Check It Out! |
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| Francis Elementary School - Ada, OK |
When administration and staff at Francis Elementary School decided to join the PeaceBuilders Collect Pennies for Peace™ campaign, they did a very wise thing: they resolved to make it fun for students.
That's not to say that students at this exceptional PeaceBuilders school didn't learn a lot about the importance of community service, or about personal sacrifice, or even about geography and social studies. They learned important lessons relevant to all those topics. But they were also given the gift of enjoying the process. They learned that helping others and giving can be fun.
To collect donations, an unconventional receptacle was brought in and set up just outside the main office.
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Bayleigh Countryman drops her coins into the bright red claw-foot bathtub. During the campaign, she brought in numerous baggies full of coins to add to the collection.
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Students were inspired to raise money with special incentives from Counselor Tresa Euper and Principal Robert Gregory: if they collectively raised $200 by March 31st, Mr. Gregory would dress up like a hippie; if they raised $300 by that date, Ms. Euper would also dress up...in western wear; and if they raised $400 they would get to have a school-wide Peace Party celebration.
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Due to the students' determined efforts, Mr. Gregory happily paid the price...
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But the children didn't stop at their minimum goal. They kept going and gave us all the pleasure of seeing Ms. Euper in a beautiful square dancing dress.
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In fact, the students and staff at Francis all got into the fun and dressed up like hippies to celebrate their triumph.
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Hippie Principal Gregory poses with Hippie Assistant Librarian Shawna Brecheen.
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Parker, Seth and Carson have fun playing the part.
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Special Education Assistant Vickie Scott and Preschool Assistant Mandy Claxton put on the tie-dye to celebrate reaching their goal.
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And you won't be surprised to learn that this fun-loving, charitable PeaceBuilders school didn't stop at their median goal either. They kept going, not just to procure their celebration, but because they were inspired to raise as much as they could for children on the other side of the world, in Afghanistan and Pakistan, so that they could go to school and get an education that will help liberate them from poverty.
They will be holding their Peace Party on May 20th. It will include fun games and events; and to top it off they will read Listen to the Wind, a book by the founder of Pennies for Peace, Greg Mortenson.
What is most impressive about the participation of Francis Elementary is how quick the student body was to rally in support of unknown children, who, without their help, would lack the chance of an education and a better life. The students at Francis Elementary are an amazing group--a force for peace.
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