mmg.com.au

Shepparton students put big smiles on some small patients’ faces yesterday.

Bourchier St Primary School students made their annual trip to Goulburn Valley Health to deliver toys, presents and cards, and sing Christmas carols for patients in the children’s and rehabilitation wards.

Gallery: See more photos of Bourchier St students making children at GV Health smile

The students, who are part of the school’s K Kids club, spent the morning rehearsing and preparing for the visit.

Year 6 student Emiljano Dajko said his favourite part of the day was visiting the children’s ward to sing carols.

‘‘The kids have been loving it,’’ the 12-year-old said.

‘‘It makes me happy to see the smiles on their faces.’’

Year 4 student Alkeer Yel agreed.

‘‘I feel happy because the little kids are happy,’’ Alkeer said.

Nurse unit manager of paediatric services Linda Riddell said the visit made a world of difference to some of the hospital’s smallest patients at Christmas time.

‘‘It makes the hospital a bit less of a traumatic experience,’’ Ms Riddell said.

‘‘It’s really nice, not just for the patients, but also for the staff.’’

School principal Judy Park said K Kids was a voluntary program for students from Year 4 to 6.

‘‘The K Kids at Bourchier St, through community service, learn about the impact they can make on their communities by giving, caring and sharing,’’ Ms Park said.

‘‘Christmas is certainly a time for giving ... cuddly toys presented by the K Kids to patients will bring some fun and laughter to children in the ward and let them and their families know that other children are thinking of them.’’