Dime Wars & Helping Local Families in Need

Small [AND LARGE] Acts of Kindness are what this holiday season are really about.  In the midst of many educational changes, horrific tragedies in schools, and other obstacles we must overcome with our students, it is the 'extra' things we do that truly make a difference.  

Every year at Christmas time, Student Council sponsors the Dime Wars, along with various other fundraisers, to help area families in need. 

Here is their story: 

The CHS Student Council held its annual Dime Wars competition the week of December 10-14th.  The purpose of the competition was to raise money for local families in need.  The grades competed to have the most “positive” money in their jar at the end of the week.  It was called Dime Wars because dimes were considered “negative” and subtract in value from the total.  The PRIZE for the winning grade level this year was the right to have the best seat in the house during the winter assembly. 

The seniors were the champions of the Dime Wars this year and as a reward get to keep their floor spot for the assembly on Friday, December 21^st.  CHS Student Council raised $ 500 during the competition.  That money was combined with money raised from the homecoming dance plus a personal donation.  The budget for each child was set at $50 with half being spent on NEEDS and the other half on WANTS.  As a result, student council was able to assist 12 families, including 38 children ages one to seventeen, all within the Celina School District.  

Toy Drive for Dayton Cildren's

Small [AND LARGE] Acts of Kindness are what this holiday season are really about.  In the midst of many educational changes, horrific tragedies in schools, and other obstacles we must overcome with our students, it is the 'extra' things we do that truly make a difference.  Every year, English Teacher Alicia Sneddon organizes a toy drive for patients at Dayton Children's Hospital.  

Here is her story: 

A month ago, planning was well under way for our third toy drive at Celina High School for Dayton Children's Hospital – and toys were very slowly tr

ickling in.  We set a goal of collecting 500 toys.  I thought this goal was a lofty one and I was afraid I had set us up for failure. 

 

Last week, we rode to Dayton with around 50 students and 1,292 toys! THAT'S 1,292 TOYS!  From teddy bears and Cabbage Patch dolls to hot wheels cars and Nerf Guns, it was obvious that the generosity of our community was not only alive, but well.  On some days when I arrived at school my door would be blocked by large bags of toys and students waiting to update our count. Each year, I continue to be reminded that what makes our high school “Excellent with Distinction” are not the scores on tests, but the people who make up the community in and out of it.      I wish that each and every one of you could have sat with us at Steak and Shake.  Some of the students we take on this trip have never been outside of Mercer County.  More importantly, I wish that you could have meet Katie, the 17 year old Leukemia survivor who spoke to the students about her life and experiences.  I wish you could have seen one student silently wipe tears from his face as a lot of life lessons sunk in rather deeply. I wish you could have met the nurses who passed out candy canes and whose eyes lit up as we filled not one but two rooms with toys for future patients. And I wish you could have been there to see some of our students ice skate.  They loved it. And so did I.      Each year I struggle to find words to say thank you, and this year is no different. I hope this suffices. Thank you to those of you who donated, spread the word, helped us pull emergency medical forms, signed permission slips, donated money to pay for the bus, chaperoned, drove a bus, changed your status on Facebook to spread the word, told your family, picked up toys, held a contest in your advisory class, persuaded a certain car dealership to out-donate another dealership, put boxes in your place of employment, let your children or students go, or raised your children to be the fine, upstanding citizens that we took on that bus yesterday. 

This is something I look forward to each and every year and somehow I am pleasantly surprised each time. 

Thank you. 

I hope you have a Merry Christmas and happy holidays! 

Ms. Sneddon    

Read the Daily Standard article here.

Style Your Sole

For more information about the TOMS movement, visit 
www.toms.com/our-movement. 

TOMS Shoes is a company that was created in 2006 by a world traveler that wanted to help children that have no shoes.  TOMS Shoes is a one-to-one program that matches every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of shoes for a child in need.  One of the ways that Tom’s makes shoe giving fun is with a charity event called 'Style Your Sole'.  This event consists of people coming together, being creative, and helping children in the process.

On Thursday evening, CHS hosted our very own 'Style Your Sole' Party for 40 CHS students.  Each student paid for a pair of plain white shoes and then participated in a 1 mile barefoot walk on the high school track, enjoyed pizza and snacks, and decorated their TOMS.  The purpose of the barefoot walk was to encourage the participants to consider what it is like to be without shoes.  Students shared their feelings about the event through participating in a Week in 3 Words.

We would like to thank our sponsors for their generous support of our event:

• Wine Store 
• Pedrone's 
• Chief 
• Walmart

We plan to host another event this fall.  Stay tuned for more info!

MTV's 'Made' is Coming to CHS

If you have ever watched the MTV show 'Made', you know that it is all about making a teenager's dream come true.  They have help students across the country reach their goals by giving them a one-on-one coach for six weeks.

Now they are looking for new cast members, right here at CHS!

On Thursday, September 8th, 2011, Made will be holding casting calls @ CHS after school.  For the casting packet, click here or visit the tab above.

Here is a video clip from the show:

Service Learning Day 2011 Report

What a day!  The 2nd annual CHS Service Learning Day was again a success.  With beautiful weather, nearly 800 students, and over 50 staff members, we certainly made a huge difference in our community.  Among the many jobs we had throughout the community on this important day, we aided in storm cleanup -- helping residents on Staeger Road and picking up debris on Havemann Road.  Our students learned a valuable lesson in the process -- serving our community can make a noticeable difference.

Here is a short list of some of our projects from 4-21-11:

• Storm damage clean-up on Havemann Road
• Storm damage clean-up on Staeger Road
• Trash clean-up on 127 (south), Mud Pike, Frahm Pike, on the Coldwater-Celina Bike Path and Franklin Township Bike Path, and in the Fairgrounds
• Hair Donations by 9 students and 2 staff members 
• Car Wash fundraiser for the Red Cross
• Cupcake Sale fundraiser for the Relay for Life
• Building Park Benches for the Conservation Department
• Helping at the Historical Society
• Aiding local Churches
• Entertaining and visiting Nursing Home residents

This is just some of the work that we completed on Service Learning Day.  For a full list and map, click here.  For pictures and more about the day, visit the Service Learning Day tab at the top of this page.

NEW Here is a link for the WHIO news report on Service Learning Day: http://goo.gl/rP7yt

NEW  See the Service Learning Day in 3 Words video

$5,000

In just three days, CHS raised over $5,000 last week to help a local family in need.  The Eichler's, a family of 7, lost their home and nearly everything in it to a fire recently.  Katey is a teacher in our district and the 5 children all attend Celina City Schools.



Principal Jason Luebke, Football Coach Jared Rolfes, and Dean of Students Bryant Miller challenged the students at CHS to raise $3,000 to help a family in need.  Our students, staff, and community stepped up to the plate BIG TIME in this time of need for a local family.  Thanks to all that donated.

CHS is Making Bald BEA-U-TIFUL!

This post was written by guest blogger, Mrs. Kelly Black in regard to the recent tragedy that struck the home of the Eichler family in Celina last weekend.  Katey Eichler is a teacher at West Elementary.  Katey and her husband Steve have 5 children that attend Celina City Schools.  

Helping others is a social trait we try to instill everyday, right?  Well CHS wants to help the Eichler Family with their recent devastation.  We are trying to raise $3,000 to give to the Eichler's.  IF we raise the money, Mr. Jason Luebke WILL shave his head at Friday's pep assembly.  Since this is a competition and we do have some prominent coaches on staff, they wanted in on the "action"!  Mr. Bryant Miller will shave his head Friday IF we reach $3,250 and Mr. Jared Rolfes will  shave his head IF we reach $3,500.  Let's make BALD BEAUTIFUL by raising the $3500 to help a local family of seven!

Thanks to everyone for showing your support in this family's time of need. Stay tuned for more.

Goodwill Drive to Victory -- WINNERS!

Goodwill District Manager &
Representatives present a check
 and plaque to Principal Jason Luebke

The Goodwill Drive to Victory Week 4 winner was Celina High School.  As a result, Goodwill has donated $100 to CHS and awarded us with a plaque that will be placed in our academic trophy case.  Thanks to all who donated to the drive in the fall and to Goodwill for their kind donation.  

Imagination Library Turkey Trot

The 1st Annual Imagination Library Turkey Trot 5K Run and 1K Elementary Fun Run was a huge success.  Thanks to Kiwanis for sponsoring the event and to all of those Celina Schools staff members that volunteered their time to organize and run the event.

The Imagination Library, founded by Dolly Parton, is an organization that sends free books to young children in the community.  For more information or to sign-up a child, visit: http://imaginationlibrary.com/.

Thanks to Jeff Pontsler of the Grand Lake Independent for the slideshow below.  For more pictures of the 5K run, visit his photo website.

Celina Imagination Library Turkey Trot on PhotoPeach

Goodwill Drive to Victory -- WINNERS!

In September, Goodwill sponsored a local "Drive to Victory Challenge".  We were in a competition with Van Wert High School for the most donations by pounds (see blog post Goodwill Drive to Victory).  The Celina community donated over 4,400 pounds, making us a 'weekly winner'.  THANKS TO EVERYONE THAT DONATED!

Here is the congratulatory note from Goodwill:

A view of the trailer with
donated items.

"On behalf of Goodwill Easter Seals Miami Valley, Mid-USA Credit Union and WHIO-TV we would like thank you and your students, faculty and community for participating in the 2010 Drive to Victory.
We commend you on your schools outstanding total of 4,400 pounds in donations which during this year’s Drive to Victory.
Your generosity has gone along way in helping us fulfill our mission – to provide services for people with disabilities in your community.
As the season has come to a close and you were a weekly winner, Celina H.S. will receive a $100 check for your scholarship fund. Congratulations!"

THANKS CELINA!