Bowling Green helps families

A group of fifth-grade students at Bowling Green Elementary School recently participated in “Hope for the Holidays.” They worked cooperatively to raise funds to help purchase gifts and food for families in their own community. 

Students organized “Jeans for Joy,” in which each staff member donated one dollar and was allowed to wear jeans on Fridays from the Thanksgiving break through the December break. Staff members also contributed additional money to help make a difference. 

In addition, the students planned and organized a special day for the entire school. They brainstormed several ideas for a schoolwide fundraiser by working in groups on persuasive writing pieces and presented them to Principal Maria Ciarametaro and Assistant Principal Frank Lukasik for approval. Ciarametaro and Lukasik selected the piece entitled “Inside Out, Mix and Match Day.” 

The students, who donated one dollar to participate, came to school wearing their clothes inside out and backwards. Some students wore two different shoes and socks. It was a great day, and over $650 was raised.

Prior to shopping for gifts for the families in need, the students put their math skills to the test. They were responsible for keeping a “checkbook” and learned about deposits, withdrawals, and how to budget their money. The students also had to estimate money and decide how much they could spend. Once their budgets were finalized, the shopping began. 

The students and teachers met as a group at Toys “R” Us to shop for the 47 gifts needed this year for families in need in the Bowling Green community. The students brought the gifts back to school, wrapped them, and prepared them for delivery. They also wrote a special holiday message to each family. The bags were then delivered to the homes by Bowling Green’s social worker, Steven Sacks. 

This dedicated group of fifth graders raised a total of $1,400 through “Inside Out, Mix and Match Day,” “Jeans for Joy,” and staff donations. They learned valuable academic and life lessons along the way, and they made a difference.