Students raising funds to help children affected by Haitian earthquake
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february 2, 2010
Schuylerville Central School District students are once again showing their caring spirit by raising funds to donate to UNICEF in order to help children affected by the recent earthquake in Haiti.
At the Jr.-Sr. High School, students in each grade level are competing against each other in a "Penny War," by collecting change during lunch periods during the week of February 1, 2010. The grade level collecting the most money will receive a pizza party. The fundraiser comes with a twist—the value of any bills (a one-dollar bill, a five-dollar bill, for example) is deducted from a grade level's total (the funds are still donated to UNICEF, though). This twist encourages people to donate bills to other grade levels, while students from the grade level receiving the bill are encouraged to make up the difference in donations of pennies, nickles, dimes and quarters. The totals will be announced at a pep rally on Friday, February 5.
At the Elementary School, participating students are giving up television and videogames for one week beginning February 8 in exchange for sponsor donations. This fundraising effort is being organized by Casey Anderson, a computer teacher. [more information/permission form]
"We realize that it will be a challenge for kids to give up something they really enjoy. But they seem excited to help. They like the idea of kids helping kids," Anderson said.
She has used earthquake images and videos to help students in upper grades understand the impact the natural disaster has had on children. "These children have no homes, no schools to go to and they're waiting in line for food. The Schuylerville students really feel for them," she said.
Anderson is encouraging students to use the time they might typically devote to television or videogames for reading, exercise or outdoor play. A few of the students will be attending the Jr.-Sr. High School pep rally to talk about their plans...and to encourage older students to help their younger siblings reach their fundraising goals.
"I'm hoping as a district we'll be able to donate even more than we did for the Hurricane Katrina fundraiser, which was around $7,000," Anderson commented.
