Donated stationery helps kids get the right start at school

Orange Public School Captains Flynn Keegan and Georgia Clunas were on hand to collect the donated stationary on Tuesday. Pictured with OPS Deputy Principal Ngaire Oliver and Trina Graham from Jenny’s Classroom and Toys2.

Parents of Orange Public School students have donated hundreds of dollars’ worth of stationary items to make sure all kids have the best start to the school year.

For many families, the annual back to school shopping list can really stretch the budget. But thanks to an easy donation program run through Jenny’s Classroom and Toy2 for Orange Public School, students won’t go without.

“It was a parent from the school, originally, who decided to put an idea forward for people to donate stationary,” said Trina Graham from Jenny’s Classroom.

“And it wasn't only to OPS it was to all schools in the Orange area and she would go around with a group of people and they would collect from Officeworks and wherever they could.”

Each year, Jenny’s Classroom prepare the book lists for Orange Public School parents and on the order form add an extra column for donations.

“So they then buy their own kids’ resources and tick a box to donate to the school,” said Trina.

“We got a brilliant response this year. It has probably been the biggest year for quite a long time. Just an amazing response, people have been very generous. And at Jenny's Classroom we add our donation as well, because we really appreciate the support that OPS gives our business and so we like to add to the pile.”

“It makes an enormous difference for some students,” said OPS Deputy Principal Ngaire Oliver. “It can cause incredible anxiety if they are coming to school and haven't got what they need.

“So we keep this donated equipment and we are able to give it to students who need it so everyone is on a level playing field to start the year — and supplement as things go on through the year.”