The students came together to make 3,500 Christmas cards to send to our troops who are unable to make it home to share the season with their families.

The cards were mailed to military headquarters in Belleville, Ont., Dec. 4 and from there they have been shipped to various locations around the world where Canadian troops are stationed.

“Christmas is a time when you want to be surrounded by love and family,” said Kim Coluzzi, vice-principal at the all-girls Catholic school.  “For the Canadian troops overseas this must be a very difficult time and although we can’t all understand, we can empathize and help support in any way possible.”

Coluzzi notes that our military go above and beyond and are “always putting themselves in harm’s way to ensure we can spend the holidays with our families.”

This gesture was a way of sharing the Christmas spirit with them. The project was spearheaded by teacher Ashley Gattoni.

“We were truly overwhelmed by the amount of cards students were making,” said Gattoni. “The beautiful and thoughtful messages and warm wishes they included for the Canadian Forces truly demonstrates what wonderful and caring students we have at Marymount.”

In the photo above right, taken by Coluzzi, students Stephanie St-Jean, left and Kaitlyn Trottier, along with school mascot Aurora, prepare to send the cards.