Such is the case of the Long Beach School District on the Mississippi coast, just west of Gulfport and Biloxi, and just east of the Louisiana border, which suffered extensive damage from the 180 mph winds and 35-foot storm surge of Hurricane Katrina in August.
Through the Mississippi School Boards Association's "Hurricane Katrina Adopt-a-School" Effort, the Valley Stream High School District has partnered with the Long Beach School District and is creatively raising funds for the cause.
North High School raises $2,800
Valley Stream North High School, under the leadership of Student Activities Co-Directors Walter Bachman and Alisa Testa, sponsored a "Lunch Time Walk-a-thon." Students signed up with their social studies teachers and collected sponsors. Then on Nov.23, they walked laps around the track at lunchtime, improving their own physical fitness in the process. Altogether they raised $2,300 for the cause.
The Long Beach School District received the check in early December. "We appreciate everything you are doing!," wrote the district administrator.
At North, the Senior High Student Council, led by president Matthew Young and faculty advisor Karen Ehrlich raised an additional $500 through spare change collections. They will soon be forwarding their funds to Mississippi.
South and Memorial still collecting
Still in the process of collecting funds for Mississippi are South High School and Memorial Junior High. In one creative project at Memorial, led by library director Joan Mahoney, students are "Reading for Relief." Staff members have pledged approximately $1,000 so far and will donate a dollar for every out-of-class book read by a Memorial student. Various clubs have also sold bracelets or spirit items to donate to the cause.
At South High, the drive is being coordinated by Character Education committee head Patricia Antonelli. After-school bake sales are being held two-to-three times a week, and a large benefit is being planned for March 11, during South's 50th anniversary celebration.
Would a community group like to help?
Any community organization wishing to help may send a check made out to the "Long Beach, Mississippi, School District," indicating it's for hurricane relief, or a gift card from Office Max, Wal-mart, Sam's Club, or Dick Blick Art Company, where supplies can be purchased by the school district. The donations may be mailed to Bethany Spayde, District Administrator, Long Beach School District, Administration Building, 19148 Commission Road, Long Beach, Mississippi 39560.
