Acmetonia 4th-graders raise more than $8K to protect marine life
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Fourth graders in Elizabeth Newill’s science class at Harmar’s Acmetonia Elementary surprised their teacher — and themselves — by raising more than $8,000 in the Ecostudent Challenge.
The children clapped and squealed with delight when they saw a giant check for $8,362.96 unveiled Tuesday afternoon during an assembly in the school’s auditorium.
The money will go to Cape Clasp, a Massachusetts company that created a Cape Cod-shaped bracelet and developed a nonprofit partnership with the Cape Cod National Seashore.
Two years ago, Newill established a partnership between her fourth graders studying the ecosystem and Cape Clasp, which donates 15% of the profits for each of its designs to organizations such as the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, Whale & Dolphin Conservation and the Massachusetts Audubon Society.
Her students are challenged to study 100 questions about the ecosystem and marine life. They studied ways they can have a positive impact on marine life — especially whales, sharks and manta rays — through methods such as recycling plastics.
The students also were tasked with finding sponsors to support them for each question they answered correctly when Newill gave the 100-question test.
A sponsor could pledge any amount. If it was 10 cents and the student correctly answered 75 out of 100 questions, the sponsor donated $7.50.
In 2019, her students raised almost $3,800 and hoped to at least equal that amount in 2020, before the pandemic prevented the project from happening. By doubling the money raised two years ago, the students more than made up the difference from the event being canceled last year.
“The past year has been very stressful, so many ups and downs. So I think it was really important that we all focus on something positive,” Newill told the 75 students at the assembly — held the first day the students returned to in-person instruction for five days a week.
“I’m very happy to be in the presence of our future leaders. I think you are all amazing human beings, and I’m just so proud to be your teacher.”
A special award was presented to four students who raised more than $500, including 9-year-old Percy Price of Cheswick, who topped the list by bringing in nearly $900.
“I feel great about it, just knowing that I’m going to help the ecosystem,” Percy said. “Actually, I love killer whales, which are actually dolphins.”
The other students who raised more than $500 are all from Springdale: Averie Homa, 10; Jack Pearrow, 10; and Jordyn Douglas, 9.
“I’m proud that we can be this young and make a real difference,” Jordyn said. “(The money) is going to help save the sea animals and go for a good cause.”
After the assembly, Newill expressed how proud she was of her students — 45 of whom scored over 90% on the test.
“I had goose bumps. I couldn’t believe just the heart that these kids have and the way that they were able to communicate with other people to make this happen,” Newill said. “I can’t believe that it became over $8,000 from fundraising that they did all on their own. It’s why I do what I do.”