Kids Helping Kids

For immediate release:
December 15, 20OO
Tampa, FL

On December 1 8th, when the third grade classrooms at Independent Day School (IDS) become a blur of holiday cards, candy, tape, and enthusiastic eight-year olds stamping, sticking and sorting, it will 11 be for a good cause -- Tampa's Faith Children's Home.
It's all part of what's called "candy grams" at IDS -- a "business venture" operated entirely by third grade students as a unique learning experience in the basics of economics.

Usually the profits from the candy gram business are used to offset the cost of a field trip to St. Augustine. However, when third grade teachers Jeanne Rivera, Penny Collins and Judy Sobel discussed with students how to use the profits from December's sales, the class was more than enthusiastic about putting their class motto, "Care, Share, Help" into action.

They wanted to donate their proceeds to charity, with one stipulation. It had to go towards helping other children. That's when Collins started looking into community needs and suggested Faith Children's Home. A1154 third graders wholeheartedly agreed.

"Their hearts are just so big," says third grade teacher Jeanne Rivera. "They totally loved the idea of giving the money they earned to charity. They understand that they have privileges other kids might not? and they're very giving."

Several times a year, students design, test market, and manufacture holiday cards. Then they advertise throughout the school, take orders and fill them. Since all cards come with a sweet treat attached, they're always a popular commodity on the IDS campus.

Weeks worth of work culminates in the filling of hundreds of candy gram orders via an assembly line approach. Students collect the cards mailed by the purchasers via the IDS mail system, the Peacock Post, attach a piece of candy to each card, sort the cards, cancel the stamps, and deliver the cards to the designated classrooms.

It's a lot of work, but the students do it with excitement and, this holiday season, with a sense of purpose.

"We teach from the heart at IDS," says Rivera, "and if you do that, then all the rest naturally falls into place."

Founded in 1968, Independent Day School is a fully-accredited, private, non-sectarian school located in the heart of the Carrollwood section of north Tampa. It serves 400 plus students in grades Pre-K through 8. At IDS, all children experience learning in a nurturing, caring, child-centered, and highly academic environment focused on excellence and developing a positive self-concept and high self-esteem.

Contact: Dr. Joyce Burick Swarzman, Head of Independent Day School
Telephone: (813) 961-3087