THERE is a special place in a mother’s heart for the trinkets and acts of affection that are bestowed proudly by small children on Mother’s Day.
From pretty soap to a coffee mug brimming with chocolates, reportedly some not making it all the way home to mum, to a pet rock adorned with a green sequined frog bearing the word ‘hope’. These are just some of the gifts that local school children purchase for Mum, Nanna or Grandma at West School’s Mother’s Day stall.
At the helm of the Mother’s Day stall operation is Jacinta Lyons, a mum of four, who has guided West students in selecting their priceless purchases for over seven years. Mum to Christie, Year six, Steph, Year 4, and high-schoolers Ben and Mitch, Jacinta is perfectly attuned to her little shoppers and their spending habits.
“Our stall is a mix of bought goods, crafted goods and parent donations, but the thinking has always been that gifts need to be especially from a kid’s point of view,” she said.
“Children can purchase items from 50 cents to five dollars generally, with a few more expensive items available for those with a bigger allowance.”
The school is fortunate to have a troop of volunteers who thoroughly enjoy pricing up the hundreds of items, setting up the pop-up shop the day before, and being on hand on the Thursday and Friday before Mother’s Day to help children select gifts and ensure savvy shopping.
P&C president Kerri Walters praised Jacinta and her helpers for making little people feel accomplished in selecting and presenting a special gift for their mums or grans.
“They do an amazing job each year. Everything just happens and while the Mother’s Day stall is a team effort, every team needs a captain and Jacinta fills that role beautifully.”
Children and teachers will browse and shop on Thursday and Friday in the multi-purpose room beside the tuckshop, before school and at specific class-allotted times. And dads too get special treatment from the school in September.
