WHILE having no homework might seem like a dream come true for schoolchildren, Catherine McAuley Catholic Primary School students are paying for the privilege.
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During the annual Mission Week, students are being fined for having fun and going without food to raise money for charity.
Catherine McAuley religious education co-odinator Robyn Petty said students not only donate money to better impoverished situations, but also learn by living in the same conditions.
Students went without recess on Wednesday, in a program called deny to donate, and donated non-perishable items that they would’ve eaten that’ll be donated to St Vincent de Paul.
“It’s so the students experience the pangs of hunger that people in poor countries would experience,” Ms Petty said.
Students were fined $1 each to go without homework for the week and then to dress up in crazy hats and sunglasses at school on Friday.
A fun day was held on Thursday, where students buddied up with ones from a different class to host a fete-like event.
To participate or buy something at each different stall, they had to pay 20 cents.
Once the money is totalled and banked it will be donated to Catholic missions where the target this year is Madagascar.
Ms Petty said the students aim to raise about $2000.
“The kids just absolutely love it,” she said.
ashlea.pritchard@fairfaxmedia.com.au