Christmas Gifts for TBRHSC’s Tiniest Patients

Crestview Public School’s Grade 3 students learned how some babies born over the Christmas holidays will need specialized care at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) because they are critically ill or were born prematurely. This provided students with an authentic, real-life writing experience and interest in making knitted hats for babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

Students were highly motivated to write “Dear Baby” letters welcoming them and providing them advice on life ahead.

“Through random acts of kindness, paying it forward and giving back to our community, we can teach our young the way to make our world a kinder, safer, and better place to live and grow in,” said Mrs. Helen Hakala, Grade 3 teacher at Crestview Public School.

One student wrote:

“Dear Baby: Welcome to the world. I made a baby hat so you can be warm. You will turn out to be a good boy or girl if you use my advice.

• Listen to your parents.
• Be nice.
• Help your parents.
• Be a good and loyal friend.
• Be respectful all of the time.
• Start a family when you’re older.”

NICU distributed the hats and letters on Christmas morning.