The Chairman of Anglesey County Council is encouraging children to celebrate St David’s Day through kindness.
The Nation will remember its patron saint and celebrate Welsh culture on Friday, March 1st. Councillor Dylan Rees has asked children across the Island to remember the words of St David (or Dewi Sant in Welsh) – ‘do the small things’ by demonstrating acts of kindness.
Cllr Rees, who is also Chairman of the Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE), has written to head teachers on the Island asking them to promote his idea.
He explained, “My hope is that children remember Dewi Sant in a worthwhile way, by carrying out acts of kindness, as he did. This could range from feeding the birds to picking litter, writing a ‘get well soon’ card or just asking a friend over to play. There are countless ways people can show kindness and sure that children will enjoy being creative while thinking about their own small acts of kindness.”
“Of course, at the end of the day, it’s not the act itself that’s important, but encouraging our children to think about others and to become caring members of their local communities.”
As St David’s Day will be during half term this year, Cllr Rees has asked schools to think about our patron saint before or after their week’s holiday.
Cllr Rees added, “This could even be a short homework piece that the children could do on March 1st and then tell their classmates all about their own act of kindness when back in school. I hope that this idea really inspires Anglesey’s schools and I look forward to hearing stories of how the children celebrated St David’s Day this year.”
Rhys Roberts, head teacher at Ysgol Gymuned Bodffordd, has welcomed the idea.
He said, “It’s important that the ethos of ‘do the small things’ is shared with everyone. St David’s Day and those days around March 1st are amongst some of the most important for schools. It’s an opportunity to celebrate our Welsh identity, promote and strengthen Welsh culture and take pride in the language; whilst also celebrating the history of our patron saint and reminding children of all ages about his messages.”
Ends 22.2.19
Notes for Editors:
St David was born on the south west coast of Wales, near the present day city of Saint David. The son of aristocrats, he became a missionary, travelling through Wales, England and Brittany to spread Christianity.
He founded a monastery where St Davids stands in Pembrokeshire today. He died in 589AD and was buried in the grounds of his own monastery. He became the patron saint of Wales during the 12th century.