| HeraldNet - Snohomish County's online news source |
 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2010 5:17 pm |
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Local News 
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Mukilteo kids’ cards help Haitians Students are on track to raise at least $1,000 for earthquake relief and medical efforts MUKILTEO — When students at Serene Lake Elementary School saw news about the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti, they wanted to help.This week, the school’s 531 kindergarten though fifth-grade students are putting the finishing touches on 1,000 handmade postcards they’ve been selling for $1 since Jan. 26. The cards will be sent to doctors who are doing work in Haiti through the international relief organization Doctors Without Borders. Through Monday, students sold 667 cards during lunch. “I think they’ll easily surpass the $1,000 and then some,” said Jim Ohlsen, dean of students. The school will mail the cards to the doctors in Haiti on Friday. Proceeds go to the Portland, Ore.-based relief organization Mercy Corps. The school’s 16-member Student Council is selling the cards during first- and second-period lunches and at breakfast to parents, teachers and other students. With help from the PTA, parents received fliers asking for postcard orders. “I like it because it’s really helping Haiti a lot,” said fourth-grade student Garret Pfost, 9, who is on the student council. “Doctors have to go over there with their own money to bring medical supplies.” A fellow student on the council, Anna Svyatelka, 9, agreed. “Some people give money and they say, ‘Keep the change,’ ” she said. “It’s really helpful.” Third-grade teacher Teresa Baker said she hasn’t really had to motivate her students to make the cards. “They’ve been excited that they can help out,” she said. “It’s been a wonderful opportunity for them.” Schoolwide projects such as this are nothing new at Serene Lake Elementary School. Students have collected pennies for the American Red Cross and held food and toy drives. “This is just another opportunity for them to reach out and support children,” Principal Karen Reid said. Julie Bivins, a fifth-grade teacher, said students take cards to work on at home. “These came back from over the weekend,” she said, pointing to a stack of crayon-colored cards, “and I really don’t assign weekend homework.” Her students also are learning about the island nation’s longtime, and often rocky, connection to the United States, she said. “The kids really identify with that,” she said. “They’re at an age where they’re very empathetic; they’re starting to think beyond themselves.” Reid could hardly contain her enthusiasm Monday after hearing from a friend who is a physician working in Haiti. The friend says she wants to receive 150 of the postcards. “We think about educating the whole child, but also we’re telling them to be civic-minded and know that they can contribute to the betterment of society,” she said. “This is just another opportunity for them to reach out and support children.” Oscar Halpert: 425-339-3429, ohalpert@heraldnet.com. |
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