Hats for Haiti

In conjunction with the Rockville Centre Teachers Association, South Side Middle School staffers and students helped coordinate a “Hats for Haiti Day” on Jan. 22.

The school has a "no hat" rule that was suspended for the day. Teachers created and hung signs promoting a $2 donation for students and staff members for a "license" to wear a hat. In preparation for the big day, seventh grade Social Studies teacher Jane Beller began the week by explaining the upcoming event and the aftermath of such an enormous earthquake, which was then followed up with morning announcements discussing the plight of the people of Haiti.

More than $1,200 was raised in one day for the Haitian relief fund. The donation was deposited at the Astoria Federal Savings Bank in South Huntington. The bank matched the donation. The funds will be given to the Red Cross to help the people caught in this devastating disaster. Other school groups including the school store (which is selling balloons) and 6th grade science teams continue to help raise funds for Haiti.

It was evident to organizers that students and staff at South Side Middle School wanted to make a difference. ”On Monday when I told the student body that I doubled their contribution by giving our money to the American Red Cross via my bank," said Ms. Beller, "a cheer went up in the building.”