For the rocket ship and beyond

Suzie Harrison

Rocket ships and sea lions -- one wouldn’t think that they have much

in common but they do in Angela Irish’s fourth- and fifth-grade

combination class at Top of the World Elementary School.

“Every year, it’s traditional that the fifth-graders do a holiday

boutique and the kids make something to sell,” Irish said. “It allows

other kids to buy inexpensive gifts to give to their families as

gifts. Every year it’s different, it depends on the group but the

items sell from 10 cents to $2.”

As a whole, the fifth-grade classes average between $1,600 to

$2,000 and the individual classes decide what charity they want to

donate the funds to.

“That’s the whole point of the holiday charity boutique -- it’s

our way of giving back to the community,” Irish said. “They give to

one, two or three local charities.”

Her class chose the Friends of the Sea Lion and the city’s rocket

ship fund to help rebuild the piece that was a playtime favorite at

Bluebird Park. Her class earned $233 and donated half to each

charity.

At the Feb. 10 City Council Meeting, Mayor Cheryl Kinsman gave the

students a proclamation for their efforts.

The class decided to take it one step beyond and committed to a

letter-writing campaign to a local charitable group. Students asked

the Soroptimists if they would match the funds that they donated.

“In my letter, I wrote stuff about how I heard they [Soroptimists]

were such a great group because they donated to a bunch of different

charities,” Luke Dressler, 11, said. “I tried to make it as

convincing as I could.”

Irish said the students learned about writing a business letter

and about marketing profit and loss.

“It teaches a multitude of lessons,” Irish said.

Bianca DeMarco, 10, said she liked the project.

“I liked that we get to write a business letter,” Bianca said.

“It’s much different than a friendly letter.”

She said it was fun to compare the difference between the two. But

more importantly -- she said it was nice to raise money and to know

that it was going to help other people.