Pleasant Valley Elementary raises $2,289.50 for Kenya Keys
Principal Laurie Ernstrom passed notes to students in a bucket, blew bubbles onto the recess crowds and played '90s music from her oasis on top of Pleasant Valley Elementary School.
Thursday, May 2, Ernstrom fulfilled a bet with her student council, spending the entire day on the roof after her students raised $2,289.50 for the nonprofit organization Kenya Keys. She managed to work, too, toting paperwork and a laptop with an extension cord.
Their interest level was incredibly high, and I give credit to these kids for coming up with this, Ernstrom said with a laugh.
In Nyari, the poorest education district of Kenya, there is no electricity, running water, mail service or Internet. Pleasant Valleys sister school has dirt floors, and its roof was destroyed by a windstorm.
We were so sad for them and wanted to help, said Alexis Henderson, a third-grade member of student council.
From early March into April, Pleasant Valley students smashed their piggy banks, talked to their grandparents and hosted lemonade stands in hopes of raising money for their sister school.
Thanks to the students' efforts, Pleasant Valley will replace a roof and provide desks and supplies for its sister school.
We do this with a lot of elementary schools, and I couldnt believe how active and unified the student council was, said Rinda Hayes, executive director of Kenya Keys. This school has so much heart.
Hayes made a presentation to the school about the sister school, showing pictures of Kenyan students and displaying artifacts that tugged at Pleasant Valleys heartstrings.
Students were spurred on by Pleasant Valley faculty, who dressed up in crazy outfits after the school raised $1,800. But raising Ms. E on the roof for the day was the ultimate inspiration.
The partnership originated when fifth-grader Kadyn Skippers aunt described her friend Rindas nonprofit organization, Kenya Keys, which matched schools in the United States with sister schools in rural Kenya through a program called the Global Classroom.
A bookworm, Kadyn thought it was horrible the Kenyan students didnt have a library and books, and introduced Kenya Keys to Pleasant Valley.
It's a partnership Pleasant Valley students and faculty say has raised school spirit unlike any other fundraiser and event.
"We really felt connected," Kadyn said. "It's amazing."
Founded in 2005 by Hayes and her husband, Brent, Kenya Keys is an educational organization that creates partnerships between Americans and Kenyans, matching American schools with sister schools in rural Kenya.
For more information about Kenya Keys, visit kenyakeys.org.