Thunder Bay schools show support for Ukraine with blue-and-yellow day

Students at a Thunder Bay elementary school are doing their part to support Ukraine, having raised more than $1,000 that will go toward humanitarian aid in the country as a Russian invasion continues.

Students at St. Paul Elementary School are holding a raffle in support of Ukraine, with prizes that include gift cards and toys, said Donna Pelaia, Grade 2 teacher.

As of Friday, the school had raised more than $1,300, which will go to the Red Cross.

"It's been a huge success," she said Friday. "All the classrooms are talking about what's happening in the Ukraine right now."

"Its a whole community and the family support, like some children, are coming in with a great donation from their family because it's a way for their family, instead of them going online and sending money to Red Cross themselves, they're just doing it through the school."

"I'm very proud of everybody in the school, children, students and staff."

Friday was blue-and-yellow day at Thunder Bay school, with the city's Catholic and public boards encouraging students and staff to dress in those colours to show their support for Ukraine.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine began more than two weeks ago. On Friday, CBC News reported Russia had widened its offensive, targeting airfields while concerns mounted over a column of Russian armoured vehicles located near the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.

The events in Ukraine have been much-discussed by students and teachers at St. Paul.

"The kids, they have wonderful questions to share," Pelaia said, adding the discussions are "focusing more on how we can spread the peace instead of the negative part, and the scary part, of war."

"We're trying to stay positive and spread that it's a time to try and encourage peace in the world."

St. Paul principal Andrew Coggin said it's important to discuss such issues with students.

"Staff usually approach me and say, 'you know, how can we include this in curriculum or is this a good idea,'" he said. "We kind of come together as a group with it, whether it be in a staff meeting or informally during a break or nutrition break, and just kind of look at what is the best way to approach these subjects with kids."

"I find the staff is very creative here," he said. "They're very knowledgeable. Students, you would be shocked at how much they know when things about war do come up, just with social media out there, talk in the household."