Throughout the past school year, all students at Gibbs Magnet School of International Studies participated in Pennies for Peace, the international service learning project that raises money for school supplies for students in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
You may ask, "What can a penny buy in the United States?" Not much anymore, but in Pakistan and Afghanistan a penny can be used to buy a pencil. Each classroom at Gibbs had a collection jar, and students were encouraged to donate pennies throughout the year, beginning with International Day of Peace and Pinwheels for Peace in art classes in September, continuing with the Giving Tree donations in international studies and ornaments of "gift-givers giving pennies" in art classes in December, and concluding with Rocking for Peace in physical education classes during Gibbs Games XXIII (Field Day) in late May.
During the final week of school, all of the collection jars were placed on display on the cafetorium stage. Students were asked to complete an entry form making estimates on how many total pennies were collected, the actual dollar amount, and how much all the pennies weighed. At the Pennies for Peace Finale Assembly on June 3, all K-5th grade students learned how much they had collected over the year. Winners of the estimating contest also were announced. First grader Corey Gaines (right) came the closest to estimating the number of pennies. The closest dollar amount estimate was made by fifth grader Greta Kresse (left). Kwasi Harshaw, a fifth grader, had the closest estimate for the total weight of the pennies. A total of $593.04 or 59,304 pennies were collected (59,304 pencils!), and the pennies weighed 337 pounds. Books, pencils, and pens were awarded to the three winners. Ms. Susan Hestir's second graders collected the most pennies of any classroom and were given special pencils for their contribution.
As part of the peace assembly, a thank-you letter and photos were shared that had just been received from a Haitian Earthquake relief agency. Gibbs students sent drawings for the children of Haiti that were included in the planeload of supplies that the relief agency sent to Port-au-Prince in the earthquake aftermath. Some of the artwork went inside care packages given directly to the children at orphanages. For several hundred children who were given permission to leave Haiti, the rest of the donated artwork was placed on the planes above their seats "in hopes it would ease the Haitian children’s pain knowing there were children in the United States who cared for them." Gibbs students clearly demonstrate through service learning projects their responsibilities as citizens of the world.
