Date: Fri 23-Feb-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Push-Cart-Day-Sandy-Hook

Full Text:

with photo : A Concerted Push For Charity

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

Just like the sidewalks of New York City, the Sandy Hook School cafeteria was

filled with busy vendors pushing their carts and pedaling their wares February

14.

The school's third annual "Push Cart Day" was declared a success as the

school's fifth graders, using their push carts as mobile markets, sold over

$1,000 worth of goods. The money will be donated to charity.

Students paired up to construct the carts out of sturdy cardboard, wood,

construction paper and any other items they could find around the house. Once

their projects were completed, students set up shop, selling a variety of

items, including baked goods, stationary, pencils, erasers, bouncy balls,

baseball cards and various homemade items.

The 47 carts came complete with a price list of items. Prices ranged from 10

cents to 50 cents.

The activity is the brainchild of fifth grade teacher Cathy Mazzariello who

got the carts rolling after her students finished reading "Push Cart Wars," by

Jean Merill, a novel about New York City street vendors and their battle with

truck drivers over traffic.

Mrs Mazzariello said the book is an allegory on wars and shows how people can

work things out by communicating.

"It emphasizes the importance of communication. And it's hilarious. The kids

really find themselves falling over laughing," she explained.

Fifth grade teacher George Stockwell explained that the project got students

to use their math skills as they kept a running expense account with profit

and loss sheets as well as receipts.

Students tried to get back their initial investment, then make a profit. Each

push cart owner signed a contract with the classroom's fair trade

commissioners.

Two years ago, Mrs Mazzariello held the activity just within in her room, but

as word got out about the push carts, everyone wanted to get involved.

"Other fifth graders were so excited by the push carts that we made it a whole

school project," she said.

Her class raised $138 in the first year, and last year, with all four fifth

grade classes involved, $740 was raised.

The Sandy Hook students researched the different charities in town and

selected the ones to give to. Among this year's organizations aided by the

push cart profits are the Newtown Food Panty, the Newtown Fund, Women Involved

in Newtown and the senior center.

Sandy Hook School Principal Ron Vitarelli said the project is an effective

educational tool.

"It's a powerful activity, filled with a great deal of learning and hands-on

experiences. The kids get very actively involved in the spirit of the novel,"

he explained. "They use the idea of the battle between the vendors and the

truckers and get a feel for the small business man. It takes them into the

novel."

Fifth grade student Alex Guiterman felt the project was a good experience.

"It was a lot of fun and we learned a lot. We learned about all the hard work

the push cart workers must do and how they have to stand by their carts at all

times," she said.

Sandy Hook's fifth grade teachers include Mr Stockwell, Mrs Mazzariello, Eric

Myhill and Valerie Pachniuk.