Third Graders Enjoy Reward for Raising Money

      Students sometimes have fantasies of engulfing a teacher in toilet paper or hurling water balloons in an instructor’s direction. 

      Those fantasies became realities for third graders during an assembly at Elkridge Elementary School on June 10.  The third-grade teaching team staged the assembly to reward the 153 third graders for raising more than $1,000 for the American Cancer Society (ACS). The money was donated to the 2011 Relay For Life of Howard County at Hammond High School that was held June 3 and 4. 

     Antics that entertained children and brought on squeals of laughter include: 

    *    Paige Zimmer performing a silly dance.  

    *    A blind-folded Elkster (the school mascot) decorating Kelly McNally’s face with makeup. 

    *    Angel O’Connell zigzagging to avoid water balloons launched by students (to no avail). 

    *    Sherri Sloat eating hot sauce, sardines, jalapenos, and boiled silkworms.

    *    Students rolling toilet paper around Karen Cole.  

    *    Emily Ruffing kissing a goat. 

    *    Ten inches of Chrissy Myers’ dark hair being snipped for Locks of Love, a non-profit organization that donates hairpieces to needy children suffering from a medical hair loss condition.

             The assembly followed a week of learning about cancer prevention. ACS Community Manager Shelby Williford kicked off the week on June 6 with a presentation about what measures students can take to reduce their risk of getting the disease.  Tips included eating more grains and vegetables and fewer processed foods, increasing physical activity, limiting sun exposure and wearing sunblock, and avoiding tobacco and secondhand smoke.  Teachers followed up with other cancer-related activities. These included writing persuasive letters about why they should be selected to throw the water balloons and roll the toilet paper.

            “This is a great way for students to make a difference and realize the benefits of helping others in a real-life experience,” commented Team Leader Paige Zimmer.