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2010-02-09

2010-01-19

Agriculture

Lifestyles

Wednesday, February 11, 2009 11:32 AM

Students return from tornado-torn town

By JENALEA MYERS, Herald Staff Writer

WELLSVILLE — A recent trip to Chapman gave a handful of Wellsville students something to think about.

Along with their sponsor, Rachel Sowers, 10, Wellsville Middle School Student Council members recently made a trip to Chapman to deliver $1,000 they raised to help the Chapman School District, which had its schools destroyed by a tornado June 11.

“If that had happened to us, we would want people to help us,” seventh-grader Chase Bouse said.

The students agreed that seeing the town of Chapman and its modular classrooms made them think about what they would do if something like that happened in Wellsville and to their school district.

“They have to get on a bus and ride 10 minutes for lunch,” eighth-grader Cassie Enright said. “They get all wet when it’s raining outside when they walk from classes.”

The suggestion to donate part of the money the students raised through selling cookie dough came from Principal Mitch Lubin, who had been in contact with Chapman school officials.

“It was a great way to motivate our kids, who always seem willing to help out for a good cause,” Lubin said. “I am very proud of our student council members, our sponsor, our entire staff, student body and community.”

The children said they heard many stories of the tornado while they were visiting. They heard of a garage door wrapped around a tree, a checkbook found 10 miles away, a scoreboard that made its way to Manhattan.

But most students said the condition of Chapman was about what they expected.

“It was cleaned up pretty good,” Chase said. “I thought it may be worse.”

The children said the donated money would go toward purchasing school supplies. The other money they raised will go toward future activities like field trips.

“We gave the $1,000 contribution, which was about 25 percent of our proceeds, to a very worthy cause,” Lubin said.

And donating the money is something the student council members hope others won’t forget.

“Our principal told us that if something bad ever happens here, people will remember that we helped them and maybe help us,” eighth-grader Rebecka Ohlmeier said.

Jenalea Myers can be e-mailed at jmyers@ottawaherald.com.

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Students return from tornado-torn town

By JENALEA MYERS, Herald Staff Writer

E-mail this story to a friend | Print this article | Enjoy the convenience of home delivery of The Ottawa Herald.

E-mail this story to a friend | Print this article |
Enjoy the convenience of home delivery of The Ottawa Herald.