Relay for Life

Last year Apopka Elementary teachers and staff participated in the Relay for Life event at Apopka High School football field.  This event raised money for the American Cancer Society and raised awareness about all types of cancer prevention.  Loved ones who lost their battle with the fight against cancer were recognized during a luminary event at night.  The event began at 6:00 pm on Friday afternoon and ended on Saturday around noon. (We divided up the time so that no one had to stay at the event the entire time).  Continuous walking around the track gave us time to chat with our family and colleagues. Many schools and businesses came and gave back to our Apopka Community!
This was our 8th year at the Relay of Life and we contributed around $1500.00.

Sponsored by Nancy Lausi, Yvonne Ferney and Barb Inmon

Namibia Service Project

The fourth grade team, along with Mrs. Roth’s and Ms. Baker’s class, teamed up with a local organization and raised money for the less fortunate in Namibia, Africa.  The students were placed in committees and designed a program that promoted students from the Orange County Schools and the community to raise and collect money to send to Namibia.  Our students participated in this project most of the school year. Each student was assigned a specific role within his/her own committee. Some of the roles were presenters, graphic artists, accountants, technology, researchers, public relations, correspondents, business, media, donations, actors and musicians.  Along with collecting and raising money to send to our Namibian friends, we also had pen pals.  Apopka Elementary raised money until March 7, 2007.  The total amount raised was approximately $1700.00!

Below is a breakdown of the amounts collected and the companies that helped us to distribute the donations.

Raised money breakdown
$622.95 - Arandis Primary (Namibia School & pen pals)
Hope's Promise Representatives:
Brenda Johnston & Kathy Morganelli

$400.00 - Tuition Program - (Namibia School)
72 currently enrolled children
HUGS - Representative: Rebekah Richey

$400.00 - School Textbooks - 3rd & 4th grade Arandis Primary (Namibia School)
HUGS Representative: Nan Parker

$200.00 - Goats for four impoverished families in Namibia
HUGS Represenatives: Larry Sherman & Leslie Hill

Sponsored by Ms. Spingola, Ms. Strizhiver, Mrs. Guerrera, Ms. Baker, Mrs. Roth and Ms. Henry

Save the Manatee Club Opportunity

One of the goals of Apopka Elementary is to be “a school of service.”  Last year special area teachers decided to focus on a 4th grade environmental community service project via the Save the Manatee Club.  Each year these gentle creatures are threatened by boats, red tide toxins, and a disappearing habitat, which has placed them on endangered animals list.
Each student had an opportunity to donate $ 2.00 towards the entire 4th grade level collectively adopting two manatees, a Florida endangered species.  During the project, each special area class—PE, Art,
Computer and Music developed lessons to accompany the project.  Classroom teachers also connected fun science and math lessons, in addition.
Each grade level who participated received an adoption certificate, photo, and biography of our manatees.  Our membership helped fund manatee rescue, manatee community awareness education, and programs around the world.

Sponsored by Ms. Birdsong, Ms. Henritzy, Ms. Sapper and Ms. Slagle

Dessert Day to Benefit DSACF
(The Down Syndrome Organization)

Many staff members donated baked goods and brought them in to the teacher’s lounge. Then, during their lunch shift, they came to enjoy their fellow co-workers’ wonderful desserts.  A donation was requested, but not required to DSACF. Teachers did not need to donate per the dessert they wanted, so it was a really big treat! Jennifer Wynn, an Apopka Elementary parent, was excited to be able to do this with such a great staff, and she is looking forward to seeing us next year.

Sponsored by Jennifer Wynn - Parent of Apopka Elementary Student

Can and a Quarter Food Drive

Students and staff participated in our annual “Can & a Quarter” food drive.   This event was sponsored by Apopka Elementary Student Council. Brown paper sacks with an attached note explaining the food drive were sent home with each student asking them to donate at least one can and one quarter.  The monies and cans collected were used to fill decorated food baskets for our less fortunate families last Thanksgiving.  We served approximately 30 families last year with a complete holiday dinner!

Sponsored by Jim Montgomer - Guidance Counselor

READ for the Record

Students at Apopka participated in the Read for the Record campaign.  April Swearingen organized this event, which directly supported quality education across America.  Students listened to the book the Little Engine That Could and money was donated to support low-income communities. Twenty four teachers elected to have guest readers! We were trying to break the Guinness Book of World Records for the most people reading the same book in one day!

Sponsored by April Swearingen - Reading Coach

Ronald McDonald Pop-Tab Collection

Last year Student Council members participated in the Ronald McDonald House Pop-Tab collection.  They asked teachers and students to save pop-tabs from soda cans, pet food cans, etc. and bring them in to school.  These pop-tabs were then recycled to raise funds to help the families who stay at the Ronald McDonald Houses of the Orlando area.  This recycling program helped the families of our community and, in addition, helped teach our students the benefits of protecting our environment through recycling.  We collected 60 pounds of pop-tabs until April of last year.

Sponsored by Jim Montgomery

Hat Day

Apopka Elementary students participated in Hat Day to benefit the American Cancer Society.  Each child donated $0.50 to the charity.  The payoff was getting to wear their favorite hat to school for the entire day!

Sponsored by Jim Montgomery

Books for Babies

The Literacy Team was excited to announce their service project, “Books for Babies.”  They wanted to encourage our children to share the excitement and joy of reading with their new baby brother or sister.  Any student who had a baby less than 1 year of age at home was able to select a book to read with the new baby. This book became a special addition to the baby’s personal library, and to the family’s enjoyment of reading together.    A flyer was sent home so the parents could tell us about the new baby.  We hope we encouraged all of our future Dolphins to become life long readers.

Sponsored by Beckie Guthrie, Janet Johnston and Alice Zamabri

Florida Living Nursing Center

The first grade team, along with Mrs. Dickinson’s class, corresponded with the Florida Living Nursing Center in Apopka.  The children wrote letters and made cards for the residents once in each of the following months: September, October, November, December, February, and April.  Also, the children visited the nursing center in December and February (around the holidays).  The children sang to the residents and did arts & crafts with them.  The nursing center residents answered each letter!

Sponsored by the First Grade Team

100 Books

Miss Rader and Ms. Block’s class read 100 books (by 12-31-07), so that 100 books were donated to an underprivileged school.  This program was through Scholastic.

Sponsored by Mary Block and Ms. Rader

2nd Grade Writing Project

Second graders became pen pals with our servicemen and women to promote cheer and support throughout the school year. By writing to the military personnel overseas, the second grade students were provided with authentic opportunities for writing!

Sponsored by Second Grade Team

Clothing Drive

Mr. Ralph’s fourth class held a clothing drive to help local needy families.  They sorted, bagged and delivered over 8 large bags of clothing to the Temple of Faith in South Apopka, a local organization.

Sponsored by Mr. Ralph

The Angel Tree is an annual event that helps families during the holidays.  Each family who needed support with toys and clothing received gifts for their children.  Gifts were donated by the teachers and staff at Apopka Elementary School.  They wrapped the gifts making them extra special for the families!  Many business partners also donated items for our students and their families.

Sponsored by Ms. Lausi, Ms. Martinez and Ms. Pandolph