By Donna Thornton/News Editor
When the K-3 through sixth-graders began a coin challenge to raise money for a variety of mission projects, Coosa Christian Principal Amanda Justus and chapel teacher Deana Thacker made a deal with them.
If the students “raised the roof” for missions by collecting $1,600 or more, the two staffers would take to the roof – spending a day atop the school.
The students contributed their coins in a friendly boys vs. girls competition this year, and when all the coins were counted the boys had a slight edge: $813.68 to the girls’ $797.26, for a total of $1,610.94.
And Justus and Thacker had an appointment in a high place.
On May 10, the two armed themselves with sunglasses, folding chairs, and folder full of school related work in preparation for a day outside, closer than normal to the sky.
About half of the elementary school’s students came outside to watch the two climb a ladder to the roof, then have their supplies handed up to them.
The students got a surprise when Justice and Thacker used their high ground as a launching point for attacks with silly string and water balloons.
“You worked very hard,” Justice told the students. “You have affected many people locally and around the world.”
She thanked them for their work, and the good works their donations will further in many different mission projects.
She said each teacher allowed their class to help select which mission project they wanted to support, making the effort more special for the schools’ students.
K-3 students chose Operation Christmas Child, while K-4 kids raised money for a special family for Christmas and collected items and bought uniforms for students in Honduras.
K-5 students helped Good Shepherd Ministries, which helps send children to school in Haiti.
First- and second-grade students raised money for Quilts for Kids while the third-graders bought a cow for a village through Heifer International.
Fourth graders chose Operation Christmas Child and the Etowah Baptist Association Mission Center, and fifth graders raised money for a special family for Christmas.
The sixth grade helped Operation Christmas Child.
Through the work of these students, Coosa Christian was also able to support the Uganda Children’s Choir and Hannah Davis, a missionary to Africa and several special families.