A Caring Community
On April 14, 2010 students, teachers, administrators, friends, and families of many of the children gathered at the Manchester School to celebrate the communities of class, school, family, town, state, nation, and world. The gym was filled to capacity with attentive students; their principal congratulated them and proudly acknowledged the many organizations supported by the efforts of the children. Around the perimeter, displays of Community Day projects detailed the impressive results of the 4th and 5th graders’ efforts. From donating funds to the Manchester School playground to raising money and supplies for Haitian earthquake victims, the students, with support from family and friends, worked for many months to make a difference in their communities at every level.
The celebration of community began like each day at the Manchester School, with everyone reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and singing the State of Maine song. Students throughout the building were buzzing with excitement. Visitors strolled about in the vestibule featuring students’ art and awards, waiting for the festivities to begin. At the appointed time, children, teachers, staff and visitors filed into the gym to admire the project stations and take their seats. Shortly thereafter, the culmination of so much hard work took place. Principal Mr. Chris Howell recognized the students by identifying each project and complimenting the children for the fine jobs they did. Then, group by group, as they were called up to the front of the gym by Ms. Cindy Curtis, the children came forward to speak about their various projects of making items to sell, collecting items to redistribute, requesting donations for their chosen cause and charting their achievements. As the spotlight shone on one project group after another, representatives from recipient organizations came forward to receive money and items collected by the students. They also gave thanks for the generosity of the students and everyone who helped them. 2010 marks the third year of Community Day projects at the Manchester School.
The Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals was the chosen charity for several groups of students at the Manchester School. They worked cooperatively to make donation cans and distribute them to area businesses for collecting cash donations. The students also made and sold paper hearts for $1.00 each to raise money for the Society’s animals. Hearts showing the name of the purchaser were on display at the school and around town in area shops. In addition, the children collected new and used towels that will help dry off the horses when they are bathed. Some of the students visited the Society’s River Road farm in South Windham to learn about the once abused animals being rehabilitated at the facility. MSSPA vice president Meris Bickford attended Community Day to receive a generous check for $707.18 from the students and thank them for their help.
Special recognition and thanks go to teachers Mrs. Karen Turpen, Miss Sam Hill, and Mrs. Andrea Lavigne, who with school staff and students’ families, helped the children organize and carry out their plans for making positive change in some fortunate part of their community.