Brentwood student donates to music

Times Reporter

 

Brentwood Elementary student Samantha Walstra and her family are staying active and healthy, while helping out charities and organizations that are important to them. 

Dave Walstra, Samantha’s dad, works at G&S Airport Conveyor, and in an attempt to promote healthy and active lifestyles, the company offers a bonus to everyone who signs up and completes the Scotiabank Marathon in May. 

For everyone who crosses the finish line, they are given $200 to donate to a charity of their choice. This year Samantha and her family chose Brentwood schools music program. 

Samantha, her brother Josh, her dad and her mom Tracy, who is also a teacher assistant at Brentwood, all took part in the marathon, raising $800 for the school. 

“It’s really cool because I really like school, and I have been here for six years. I’ve been here since kindergarten,” said Samantha. 

Music is important to Samantha and after deciding where she wanted her money to go, the rest of her family pooled their money with hers. 

The Town of Strathmore also gave the music program $100 after the kids sang ‘O Canada’ at the Canada Day celebrations. 

Brentwood’s music teacher, Carolyn Steeves, went shopping with the $900. 

Thanks to the money raised and donated to the music program, Steeves was able to buy six new guitars and 10 new guitar cases. 

“This year Grade 5’s are going to be playing guitars and I think for the older students it would be better because there’s not enough guitars for everybody, so I think it would be better to get guitars for them,” said Samantha. 

Last year she had donated her money to Paws, and said she doesn’t know which organization or charity she will pick next year.