Aurelia Poyner has helped spread kindness and positivity through a unique project at St Brigid’s Primary School in Gisborne.
The nine-year-old’s idea for a student book of positive affirmations and art captured the entire school community’s imagination.
What Aurelia thought would be a small project, quickly grew to include more than 200 student contributions across all year levels.
Aurelia said the project combined her love of art and creativity with uplifting messages to help students feel confident, connected and supported.
“My mum and I would say affirmations in the car to school and I wanted to spread that positivity,” she said.
“So if someone had a bad day, they could just flip through the book and it could make them feel better.”
Each page has its own affirmation and artwork created by the students themselves.
School principal Melanie Daly and teacher Kate Jackson said the project was inspiring and heart-felt.
“It’s nice that all the students got involved and participated. It was a really beautiful project,” Ms Daly said.
“As a school we really like to listen to our students’ ideas and passions and if we can really help them achieve those things: we are on board.”
The project included class conversations about positive affirmations, and how they can be helpful, as well ideas about positive art style to suit the theme.
“We invited everyone to submit an affirmation and artwork that spoke to them and meant something to them,” Ms Jackson said.
“We often say that we’re a small school with a big heart. So this really reflected the school community.”
Macedon Ranges artist Elise Gow generously donated her time and creativity to design the book’s cover.
About 250 copies of the book were produced for its launch attended by families and students last year. It also became a fundraising initiative for the school, with production costs recouped.
Now a copy of St Brigid’s Big Book of Affirmations sits in every classroom, where students open it at random for a daily message of encouragement written by their peers.
