Warren Poole expects a gamut of emotions in his daily life as a principal. Dealing with children does that to you. But last week, nine year old Nadeesha Pallegedera, one of his students at Denistone East public school, gave him that moment in a lifetime.

He told the story to colleagues and it has been e-mailed around the state as they shared it amongst themselves. A fellow principal added, "I hope you read it when your soul needs lifting.''

This is Warren 's story exactly as he told it to his colleagues. It was just before the bell and this fourth grade girl came into the office dragging her school bag. She opened the bag and struggled to lift out a very large tin money box. You know the type of money box, the one that has a $50 dollar note embossed on the side.

She lifted the large money box. onto the counter and pushed it across to me. When I picked it up I had to use two hands to lift it – it was that heavy. When I asked her what the money box was for, she just said, "It's money for the children of the fire."

"How much is in here?'' I asked, "I don't know," she said. "But I have been saving it all my life.'' And then she zipped up her bag, smiled and quietly left the office. This young fourth grade student had just donated her life savings ! Do they come any better?

No-one who reads the story thinks they do. Warren said he was overwhelmed by the moment and Nadeesha disappeared quickly. But when he went to find her she was very demure about being praised for such an amazing gesture.

The amount doesn't matter of course but you might like to know the money box contained $457.53 and two pennies.

Teachers who held it, and many did, said it weighed several kilos. And all were caught by the sentiment when the story was first shared in the Denistone East staffroom.

"There was not a dry eye in the room,'' Warren said. Typical of many public primary schools, about 65 per cent of Denistone East Primary's children are from non-English speaking backgrounds.

Nadeesha was born in Australia, her parents are from Sri Lanka . Also typical of many public primary schools over the past four years student numbers have increased – from 700 to about 800. Hopefully its seven demountables will be replaced by permanent buildings using the Rudd Education Revolution money. A new era indeed.

By the way those two pennies from Nadeesha's money box are now in the principal's top drawer – no doubt set to reappear as the story becomes part of school legend.