Date: Fri 01-Mar-1996
Date: Fri 01-Mar-1996
Publication: Bee
Author: STEVEB
Quick Words:
schools-St-Rose-pennies
Full Text:
SCHOOLS: Pennies Rain Down on St Rose Fundraiser
B Y S TEVE B IGHAM
Lincoln-faced copper coins have been raining down on St Rose School this year
as part of its "Pennies from Heaven" fundraiser.
The year-long project began in September in the hopes that students could
collect one million pennies ($10,000) by the end of the year to help pay for
various items to outfit the school's $350,000 addition. The 2,600-square-foot
add-on will include a new classroom and a multi-purpose room that will seat 80
students. The groundbreaking is expected this month.
So far, students have piled up more than 138,000 pennies and the figure
continues to soar. The class that collects the most pennies will get a tour of
a flight simulator at LaGuardia International Airport in New York, compliments
of Newtown flight safety instructor Frank LoPiccolo.
The first and fourth grade classes have a big lead over the rest of the school
in the penny collection area, but the lead could change quickly with a major
load of Lincolns.
Though the school still has a long way to go, Principal Donna DeLuca said
she's received calls from St Rose supporters who have offered to match
whatever the students can muster.
Mrs DeLuca explained that the project also teaches the St Rose students the
idea of ownership and the responsibility they have for caring for community
property.
"They're working for the betterment of all," she explained. "It also gives
them the ability to see how much a million is and how hard you have to work
toward something."
Classes are using the project when studying math and have read the writings of
Newtown author Stephen Kellogg on the subject of a million.
Mrs DeLuca said a million pennies will fill an estimated 400 six gallon water
coolers.
A Brinks truck is scheduled to pull up to the St Rose School front door to
pick up the money in June.