Rock Hill Elementary No.

Wednesday, May 24, 2000

Rock Hill Elementary No. 1 isn’t a big school. In fact, there are only about 97 students there. So, when the school’s principal, Jerry Evans, decided to involve the students in a math-a-thon to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, he expected about $300.

That would be a nice contribution to an organization that does a lot to help children all across the country.

Imagine his surprise when his little school raised in excess of $1,300.

Big is better these days. A school like Rock Hill Elementary No. 1 would be considered to be at a disadvantage when compared with other, richer and larger schools.

But what that analysis doesn’t take into account is heart.

To say the parents of these 97 students should be proud of the hard work that went into this fund raiser goes without saying.

But the fact that these youngsters not only participated in the project, but actually understood that the money they were raising was going to help others, says something pretty special about the kind of education they are getting at home and at school.

They couldn’t have picked a nicer way to end their year.

Reading, writing and arthimetic are important, but also critical are the lessons that are learned outside the classroom – the compassion, spirit and responsibility that will be just as necessary as these young people mature into adults.

It is obvious those lessons are part of curriculum at Rock Hill.