Hyde Park Elementary School seeks to constantly improve in our efforts to serve the students and families of Hyde Park.  We want to hear your concerns and your suggestions.  This is best accomplished through open, direct communication. You can reach us via email, telephone or in person.  We look forward to working with you!

Kindergarten Raffle Haiti Fundraiser #3

The themes on which we focus in my kindergarten class during the months of November and December are two-fold.  Class discussions and month long projects center on being thankful for our many blessings, and the concept of giving, as opposed to receiving.  The last three years we have built these themes around the country of Haiti.

Three years ago, I read about a priest named Father Frechette, who also happens to be a medical doctor.  He has a clinic in Port-Au-Prince which sees and takes care of many sick people including many children.  When I read about this man in a church bulletin I picked up after mass one day, I got in touch with Dr. Jeannie Prunty at Copley Hospital in Morrisville.  She is a personal friend of Fr. Frechette and agreed to be our liaison between our classroom at Hyde Park Elementary and Fr. Frechette’s clinic in Port-au-Prince.

So, my students and I got to work.  The first year, we studied Haitian Art and created our own version of a Haitian-like piece.  We sold that beautiful piece of art and sent the money to Fr. Frechette.  Last year, we designed pieces of artwork made with used marker caps, took photos of these pieces, and made note cards with them.  We sold these cards and sent all proceeds to Haiti as well.  This year, the children voted on creating a piece depicting children at play during a Vermont winter.

We are having a raffle to benefit Fr. Frechette’s clinic this year.  Tickets are $1.00 each.  The prize is a framed 16”x20” painting depicting “Children Playing Outside in a Vermont Winter”.  The idea came from the children and they also did all of the painting and cutting out of the pieces.  Mrs. Jones and I put the pieces together.  We have also made cards depicting this painting and they will also be on sale for $1.00 apiece.  These may be purchased from any of my kindergarten students, Mrs. Jones, or myself any time.  We will draw the winning ticket on Valentine’s Day.

The children are very proud of this artwork and are happy to know that their efforts may help people in desperate need of medical attention, a blanket, or a teddy bear.  We would like to thank all of you for doing your part in making our wish come true by buying a raffle ticket for this painting.

Thank you all for your generosity and kindness…

Diane Marcoux-LaClair

HPES School-Wide Field Trip