Pepin/Center kids give back with snowmen

By CAITLIN ASHWORTH

@kate_ashworth

Published: 12-26-2016 5:47 PM

EASTHAMPTON – Kindergartners and first-graders got a surprise visit from the Pepin/Center Elementary Schools’ mascot, Eli the eagle, who came to thank students for raising a total of $701.74 for the Easthampton Community Center. 

“Guess how much money Center and Pepin raised for the Easthampton Community Center?” Principal Allison Rebello asked students.

“Maybe 5,000,” one student said.

“I think 100,” another student said. 

As a fundraiser for the center, each class had a paper snowman taped to the door. To decorate the snowman, students can raise money for items such as a carrot nose, hat, a pair of eyes and scarf, which are $3 each. A fully “built” snowman equaled $24 in donations.

Susan Pouliot, a kindergarten teacher, said the fundraiser was a “wonderful experience.”

The snowman allowed students to learn about money and numbers in a visual way, Pouliot said. Students could see how two five dollar bills made $10, and with $10, Pouliot said students could choose three items for the snowman and have a dollar leftover. 

Eager to decorate their snowmen, many were fully decked out after the first day of the fundraiser.

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Add custom items to the snowman. Some added candy canes, snowflakes, sunglasses, a mustache and one classroom added a “quad” vehicle to go along with their snowman.

While each class raised at least $24, some classes raised $60 to $70. 

“Eli is super happy because you helped out,” Rebello told students.

The mascot carried an enlarged check to show students how much was raised and gave each class a paper heart to add to their snowman with a thank you note.

“When we give back, what grows back?” Rebello asked the students.

“Our heart,” the children answered.

Caitlin Ashworth can be reached at cashworth@gazettenet.com.

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