Heart-to-Heart is over!  Congratulations to Lakeside’s top ten individual fundraisers: Kate C., Pete C., Kate D., Alec D., Benjamin K., Emily M., Nicholas M., Elizabeth M., Andrew W., and Simeon W.

The top three classes this year were Mr. Pullen’s, Miss Smith’s, and Mrs. Rabideau’s.  Congratulations to all of those students as well!

Finally, and most important of all, $1,125.00 was donated each to The Red Cross and to the Humane Society, and $1,000.00 was donated for the scholarship.

Sometime tomorrow, February 11th, parents will be coming around from classroom to classroom to collect the Heart-to-Heart money you’ve worked so hard to raise!  If you forget to bring your money in tomorrow, be sure to bring it in on Tuesday at the latest to make sure that it gets included with your classroom total before Friday’s assembly.

On Friday, the moment we’ve all been waiting for will arrive: We will have an assembly where the Heart-to-Heart coordinators announce how much money we have raised this year.  Do you think we’ll beat the $3673.64 we raised last year?

Today’s spotlight shines on third-grader Lexxi M., who writes, ”I am earning money for heart to heart by doing extra chores around the house.  I’m taking care of my brothers, cleaning the house and doing any other chores I am asked to do.  I am doing these things because my mom broke her leg and needs help.  So, I am helping her and helping our heart to heart charities.”

Way to go, Lexxi!  Thanks for doing your part to make a difference.

As we work so hard during Heart-to-Heart to raise money for charity, sometimes we need to take a moment to remember that showing kindness isn’t something we only do when we’re planning on getting paid.  You can make a difference throughout the year by doing things to help others.  Whether that means cleaning the dishes for your family or playing with someone who looks lonely on the playground, the little kindnesses you show to others really do matter.

What kind thing can you do today without earning any money for it?

Here’s yet another good idea: this time, third-grader Nada A. was willing to help out her sibling for a donation to Heart-to-Heart.  In her own words, “I helped my brother move snow to build a big huge fort in our front yard.  The snow was very heavy but I did it!  All for Heart-to-Heart!  I want to help the Red Cross help the people whose houses burned down.”

Thanks, Nada!  Send your tale to mpullen@egrps.org to be profiled next!

As you can see from the flier above, siblings Kate C. and Pete C., in third grade and first grade respectively, are collecting pop cans this Sunday to raise money for Heart-to-Heart!  Great job to both of you, and maybe this idea will lead others to try something similar.

Keep the ideas coming to mpullen@egrps.org!

Third-grader Grace B. has some cool plans to raise money for Heart-to-Heart, so I’ll let her tell you about it in her own words:

“I am doing a bake sale at my Dad’s work to earn money for heart to heart. I have not done it yet, but I’m very excited to do it! I am going to sell tons of yummy goodies  for 50 cents each. I know my Mom and I are pretty good chefs, and I hope my customers think so, too!”

Great job, Grace!

Keep those stories coming — send them to mpullen@egrps.org to see your great ideas announced on this blog.

Second grader Elizabeth M. is the focus of our next student spotlight.  During last year’s Heart-to-Heart competition, she raised money by cooking some tasty treats and then having a bake sale!  This year, Elizabeth is planning to do something like this again. 

Click here to view the flier that she created to help sell those tasty treats last year.  Seeing her work just might inspire you to come up with your own new Heart-to-Heart idea for this year.

Great work, Elizabeth!

Second grader Molly F. receives a weekly allowance for doing chores around the house that her parents expect her to do, like setting and clearing the table, putting away her laundry, unloading the silverware from the dishwasher, and feeding the dogs.  Molly divides her allowance among three boxes: a Share Box, a Save Box, and a Spend Box.  Molly then decides who she wants to give her money to (usually an organization that provides for children who are less fortunate), what she wants to save her money for (right now she’s saving for a Wii) and how she wants to spend her money when her family is out shopping (usually for something her Mom and Dad won’t buy).

During Heart-to-Heart, Molly has chosen to donate to Heart-to-Heart from her Share Box.  Thank you, Molly, for reminding us to be giving all the time, not just during Heart-to-Heart!

Whose story will be next?  Email yours to mpullen@egrps.org today!

As you know, one of this year’s Heart-to-Heart charities is the Humane Society.  But did you know that our very own principal, Mrs. Kehm, has adopted three cats from the Humane Society?  Here’s her story:

“Tipper, Magglio, and Pudge were adopted from the Humane Society shelter.  These beautiful cats are a joyful addition to our family! Tipper is a sassy tabby with a white tip on her tail.  Magglio is a white cat with a tiger tail and her brother Pudge looks like he is ready for a sunny Tiger baseball daytime game with his black grease paint around his eyes.  Like the perfect Tiger fan he is, he is suited up in a Tiger uniform.  Adopt a pet today!”