Students collect coins for Haiti

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

— Elementary and Middle School gifted and talented students are sponsoring a coin drive, titled “Have a Heart for Haiti,” to raise money for earthquake victims.

Elementary school students have set a goal to raise $1,000 and middle school students have set a goal to raise $500, by collecting change, according to gifted and talented teacher Andrea VanSandt.

During Monday’s elementary school assembly, gifted and talented students gave a presentationabout Haiti, each taking a turn reading facts about the country. The Caribbean country is just 750 miles from Florida, and only 75 percent of children get to go to school. Even though the children are very poor, they play many of the same games children in the United States like to play, such as soccer, hide and seek and flying kites.

“We’ve learned that even though these kids live in a different country a long ways away, they’re still very much the same as us,” VanSandt said.

After the January earthquake, there are lots of kids in Haiti that need help with things like food,medical supplies and temporary homes, the students explained.

“Even though you guys are just kids, there are still ways you can help the people in Haiti get the things they need,” VanSandt said.

Elementary school students will be competing, boys against girls, to raise the most money. The group that raises the most money will win an ice cream Sunday party. They will be tallying the money at the end of each day.

Community members can participate by helping a student collect change, or can they can stop by the school office to make a donation, VanSandt said.

School News, Pages 10 on 02/10/2010