FOCUS IN

Ceramic pins created to raise funds for the Canadian Red Cross Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal.

Aimée Bulloch Moore

When I received a phone call from a community member who recalled the Gravenhurst High School Remembrance Day ceramic poppy fundraiser I organize each year, I was touched. The woman recollected our Poppy Project, where students make ceramic poppy pins in remembrance of those who died in World War I, raising money for the local legions. The community member explained she was of Ukrainian descent and thought a similar fundraiser for Ukraine would bring people together. I agreed.

 Students were excited by the idea of making pins for Ukraine because they all knew about the war. Students had asked me: “Mrs. Bulloch, is World War III approaching?” It’s been daunting for students who see and hear about it on their social media platforms.

Ceramic Pins
I knew we had to do something to provide support to Ukraine as the Russian invasion of the country continued. So, with forty-five ceramic arts students and four lunchtime volunteers, we created ceramic pins of the Ukrainian flag as well as sunflowers, the country’s national flower. Students outside of our classes have gotten involved, too, creating pins during lunchtime and receiving volunteer hours for their contributions. In addition to the pins, students have made vases, soap dishes, and jewelry dishes.

Students outside of our classes have gotten involved, too, creating pins during their lunches and receiving volunteer hours for their contributions.

The group has learned a lot from our original poppy fundraiser. We’ve improved the production for this initiative with stronger pin glue, along with making a more consistent and professional product. (The blue and yellow paints present a challenge in glazing because these colors create green if mixed together.) Between 700 and 900 pins have been made so far, with supplies paid for by our school’s art department. The flag pins were available for $10 and the sunflower pins for $15. All the money raised has gone toward the Canadian Red Cross Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal.

Pins for The Poppy Project, Gravenhurst High Schoolʼs fundraiser for local veterans.

The Poppy Project
The inspiration for our Ukraine pins came from our three-year initiative, The Poppy Project. It has become so popular at my school that there have been more orders placed than poppies made. Why poppies? The poppy is the enduring symbol of remembrance for those who died in World War I. 

While the art classes lead the project, all students can contribute since I distribute individual poppy kits for those who want to paint their own. During the pandemic, I wasn’t allowed to go into different classrooms to teach the activity, so I made a little trolley with individual kits. Students could go to the art room during their lunchtime to glaze the poppies and get the community service hours they needed to graduate. They could also access a YouTube video I made to demonstrate the process.

So far, more than 800 poppies have been made. While more are currently in production, I have students make them year-round as part of their coursework to add to the supply. An important part of the project is educating students about the history of the poppy and its significance. We learn about war and Remembrance Day, and we talk about honoring the poppy because it’s something the legion takes pride in, so we try not to alter the appearance in any way.

Aimée Bulloch Moore is an art teacher at Gravenhurst High School in Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada. aimee.bulloch@tldsb.on.ca