On Thursday, May 9th, the SJHS students gathered for a school wide assembly to celebrate National Pay it Forward Day and a member of our community who is known for going out of their way to help others. This has been an annual event the staff and students look forward to for the last seven years. The SJHS JMG students organize and run a Pay it Forward Penny Drive competition during the month before this assembly, to raise money to pay it forward to someone in our community. This is usually a complete surprise to the recipient! This year, SJHS raised $2,000 through the Penny Drive.
Angie Lambert, of Sanford, was asked to come in and speak to the student body about the power of kindness and about how kindness has helped her overcome the obstacles she faced when she immigrated here from Peru with her family. Little did she know that after her talk with the students, the school had a big surprise for her! After her speech, we Skyped, as a school, with the school she used to work at in Peru. The SJHS students surprised the school with bottles they have been collecting to help them buy school supplies and non-perishable food, which the school needs! After this, the students surprised Angie with a number of gifts for her and her two sons, including a $1500 voucher to the YMCA and a coupon for a full car repair worth $1700! Gifts also included backpacks and summer activity packs for her sons (donated by Wanda Parent and Stuff the Bus), gift cards to Bonanza (donated by Geoff at Bonanza) and Pho Saigon, an hour and a half of bowling at Bowl-A-Rama (donated by Owen and staff at Bowl-A-Rama) and a gift card to Smitty's!
It was an incredible day that helped students to see how far even a small act of kindness - like donating a penny - can go, if we all work together! #bekind
To watch our Pay it Forward Assembly in full - visit this link! https://youtu.be/DPTjVZicX30