws for a Cause’ fundraising activity that the club would be supporting by selling merchandise, such as, wrist bands, paw pins etc… during recess and lunch breaks.

This activity was the first ‘whole school’ activity to be organised and run by our club and it has proved to be a worthwhile and well supported activity, with the animal club members selling all the items provided in the first week and ordering more merchandise boxes to meet the consumer demand at the school.

As well as this, to further assist the RSPCA and involve the whole school and community in our club’s mission, our club organised a RSPCA collection tin to be located in the administration office of the school for community donations to be made to the RSPCA.

Starting in March 2007, Meggs, our school raised dog, has been helping us to learn about care for animals and to learn appropriate responses to animals.  We have also discussed animal cruelty. 

Animal Club member Sean reading to Meggs the dog

Animal Club, in conjunction with the School's Parents & Friends' Association, organised a  Family/Pet/Picnic Day at Centennial Park on Sunday 18 February.  Parents and their children brought their pets along (including a mouse!) and picnicked in Lachlan Reserve.  Monika's Doggie Rescues, Randwick Vet Hospital and Natalie Watson, a professional dog trainer, brought their expertise and advised parents on different aspects of pet care and responsibilities.  Free health checks were performed with lots of free samples being distributed.