Contact:
Kelly Misch
Communications Director
Chardon Local Schools
440.286.0409
Chardon Early Learning Center students gather around a table of their classrooms' coin jars the week of Feb. 20,
appearing deep in thought as they compare the volume of coins in each jar. Which classroom will collect the most?
PreK-7 Raises $5.4K for — "No Kid Sleeps on the Floor in Our Town®"
Mission of the OH-Lake/Geauga Chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Inc.
March 2, 2024 (CHARDON, OH) — Chardon Schools Kindness Week 2024, held Feb. 20-23, offered PreK-7 students a schedule of classroom-to-classroom fundraising fun, with Portrait of a Hilltopper traits of Collaboration and Contribution in full swing. Students and their families exemplified generosity-in-action, ultimately collecting a mass sum of nearly $5.4K for the OH-Lake/Geauga Chapter of non-profit Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Inc. in Chardon. Founded on a mission of "No Kid Sleeps on the Floor in Our Town!®", SHP builds bunk beds for children and families in need.
As part of the camaraderie of Kindness Week, Chardon's PK-7 schools also hosted universal spirit days — including Dress as Your Dream Job and Dress as Your Favorite Book — and held kindness challenges, including practicing good manners, reading a book to a sibling, helping a friend with homework, and more.
(l to r) Mrs. Erika Barnett and Miss Marissa Griesmar - photos: Pastor Photography
Elementary school counselor Erika Barnett, who serves the Munson, CELC and Park schools, was the key organizer of the Kindness Week events particularly at those three schools while school social worker Marissa Griesmar oversaw the activities for CMS.
With competitive but friendly classroom-to-classroom zeal, Chardon Middle School and Munson Elementary School each held their SHP in-school coin collections in comfort on pajama Friday, while Chardon Early Learning Center and Park Elementary Hilltoppers ushered in coins all four days of Kindness Week.
Fundraising Success
By week’s end, students and their families far surpassed their schools' fundraising goals with a collective total of about $5,361.30 in pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, half dollars and dollar coins — a whopping 13,041 coins in all!
Mr. Brian Lach,
Sleep in Heavenly Peace OH-Lake/Geauga County chapter president and Sleep in Heavenly Peace logo
SHP OH-Lake/Geauga County chapter president Brian Lach stated in a March 18 email to the schools:
"This is really special and so meaningful to our organization. Please let everyone know how very thankful we are. A lot more kids will be able to get into their own beds complete with frame, mattress, pillow, sheets and comforter - all new. We can't complete our mission that No Kid Sleeps on the Floor in Our Town without the help of our community partners. This response is really amazing."
Bonus Fun"d" Opportunities
To cap off the service project, the two schools that ran their SHP fundraisers for the full week — CELC and Park — also hosted bonus assemblies for students.
Silly String the Principal!
After CELC Tiny Toppers and their families donated a collective sum of $2,103, the school's highest student fundraisers earned the opportunity to "Silly String the Principal", Andrea Ryan.
Andrea Ryan,
CELC Principal / photo: Pastor Photography
Winners of "Silly String the Principal!" included Jennifer Maheu's Kindergarten class, Kristen Sironen's morning preschool class, and Sarah Gatto's afternoon preschool class.
Mrs. Ryan stated, "Thank you to our CELC families for donating. Our collection of $2,103 means that eight children who have been sleeping on the floor will get brand new beds due to the kindness and generosity of our families."
Pie the Principal!
Park Elementary, with an initial school goal of $1,000, ultimately doubled its anticipated generosity, amassing $2,264.23. Top student fundraisers at Park Elementary earned a “Pie the Principal” opportunity.
Principal Jill Makee made good on the pie-in-the-face promise, hosting a school-wide assembly on Feb. 26 wherein the 23 top student fundraisers tossed pies at her to the excited roar of students and staff spectating from the gymnasium bleachers.
With plenty of whipped cream on her face at the conclusion, Mrs. Makee told students during the assembly that while the pie-tossing was a "sticky situation", it was worth it as “nothing can compare to being without a bed or basic needs met”.
Mrs. Makee added, “Your compassionate contributions during Kindness Week truly embody the spirit of community and kindness that we strive to instill in our students at Park. Thank you for helping us make a positive difference in the lives of others.”
Park's "Pie the Principal" assembly on Feb. 26 with Principal Makee in whipped cream, counselor Erika Barnett filling the plates,
and student pie-throwers all smiles with anticipation
We Are Chardon
We Commit to High Achievement for All Students