MENTONE - On the last Friday of every month, Mentone Elementary School honors students for various good things they've done.
Friday, the whole school was celebrated as Mentone presented a check for $12,619 to the American Heart Association.
"It's amazing," said Emily Kelly, youth market director, American Heart Association, Indianapolis. "They actually had a $3,000 increase from last year, so in this economy, it's phenomenal."
Mentone physical education teacher Bonnie Kramer said the money was raised in February through the Jump Rope for Heart program.
"They just kept bringing it in, and bringing it in, and bringing it in," Kramer said.
"You guys really came through with big hearts," Principal Katie Miller told the school during Friday's convocation. "... We at Mentone are so proud of you. You are doing the right thing every single day."
For Jump Rope for Heart, Mentone awarded the students as they reached certain donation levels. A student had to collect $50 in donations to receive a t-shirt. Every student had a certain goal to reach. All prizes were handed out Thursday at the parent-teacher conference.
"We're a very giving school. We're a very community-oriented school," said Kramer
Besides the Jump Rope for Heart, Miller said the school also does a food drive for Helping Hands food pantry. The staff does a regular silent auction with proceeds going to help support students and their families in need. In addition to the money raised for the American Heart Association, the school also raised about $900 for the Hackworth-Sechrist Scholarship Fund. More than $1,700 was raised to help Haiti after the earthquake devastated the island country in January.
Kramer said Mentone has participated in the Jump Rope for Heart for the past six years. In the first year, Mentone raised about $4,400.Every Mentone student takes part in the Jump Rope for Heart, Kramer said. She sponsors every student, as does Miller. Each homeroom teacher also sponsors every student in their class.
Kramer also allows for families to work together to reach a goal. If they raise $50, the two families get to share a t-shirt. However, Kramer said, many don't want to share a shirt so they are motivated to raise $50. Parents also take the donation forms to work with them.
