Elementary students help local families

By Bert Lehman

Students at Parkview Elementary School in New London held a penny challenge in mid-October to raise money for the families of two students.

Brittany Schmidt, student council advisor, said the entire elementary school participated in the week-long challenge. Prior to and after each school day students could put pennies and dollars in money jars that were placed in their classroom. Pennies and dollars increased the amount total.

Students could also place silver change in the jars of other classrooms to deduct from the total amount for that classroom.

“They went crazy for the penny challenge,” Schmidt said. “Every morning it was very hectic around the classrooms’ community jars. They were so excited to especially use their silver to deduct from other classrooms.”

The classroom with the most positive money at the end of the challenge received a pizza party,” Schmidt said.

Proceeds from the challenge were distributed to two families.

The Anna Roberts Benefit Fun received $650. Roberts is a fourth grade student who has neuroblastoma cancer.

The Casey Euhardy Benefit Fund also received $650. Euhardy was severly burned in a work accident, and his son is a student at Parkview.

“For student council we need to think of how we can help our school community and also our community around the school,” Schmidt said. “For our school community we recognized those two families in need and we thought it would be a great way to help out our school community.”

The kindergarten classroom had the highest positive amount at the end of the challenge. The third grade classroom collected the most money.