As they released 4,500 ladybugs and planted a tree, they also honored classmate Erin Attel who died of a brain tumor on April 15. Kids wrote notes on rocks to leave around Erin's tree, a Texas Redwood planted in front of the school on Rufe Snow Drive. They also released over a 100 purple balloons, Erin's favorite color, and listened to part of a story. Teachers talked about the little girl who loved to give hugs. Students from Erin's pre-kindergarten class sang "What a Wonderful World."
Erin's mom, Monica Attel, said she was touched by the event.
"Tying it into Earth Day and a celebration of life and the idea to plant a tree in Erin's honor, it just took on a life of its own," Monica Attel said.
Erin's dad Ed Attel and brother Shaun, a Florence Elementary kindergartner, also attended.
The staff at Merryhill wanted to honor Erin in another tangible way. They placed a small wooden wishing well in the lobby and asked families to toss in their change to go to the Attels' favorite charity, the Make a Wish Foundation.
For many years before Erin was sick, the family volunteered for Make a Wish and Ed Attel served on the organization's board. Earlier this year, Erin received her own wish from the organization: a trip to Disneyworld to meet Jake and the Neverland Pirates.
As of Friday afternoon, Merryhill families had raised more than $10,000 for Make a Wish.
Adrianne Boyd, Merryhill principal, said the idea was that kids and adults would drop their extra quarters and dimes into the wishing well. "I'm just amazed that something so small could make such a big difference," Boyd said.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.