November means ‘giving back’ at Heritage

MADISON – During the month of November, student families at Heritage Elementary School are observing their own version of giving thanks by emphasizing the importance of giving back to other people.

One of the numerous ways that the Heritage population gives back is to conduct fundraisers for St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. Several teachers, principals and Central Office staff members with Madison City Schools traditionally enter the Memphis Marathon for St. Jude in early December.

On Nov. 17 before the schoolday started, Heritage students bought $1 Krispy Kreme donuts to raise money for St. Jude. In past years, the youngsters interacted with older role models when members of James Clemens High School Band’s dance line helped with the donut sale. One year, the combined effort raised $700.

The National Elementary Honor Society at Heritage sponsored “Pajamas for St. Jude” from Nov. 16-21. Students had the option to buy a pajama pass with a donation of $1 minimum to St. Jude. With their pass, students were allowed to wear their comfortable pajamas to school on Nov. 21, the last day of classes before the Thanksgiving holiday break.

Parents were encouraged to sponsor an entire class by buying pajama passes for all those classmates.

Taking advantage of the Iron Bowl rivalry, Heritage students collected spare change in the “Alabama versus Auburn Coin Drive.” Adult volunteers tallied the daily donations that students brought in to the media center and gave to support either the Alabama Crimson Tide or the Auburn Tigers.

Another St. Jude fundraiser is “Parents Night Out” on Dec. 2. While the children stay at Heritage for supervised play and activities, parents use their ‘night off’ to shop for Christmas presents or have a date night. All collected fees for the night out will go to help St. Jude.

Individuals can donate to St. Jude by visiting heroes.stjude.org/heritagerams.