Just had to share the overwhelmingly fantastic series of events that has happened at the school where I teach. We returned to school on January 3rd, after our holiday break. I returned with a heavy heart because of all the horror I had witnessed on television, chronicling the tsunami disaster. I knew most people in my area could not afford to donate to relief efforts in any large amount, but many were looking for some way to reach out to all those affected by such a terrifying and destructive event.
For our school, I organized a Read-a-Thon to raise money for UNICEF. The students could read (something they desperately need to practice) and have friends and family pledge a small amount per book or chapter toward our fund raising efforts. Several teachers, including myself, signed up with pledges for all the students in their class- some even for every child in the school! The area where I teach is not the most economically sound, but many of the students participated, and … Wow! Just Wow! I counted the first group of pledges turned in tonight, and it was almost 700.00. I’m so proud of these kids I could burst.
We chose UNICEF because they concentrate their efforts on children. The children at my school thought UNICEF was the right choice because they wanted the kids on the other side of the world know that kids here cared about them. So, to the 352 kindergarten through fifth grade students at my school: You rock, and I am so proud of what you’ve done!
I’ll update with a final total, but I was so excited that I had to share with someone, and I won’t see my principal until tomorrow morning.