Page 4 - Demo

Brevard Schools Giving Back for the Holidays
By: Nicki Hensley, BPS News
The backstage at Manatee Elementary recently resembled Santa’s workshop on Christmas Eve, with big boxes overflowing with toys, wagons brimming with pet food and supplies, and garland-adorned laundry baskets filled with household items -- hundreds of donations collected on behalf of deserving local charities, as part of the school’s 5th Annual “Manatee Gives Back” holiday outreach project. Each year, Manatee selects three local non-
profit organizations to support with a week-long giving campaign. Recipients this year included Friends of Children of Brevard, the Brevard Humane Society and Family Promise. The week culminated in grade-level presentations to representatives from each organization, so students could learn more about them, ask questions, and see the fruits of their collective generosity.
The spirit of giving is in the air and flowing across the district this holiday season. Our BPS schools are raising the bar yet again; this time setting an example through acts of kindness and generosity.
At Fairglen Elementary the Student Government is collecting donations to assemble stockings for first
responders who have to work on Christmas. The stockings include items such as candy and snacks, a gift card, hand sanitizer, and a thank you note from a student. Items are donated by Fairglen families, staff, and members of the school community.
The third graders at
Freedom 7 Elementary
decided to take collective
action and lead a
schoolwide initiative to
sell socks in support of
“We Help Two”, an organization which corrects infants and children born with clubfoot. The goal was to be able to sell at least 100 pairs of socks to help with the surgery and expenses for one child impacted by clubfoot. Through their dedication and commitment to a common goal, students sold more than 200 pairs of socks, providing
two children the opportunity to have corrective surgery and ongoing care. Students even painted shoes for the children.
Also this holiday season, Jackson Middle School administration, staff and teachers provided a holiday dinner celebration for its students living at Devereux, a foster care facility for boys ages 12-18. Each student made a “wish list” of items they wanted for the holidays and each were assigned a Jackson staff member “angel” who made their wishes a reality. The dinner celebration is part of an on-going effort to build relationships with students and to help encourage them to have a positive experience while at Jackson Middle School.
The Eau Gallie High School Guidance Department
hosts an annual anonymous holiday tree to benefit their deserving students and families and offers a holiday store to those same families, to provide them an opportunity to shop, free of charge, for holiday gifts for their loved ones.
Similarly, Cocoa High School’s student government organized its annual Angel Tree, where faculty and staff provided gifts for 31 students and families in need. Students were given gifts of shoes, clothes, gift cards and other items.
PREPARE FOR THE FELE IN 16 MONTHS 100% ONLINE | FALL START DATES | CLASSES START MONTHLY
Mark Kaczmarek | 386-341-8106 | Mark.Kaczmarek@gcu.edu
Learn more at
gcu.edu/bpsnews
For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program and other important information, please visit our website at gcu.edu/disclosures. Please note, not all GCU programs are available in all states and in all learning modalities. Program availability is contingent on student enrollment. Grand Canyon University is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (800-621-7440; http://hlcommission.org/) Important policy information is available in the University Policy Handbook at https://www.gcu.edu/academics/academic-policies.php GCU, while reserving its lawful rights in light of its Christian mission, is committed to maintaining an academic environment that is free from unlawful discrimination. The information printed in this material is accurate as of AUGUST 2018. For the most up-to-date information about admission requirements, tuition, scholarships and more, visit gcu.edu ©2018 Grand Canyon University 18COEE0238