Date: Fri 04-Jun-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: JAN

Quick Words:

schools-St-Rose-dress-down

Full Text:

Raising Money By Dressing Down

(with photo)

BY JAN HOWARD

St Rose School students put aside their uniforms for a day last week to take

part in a fund-raiser to help relieve the suffering of Kosovo refugees who

have been displaced from their homes by war.

A dress-down day on May 27 at St Rose School raised over $400 for efforts on

behalf of the refugees. Students contributed $1 or more to come to school in

casual clothes rather than their usual uniforms to benefit the refugee fund.

It all began one day when Morgan Milano, 9, of Sandy Hook and Emily Boncek, 8,

of Oxford, were talking together.

"One day at lunchtime we were talking, and we thought, wouldn't it be fun to

have a dress-down day for $1," Morgan said.

"Before Easter we thought we could raise money for a poor family," Emily

added.

However, according to Morgan and Emily, both third graders, there wasn't

enough time to arrange for a contribution to a charitable organization.

When it became evident it was too late to do an Easter fund-raiser, they

talked to their teacher, Rita Garrett, and their principal, Donna DeLuca. Ms

DeLuca suggested that the fund raiser benefit Kosovo refugees and

whole-heartedly approved the dress-down day for May 27.

Morgan said her fellow students "really liked the idea," and, dressed in

casual clothes for a change, brought in their donations.

On the morning of May 27, Morgan and Emily went from classroom to classroom

collecting the donations, which they submitted to Ms DeLuca to send to

Catholic Relief Services for Kosovo.

There are 234 students in the school, and everyone participated, Ms DeLuca

said, "including teachers and myself." She said the theme of St Rose School is

"Serving with joy."

"Each class has presented ideas for community service projects," said Ms

DeLuca. "But Emily and Morgan wanted to go above and beyond what their class

had done. It is in keeping with the school theme and mission."

Morgan and Emily said they might try another dress-down fund raiser next year.