GBES fifth grade class embarks on '100 Days of Caring'

Known to all as "The Scholars" at Gulf Breeze Elementary School, Ms. Natalie Sommer's fifth grade class has embarked on an educational journey that includes more than just reading, writing, and arithmetic or FCAT preparedness.

Sommer's Scholars begin each day as stewards of service for their school and community before they tackle their academic assignments. After reading the heart-warming story Dwaina Brooks, the Scholars were inspired by the main character's selflessness to provide meals for the homeless.

They decided to show their own generous spirit and need to be charitable by completing a random act of kindness for 100 school days.

The fifth graders were encouraged to become aware of events, situations, and individuals in need of appreciation or support that was often overlooked. Each class member then explained these needs to their classmates and determined what was necessary to recognize this goodness.

"Our class hopes that these little things will help everyone," says Scholar Nick Staviski.

Charitable acts were as easy as hand-written notes of appreciation or greeting adults with eye contact and a cheery "Good morning." However, some events required more organization, such as the collection of food and toy donations for the animals at the Gulf Breeze Zoo; used clothing for the Waterfront Mission; or the school-wide drive, called White Christmas, that assisted civic charities Caring & Sharing and Even Start in providing needy families with household items during the holidays.

Some of the Scholars' other days of caring include a toy collection for the Nemours' Children's Hospital; pictures to Ashbury Place's nursing home residents; Halloween gift bags to children at Sacred Heart Hospital; paying the bridge tolls for 20 Pensacola Beach drivers; a Thanksgiving gift bag to Jason Abbott, the man who walks daily from Pensacola to Pensacola Beach; and monetary support to Shoes That Fit, a charitable organization that provides footwear for kids who can not afford them.

Also, the students have written to people all over the world through organizations such as World Vision and the United States Air Force. One of our students Jake Okrzesik asked the class to write to his father's squadron, deployed overseas.

"When you start writing, you know you are doing a good deed, and you will get a good reply. Indeed they have; their classroom bulletin board is filled with notes, letters, and keepsakes from their kindness recipients," Jake said.

Each of the 100 days has provided someone with comfort in a time of need or--at the very least-a smile. Fellow Scholar Brooke Chandler comments, "We feel as if we are doing something amazing in the world that helps people while having fun doing it."

The beginning of May will mark the 100th Day of Giving, and the Scholars are ending their year long endeavor in a big way-they are opening a class store with student-made products at kid friendly prices.

All their proceeds will be given to the Rowe House for Cats and Kittens, a local no kill animal shelter run by Lela and Frank Rowe, for their unwavering commitment to the aid of animals.

The students know that they are doing their small part to make the world a better place and hope that their kindness is contagious--inspiring others to do good too. The effect of the project is best summed up by fifth grader David Langham who reflects, "It just feels good in my heart!"