Demorest Elementary further proved why they are the Pride of Habersham County by raising $22,771 for the American Heart Association.
From Jan. 30 through Feb. 10, Demorest Elementary participated in the Kids Heart Challenge, a program that “teaches students how and why to take care of their hearts and gives them the opportunity to raise money to help others with heart disease through the American Heart Association,” according to physical education teacher Erna Dowdy.
If students brought in over $50 to donate, they were heavily rewarded; they got to pie some of their teachers. On March 2, the 125 students who met the criteria finally got to see the fruits of their labor, as the entire school met right before school ended and they pied some of their teachers.
There were 19 Demorest Elementary teachers who volunteered to be pied. Those teachers were: academic coach Mary McDuffie, third-grade teacher Meghann Holbrook, first-grade teacher Megan Williams, first-grade teacher Jodi Kephart, first-grade teacher Lindsay Brown, first-grade teacher Motsey Wilbanks, music teacher Lavona Bridges, special education teacher Jennifer Reynolds, third-grade teacher Ashley Wilson, assistant principal David Gailer, computer lab teacher Mercedes Weaver, paraprofessional Amy Farlow, second-grade teacher Kelly Adams, third-grade teacher Amy Butterworth, special education paraprofessional Katelyn Bucksot, fourth-grade teacher April LaHayne, third-grade teacher Keylia Patton, special education paraprofessional Mark Thurmond and fourth-grade teacher Jana Guadalupe.
Those 19 teachers, protected by shower caps, trash bags and swimming goggles, awaited the 125 students to be armed with their plates of pie. On the count of three, announced by Dowdy, the students took their positions, aimed and threw their plates on their teachers’ faces.
“This is the third year in a row we raised over $20,000. Prior to that, our goal was $10,000, so that was quite a leap they took three years ago in raising over $20,000,” Dowdy said.
The money raised by the students at Demorest Elementary is something to be proud of, and Principal Lana Jones is more than aware of that.
“Every single year, Demorest students and families display a level of generosity that surpasses any of our goals and expectations. This year’s total is a result of our students truly understanding how their efforts and donations will help others in need. I am beyond proud of the selflessness and compassion displayed by our students during Kids Heart Challenge,” Jones said.