Haiti

Several months ago two  students at Washington Elementary School, Abbi Martin (4^th grader) and Regin Smith (3^rd grader), approached Mrs. Carol Forbes because they wanted to raise items to send to her school in Haiti, Institution Univers, before the end of the school year. After getting the “OK” from principal Dr. Tom Krout, they visited the school’s website and chose three supplies that are ongoing needs for Univers--#2 pencils, colored pencils and bar erasers. A competition between classrooms was started as cardboard boxes were put in each classroom for the items that the students brought to school. The classroom that brings in the most items will win a free recess in the final days of school. Also, they wanted to write letters to some of the students at IU. Letters had to be written in French because that is the language spoken in the school. They realized that students could come up with some French sentences by using Google Translate and decided to offer this to classes in second, third and fourth grades. Basic sentences were translated by Google’s Translate site and then carefully scrutinized by a French teacher at Lamberton Middle School in Carlisle where Mr. Forbes teaches. Some French phrases were also checked by Amy Crist, French teacher at HMS. Letters were completed on June 4^th and 5^th and students were invited to bring in a small photo to attach to their letter.  Thanks for your continuing hard work, Abbi and Regin!