Education

Take Note

March 14, 2001 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

Small Change

The children who attend Denison Elementary School, a 500-pupil Montessori school in Denver, have proved that saving every penny really does count.

When one of the school’s assistant teachers, Erin Hanrahan, 26, was sent by the Peace Corps to visit El Salvador in the wake of the January earthquake there, the students at Denison rallied behind their teacher and donated more than $2,000 to the relief effort.

“This really grew out of the children’s interest in communicating with Erin while she was away,” said Beth Hamilton, the assistant principal.

As the children learned more about the devastation caused by the earthquake, she said, they began asking to help.

The money came from two sources, Ms. Hamilton said. Students at Denison participate in a “pennies for peace” program. The school puts the money into an account set aside for school projects, and then it is distributed to a variety of worthy causes.

“One year, we donated the pennies toward a relief effort in Romania. The pennies have also gone toward supporting other Montessori schools,” Ms. Hamilton said.

The program had $2,000 in the kitty when students began appealing to school officials and teachers about assisting with the troubles in El Salvador. At their urging, the school agreed to send the money. But the youngsters didn’t stop there. They began petitioning the community at large to support the relief effort and raised another $1,200.

“Originally, the main goal was to help rebuild the home of the Alfaro family. Erin is staying with them,” Ms. Hamilton said. “But this effort could continue beyond that. The children are real excited about helping the people in El Salvador. They want to keep in touch with Erin and do all they can. At this point, nothing has been decided, but you never know.”

The school will soon send a check to Erin Hanrahan in El Salvador to help build a rebar-enforced house for her host family.

—Marianne Hurst

A version of this article appeared in the March 14, 2001 edition of Education Week

Events

School Climate & Safety Webinar Engaging Every Student: How to Address Absenteeism and Build Belonging
Gain valuable insights and practical solutions to address absenteeism and build a more welcoming and supportive school environment.
Student Well-Being K-12 Essentials Forum Social-Emotional Learning 2025: Examining Priorities and Practices
Join this free virtual event to learn about SEL strategies, skills, and to hear from experts on the use and expansion of SEL programs.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Professional Development Webinar
Inside PLCs: Proven Strategies from K-12 Leaders
Join an expert panel to explore strategies for building collaborative PLCs, overcoming common challenges, and using data effectively.
Content provided by Otus

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Education Briefly Stated: February 5, 2025
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education Quiz News Quiz: Jan. 30, 2025: Interim Ed. Dept. Leader | Navigating Immigration Policies | Teacher Evaluations | And More
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
President Donald Trump speaks in Emancipation Hall after the 60th Presidential Inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. His administration's order to pause potentially trillions of dollars in federal spending this week sent school districts scrambling to figure out which funds might be halted.
President Donald Trump speaks in Emancipation Hall after the 60th Presidential Inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. His administration's order to pause potentially trillions of dollars in federal spending this week sent school districts scrambling to figure out which funds might be halted.
Al Drago/AP
Education Briefly Stated: January 29, 2025
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
9 min read
Education Quiz Education Week News Quiz: Jan. 23, 2025
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
President Donald Trump speaks in Emancipation Hall after the 60th Presidential Inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. His administration's order to pause potentially trillions of dollars in federal spending this week sent school districts scrambling to figure out which funds might be halted.
President Donald Trump speaks in Emancipation Hall after the 60th Presidential Inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. His administration's order to pause potentially trillions of dollars in federal spending this week sent school districts scrambling to figure out which funds might be halted.
Al Drago/AP