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Health & Fitness

Noah Wallace Fourth-Graders Recycle to Raise Funds

Students work together to earn funds to commemorate final year together.

Fourth grade students at Noah Wallace School banded together to raise funds for activities marking their final year at the beloved elementary school.  After soliciting donations of "gently used books and family-friendly DVDs," the students sorted through the collection. Tuesday they began the age-old tradition of good ole fashioned salesmanship. "This would be a great book for you if you like baseball," "the Geronimo Stilton series is awesome but I also recommend the Magic Tree House," "Harry Potter? Sure, we've got that."

Students arrived at school prior to the usual 8:30 a.m. time and set up tables on the main and second floor hallways. "Every student is a potential customer" becomes the team mantra. 

"You can really get some great bargains here!" remarks Joan Schlegel's first-grade student, James Wildhack. 

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"I really love this author and don't have this book in my collection. I know it costs $1.00 but would you take .75 cents?" haggles Diana Petro's first-grader, Kate Cosentino. 

"I've spent everything in my wallet and have bought about 20 books!" exclaims an excited Jack Ginter, of Jaimee Johnson's second-grade class. 

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"Can you have this book sale everyday, Mrs. Jett? It's amazing!" declares Cherie Castiglione's second-grade student, Rose Raeburn.

Historically, 4th grade students engage in various fundraising throughout the school year to raise money for special t-shirts, memorybooks, 4th Grade Fun Night, Moving On Ceremony luncheon and to leave a gift to the school.

"This is the kind of hands-on fundraising I believe other 4th grade classes have done in the past to give them some ownership in funding their fourth-grade activities. I am sure the children are really getting a great experience and a positive sense of accomplishment," commented Barbara Lewis, co-chair of the 4th Grade Committee.

For many of us, we are saying good-bye to Noah Wallace School, which has been such an important and often sentimental place for our families.  Some parents have their third or fourth child now leaving. As the mother of twins, my boys leave together.  Even more bittersweet is the retirement of several beloved teachers, many of whom have been instrumental in our children's education and guiding them toward their future academic success.

There has been nearly 100% participation among these entreprenaurial minded youngsters. If there is indeed a recession, you would never know it judging by the happy customers and grateful sales staff. Further, this book sale has maintained the "green theme" standard which is so important to Noah Wallace students. We recycle bottles, cans and newspapers. This type of recycling gives others a chance to share in the joy of reading and losing oneself in a great book!

As of today, the 2012 4th grade students raised over $600 from this book sale.  If your school or other non-profit agency is looking for a great way to reduce, reuse and recycle, used book sales a great idea.

To all the Noah Wallace families who donated books for this sale, we thank you!

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