The group made more than 500 eggs for the 100-plus students in kindergarten, transitional kindergarten and preschool. The kindergarten and TK students searched for eggs on Wednesday, with preschoolers getting their chance next Tuesday.

“I love the fact that the fifth-graders wanted to do this,” said St. Edmond teacher Rita Anderson. “It was a really proud moment as a teacher and parent, to read through all the great ideas initially, having the follow-up discussions and to see the excitement building.

“We have very generous and thoughtful students and families who have been willing to help as well. We have so many great things happening and sometimes that is hard to see with all the negativity around us constantly in the world and in the news. This was a good reminder that there is good and sometimes it’s the easiest and simplest things that matter.”

Anderson offered up many different ideas for the service project, but in the end, it was the Easter egg hunt that won out.

-Submitted photo
St. Edmond kindergarten and transitional kindergarten students prepare to recover eggs during an event held this past week. The eggs were put together by fifth-grade students.

“Stewardship is an important part of our Catholic formation at St. Edmond, so with the start of the Lenten season, I had asked them what sort of service project they would like to do,” Anderson said. “They were most excited about doing this for our littlest Gaels.”

After figuring out just how many eggs would be needed to provide five for each student, Anderson asked for help. She had plenty of responses back.

“Many students said they had Easter eggs at home from their own hunts and we could reuse them,” she said. “The next class day, I had already received over 200. Then our parent-teacher connection heard we were doing this and they donated extra candy from the carnival held a few weeks ago. I purchased the craft bags for the project so they would all be the same.

“Leading up to the hunt, we spent class time decorating the bags, filling, counting and recounting to make sure each child will receive five. Though I have a hunch with all the decorations, students may receive more.”

One of the fifth-grade students, Ella, said “Easter egg hunts are very fun and we are doing a very nice gesture for the preschoolers and kindergarten.”

-Submitted photo
St. Edmond fifth-grade students prepare eggs for an Easter egg hunt for kindergarteners and transitional kindergarteners.

Garrett, another, added, “We hope the Easter egg hunt is fun for everyone.”

As for Jace, he just wanted to see the pure joy on the face of his brother.

“That’s what I’m most excited for,” he said. “Seeing my little brother Axton find the Easter eggs.”

The last names of the students were not released by the school.