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District 16 News

Sandy Hanson
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Success in life can be measured in hundreds of different ways. Success can be found in the simple things that one accomplishes every day, and it can be found in the classroom as students strive to do their best. The mission in Garfield County School District No. 16 is to make sure that students are successfully prepared for life.One of life’s biggest lessons on success can be found in the simple act of showing compassion for others. Students throughout District 16 have earned straight As in that arena, showing that they are prepared to succeed in the game of life. Bea Underwood Elementary students just completed their annual “Pennies for Patients” fundraiser. The fundraiser is through The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, School and Youth Programs and is a cause that hits close to home for BUE students. “We have two fifth-grade boys who have been directly affected by some form of blood cancer,” said Assistant Principal Desha Bierbaum. Throughout January you could hear the sound of change jingling in every classroom as students kept track of their donations. After the final penny was counted students had raised $2,100. Soldier Supply DriveThe National Honor Society at Grand Valley High School, along with the National Junior Honor Society at L.W. St John Middle School, have teamed up for a “Soldier Supply Drive” campaign. “Initially I wanted NHS to write letters to troops overseas, but this evolved into the supply drive after I talked to Kelby Dillon,” said NHS sponsor Paul Harvey. Dillon was able to give Harvey suggestions on what the troops would like. Dillon is a sophomore at GVHS and has a brother who has served two tours of duty in Iraq.Danny Manzanares and Luke Braby both agree that the Soldier Supply Drive is a great project for NHS. “When Mr. Harvey first brought the idea to us, we all thought it would be a great project,” said Manzanares. Braby agreed, stating that it was “important to show your support.”The group got a big boost on their supply drive from Nola’s Ark in Rifle after they heard about the supply drive. “They read about our efforts and donated four big boxes of supplies,” said Harvey.The group hopes to have all the packages out by the end of March. Harvey noted that soldiers would be chosen randomly off anysoldier.com and mysoldier.com. “I hope to send a letter to every soldier that we send supplies to,” said Harvey.Trish Braby, National Junior Honor Society sponsor at L.W. St John Middle School, read about the efforts at the high school, and thought that it would be a great project for her students as well. “The kids are really thrilled with it. There were several students who spent a portion of their long Presidents Day weekend out collecting donations for the supply drive.”Anyone wishing to make a donation can bring them by Grand Valley High School, 800 Cardinal Way or L.W. St John Middle School, 0460 Stone Quarry Road. Donations are also being taken to help cover the cost of postage; checks can be mailed to Grand Valley High School, c/o NHS, P.O. Box 68, Parachute, CO 81635.Grand Valley NHS members are: Shannon Dunn, Heather Jay, Adam Johnson, Melinda Johnson, Andy Jones, Stevie Vance, Brian Vanderpool, Luke Braby, Katie Bryan, Shannon DeVrieze, Shari Heikkila, Megan John, Lindsay Levine, Danny Manzanares and Sam McKinley. NJHS members are: Jared Tonder, Kaity Brown, Brooke Gardner, Mirna Vargas, Shannon Schubert, Alisha Siesmore, Amber McCoy, Chelsae White, Erin Vanderpool, Ethan Bell, Hope Hendricks, Jaquelyn Janicek, Kelcey Satterfield, Kortney Korber, Phillip Hanakeawe, Tiffany Waugh and Tyler Miles.Students in NHS/NJHS must have a 3.5 GPA after three semesters and complete an application. A staff committee then selects members.Suggested items for donation include but are not limited to: instant coffee, tea bags, beef jerky, crackers and other individual snacks, granola bars, canned goods, shower supplies, deodorant, sun block, batteries, puzzles, disposable cameras, phone cards, books and flying disks.Sandy Hanson is the public information director for Garfield County School District No. 16.


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