CGS teachers, students and staff raise money for hurricane victims
Since 2013 Chester Grade School teachers and staff have been raising money for worthwhile causes through a "Give Back to the Community Program."
Junior High Science teacher Joann Meyer originally created the program in 2013 and has coordinated it since its inception.
Meyer has always insisted that the "Give Back" program is not hers, but that the entire school contributes to it and keeps it going.
"It is not my program," she said. "Yes I came up with the idea and yes, I do coordinate it and take care of the donations, but the success of the five-year efforts is due to teamwork among all teachers and staff."
Originally teachers and staff donated $5 monthly for the privilege of wearing jeans to school on selected and approved days. Meyer helped select the day of the month for "Jeans Day" and all employees that wanted to "dress down" for the day were approved by Principal Tim Lochhead to wear jeans or other relaxing clothes.
This school year, as a result of negotiations between the Chester District 139 Board of Education, Superintendent Brian Pasero and the teachers, it was decided that teachers and staff could wear jeans on a regular basis.
"Now that staff can wear jeans any day they want, we didn't know how to raise the money that is used to help out worthy causes in our community," Meyer said.
For the first fundraising project of the year, it was decided to host, "Take Your Pick Day" to support the victims of Hurricane Harvey.
On September 6, teachers, students and staff could donate at least $1 to the effort and in exchange, they could "take their pick" of wearing sweatpants, exercise clothes, camo, pajamas, a hat, or clothes in which to feed the cows.
Throughout the project, teachers collected the donations from their students daily. Junior High Math teacher Gail Kordys delivered a check to the American Red Cross via the Regions Bank in Sparta.
In all, there was $1,179 donated to the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund.
Students are usually not involved in the "Give Back" projects. Meyer always encourages teachers and staff to tell the kids about the program and to emphasize how important it is to "give back" and "help out'"in the community.
Being caring and unselfish are positive traits that need to be reinforced and students need to be taught about helping the less fortunate.
For the September effort, students were encouraged to participate. Everyone was well aware of the severe devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey and it didn't take much to get the entire school on board.
As a reward for 100 percent participation from all 7th and 8th graders, those grades would be rewarded by being allowed to go outside during study hall rather than being inside during that same period.
All 135 students donated to the Hurricane Harvey project. One junior high teacher volunteered to stay inside and host an indoor study hall for any student that wanted or needed to study, but others went outside to supervise.
"I commend Joann Meyer for organizing this generous project and praise the teachers, staff and students for collecting this generous donation for Hurricane Harvey relief," Lochhead said. "Throughout the years, the 'Jeans Day' donations have gone to help local, regional, and now national causes.
"It definitely goes a long way towards building good relationships in our community."