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Students at Central Middle were called upon to help fellow classmate Kaitlyn Whiting, 12, a seventh-grader whose family home was destroyed by a fire earlier this month.
Nearly everything in their home was destroyed - clothes, furniture, appliances, photos and keepsakes. Kaitlyn lost most of her possessions, including about 50 snow globes that she had collected over the years.
"Whenever we went someplace, she would get one," said Kaitlyn's dad, Brian Whiting.
In the fire, all of the snow globes either melted or cracked. They were a total loss.
In the days after the fire, a story ran in The Capital, and family and friends sent out the word for immediate needs. Donations for essentials poured in, giving the children clothes and the family gift cards to grocery stores and restaurants.
But when Kathy Barrett, a guidance counselor at the school, learned that Kaitlyn's snow globe collection was destroyed, she knew that the students at the school could help.
She enlisted the help of Deb Holloway, a teacher at the school and team leader for Kaitlyn's block of classes, and she and Deb got the word out to the "soaring sevens" - 94 seventh-grade students who are in the same grouping of classes as Kaitlyn.
They asked the students to bring in snow globes to try to replenish Kaitlyn's lost collection. The children were also asked to bring in gift cards and cash contributions to help the family.
The trickiest part was keeping it all a secret from Kaitlyn.
On the last day of school before the winter break, Kathy and Deb, along with Principal Millie Beall, gathered the students in the auditorium. Kaitlyn had no idea why they were being called to an assembly, but certainly got a surprise when her dad stepped out onto the stage and the 50 snow globes were revealed.
Ms. Beall reported that the students also gave over $500 in cash and gift cards to the family.
"I'm really happy and surprised," Kaitlyn said. "I didn't know about any of this."
In all, there were 42 snow globes of varied themes, including polar bears, snowmen, lighthouses, Cinderella's castle, Tinkerbell, and one with two red cardinals on a branch.
Kaitlyn's father, Brian, said that words could not express the outpouring of support he and his family have received. "It's unbelievable. Just unbelievable how kind people have been," he said.
He noted that his coworkers from the Giant food store in Pasadena surprised the family by bringing Christmas tree ornaments to their rental home . "We'd lost those too," he said.
In addition, the Bowie Baysox selected the family to receive their annual giveaway, including a visit by Louie, the Baysox mascot, jerseys for the kids, and gifts themed to each child's hobbies.
"People have been so generous," Brian said.
At Lothian Elementary School, art teacher Donna Schmitz reported that students in kindergarten through fifth grade donated more than 150 hats, gloves and mittens to needy families in south county by decorating a "warm fuzzies" tree in the school lobby.
Throughout the month of December the children brought in items to hang on the tree. On Dec. 23 the tree was taken to Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in West River. Once there, "warm fuzzies" would be distributed by the South County Faith Network, a consortium of south county churches that provides care services to seniors, disabled adults, and families in the communities of Churchton, Deale, Friendship, Galesville, Harwood, Lothian, Shady Side, Tracys Landing, and West River.
At South River High School, local businesses and the school administration held a breakfast to honor the more than 800 students who had made the honor roll in the first marking period.
Principal Will Myers said that one of the initiatives he set for his staff this year was to celebrate student success.
The school talked to the manager at Safeway in Edgewater, who agreed to supply the breakfast food. And some performance groups at the school planned music and dance performances for the event. Finally, the business advisory group at the school got local businesses interested in showcasing career opportunities.
"When you have over 800 kids get on the honor roll, that should be recognized," Mr. Myers said.
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