Currents in Education

READING FOR A CAUSE. Just before Thanksgiving, the second-grade students at Village Elementary School had a read-a-thon with the spirit of giving in mind. They decided to give the money they raised through their literary endeavor to York Community Service Association for its heating oil program, which serves families in town that could not otherwise afford to heat their homes for the winter. On Thursday, Dec. 14, YCSA Director Lorna Ryan visited the school and the second grade presented her with their check for $752.22. Ryan is pictured here with, from left, Ben Schriefer, Kyra Kozmits, Sophie Stephens, Grace Olsen, Sydney Gilman, Maddie Cogger and Cameron Smith.
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FEEDING FRENZY. The York Middle School Student Council and Parent Group sponsored a food drive at the middle school in December. The goal was two-fold: to help out the York Community Food Pantry and to let the kids get creative at their holiday festival on Friday, Dec. 15. Over 1,500 items were collected for the food pantry. A contest was held to see which homeroom in each grade could collect the most nonperishable goods. The winners were included Mr. Geranis's grade 5 class; Mrs. Booth's grade 6 students, who were also the overall winner with 251 items; Mr. Vincelette's grade 7 class and Mrs. Graziano's grade 8 class. The winning classes each received $50 Staples gift certificates to purchase supplies for their homerooms. Each classroom was also treated to a platter of homemade holiday cookies. The nonperishable food sculpture contest was held Friday night, at the YMS Fire and Ice Festival-Dance. Entries were made by groups and individuals and were as diverse as a family of ducks, an ark and a bridge. Steve Rasche of York's hometown newspaper, The Independent, and Fran Koerschner of the York Community Food Pantry judged the event. The winning entry was entitled, "Man in Chair Watching TV with His Dog" with builders Connor Banfield, Drew Bird, Nikki Heroux, Braden Dunn and Tyler Martin pictured above.
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