Harvest celebrations at St Michael’s Primary School at Kingsteignton this year, were a ‘double whammy’.

Celebrations included the school’s second annual harvest event, on the Thursday and the whole school virtual Harvest Celebration with St Michael Church and Father Mark , sharing songs and prayers on Friday morning.

On the Thursday the school held a fundraising ‘Fun Day’. Children dressed as animals and brought in food donations for the local HITS Teignbridge Foodbank.

Not only this, parents and carers were invited to donate to the Send a Cow Charity (established in Devon about 30 years ago) via an on-line Just Giving page.

A spokesman for the school said: ‘To add a further incentive to donate on-line people were invited to leave their name to enter a prize draw for a £50 meal voucher donated by Riverford Field Kitchen. Massive Thanks to Riverford Field Kitchen!’

Children learned that Send a Cow began in Devon 30 years ago during the time of the milk surplus and butter mountains.

Local farmers met a visiting VIP from Uganda and realised that the Devon cows would be better used in Africa, and so sent some cows to Uganda by plane.

Nowadays, livestock isn’t transported to Africa, but money and education on sustainable, small scale farming techniques is.

More locally HITS Teignbridge foodbank provides food and other essentials to people in and around Teignbridge who are struggling, and finding themselves in food poverty.

‘We are a Silver Rights Respecting School,’ said Mrs Buff, the United Nations Rights Respecting Lead at St Michael’s, ‘and we have used our “Bring a Can, Send a Cow Day” to focus on three main UN Rights of the Child.

‘To put it briefly; Article 24 - the right to clean water and healthy food: Article 26 – the right to grow up in full safety and security; and Article 31 the right to play and relax.’

‘As a Church School, we have worked with the children’s Ethos Group to bring this about.

‘The Ethos Group includes members of our Board of Governors, or Head of School, and our Rights Respecting Ambassadors, supported by our Rights and Worship Leads.’ said Mrs, Twiggs (RE and Worship Lead).

‘We worked with the children to identify which of our Christian Values were shown through our Harvest Celebrations and came up with Friendship and Compassion as the two to focus on.

‘Last year’s event was such a success, and we all had such fun, that the children wanted to do the same again, but this year they decided that we should all come dressed as animals.

‘We are proud of our Rights Children and always make sure that they know that their voice is heard, and where ever possible acted upon.’ said Mrs Arnold, Head of School.

‘We work hard to provide an environment where children can flourish and develop to their fullest potential, working together, growing together, confident and resilient.’