Lower Burrell school nixes holiday parties, replaces with ‘Kids for Kids’ market fundraiser

Stewart Elementary School ditched its typical holiday parties this year.

Instead, the Lower Burrell school’s roughly 265 fourth- and fifth-graders spent their final day before winter break working together to raise money for sick children.

“We broke away from our traditional classroom parties,” Principal Jim Croushore said. “We wanted to have some sort of event where kids could give back and do something good for the community.”

With support from parent volunteers and physical education teachers, students took ownership of an alternative that inspired them to give by getting creative and entrepreneurial — a “Kids for Kids” market.

After a few weeks of planning, the students manned all kinds of booths and activities throughout the school’s hallways on Friday morning.

They sold snowflake ornaments made out of Popsicle sticks, painted artworks brought from home and collectible Pokémon cards.

Some set up a Polaroid photo booth while others offered raffles and games like “guess how many” pieces of candy are in a jar.

Others braided hair, painted nails and told fortunes via origami.

All of the proceeds were dedicated to helping young patients at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

On Friday afternoon, the students gathered in the auditorium to learn the total amount of money collected.

Physical education teacher Justin Miller reminded everyone that the schoolwide donation goal was set at $1,500.

Then he happily reported that the school’s inaugural “Kids for Kids” market succeeded in raising $1,686.

A student’s hand shot up in the air.

“I want to donate more,” Riley Quinn, 10, called out as she held up some of her own money.

Riley’s spontaneous act of generosity quickly caught on.

Within seconds, dozens of students followed suit.

“All of a sudden, there were four or five dozen kids just reaching in their pockets, dumping out their change,” Miller said. “It was just something you see in a movie. … Every kid truly was thinking with their heart.”

Principal Croushore watched from the auditorium’s balcony with delight as students crowded Miller and handed over their personal change and $1, $5 and even $20 bills.

Minutes later, Miller reported a new total: $1,900.

“It was awesome,” Croushore said. “We have a great group of kids in our school, and that behavior does not surprise me one bit.”

The “Kids for Kids” market aligns with the spirit of a broader program that Stewart Elementary implemented this year, Miller said.

Students in physical education classes have been learning from a curriculum designed by Scarlett Lewis, a mother who lost her 6-year-old son when he was among 26 shot and killed at Connecticut’s Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012.

The Choose Love Enrichment Program aims to promote greater social awareness, personal responsibility and self-control.

Miller said students recently completed a segment about gratitude.

“We talked about how around Christmastime, we sometimes lose the ability to give thanks and we become more of a wanting individual, not appreciative of what we have,” Miller said. “So when this market idea became a viable option, the kids just ran with it.”

Croushore said he could see the “Kids for Kids” market becoming an annual tradition.

“It exceeded my expectations in many ways,” he said. “It was great to see kids not only giving back but working together throughout the day and being kind and supportive of one another.”