By Staff
Tracy B. Cieniewicz, Hartselle Enquirer
F.E. Burleson Elementary School students chose a charitable means to celebrate their 100th day of school.
The "Helping Hands for Hundred's Day" campaign was initiated by first grade students and challenged the entire school to join in raising $100 per grade level by the 100th day of school to be donated to tsunami relief efforts.
The school accepted and surpassed the challenge by raising $1,650 for the project.
"We are so proud of the students," first grade teacher Kim Peck said. "Enthusiasm spread quickly. Every grade level participated and we had glowing reports of students bringing in piggy banks, allowance or savings money, offering to make things to sell, going beyond the challenge. It was a total school effort."
Peck said teachers and staff incorporated many course of study objectives to coincide with the project. Students advertised with signs, gave oral speeches, collected money from staff members, and helped spread enthusiasm. The Hartselle Post Office also helped with the project by converting all of the change collected by students to bills, a contribution teachers said was greatly appreciated.
"Our goal was to work towards having full school participation in meeting the challenge to benefit those in need," Peck explained. "We wanted our students to be able to think beyond themselves and realize that by working and pulling together and exhibiting acts of compassion and giving, we can make a difference in the world."
And while the 100th day of school was still celebrated traditionally with counting, writing, reading, painting and eating 100 things, Peck said she hopes this year's event will be as memorable for the students as it has been for the teachers and staff of F.E. Burleson.
"We hope to have gone a step beyond," Peck said. "We have celebrated our blessings by offering a helping hand."