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Salamonie participates in Silver Package Project

Salamonie School recently participated in a Silver Package Project to benefit children in need. Featured are students from Marci Roller’s third grade class showing their Silver Package donations.
Salamonie School recently participated in a Silver Package Project to benefit children in need. Featured are students from Marci Roller’s third grade class showing their Silver Package donations. Photo provided.

The students at Salamonie Elementary School participated in a special project for the holiday season.

During their class counseling lessons with Counselor Melinda Huber, students listened to the story “Silver Packages” by Cynthia Rylant. This is the true story of the Christmas train, which began running in the Appalachian Mountains in 1943.

Each year, on Dec. 23, it travels through the mountains to bring gifts to children awaiting its arrival. For some children, it is the only gift they receive.After listening to the story, students discussed ways they could help others during the holiday season. After discussing several ideas, each student received his or her own empty silver package. Students were asked to consider donating some of their own Rebel Bucks into their silver packages to be used to purchase presents from the Rebel Store for kids in need. Rebel Bucks are dollars that students earn at school for positive behaviors. Students shop in the school Rebel Store once a month to buy prizes.

After tallying all donations, Huber says, “students proved that they had generous hearts.” Students donated $1,578 worth of Rebel Bucks that were then used to purchase items from the Rebel Store.

“Rebel Store prizes are not equal to regular retail prices,” Huber said. “Many students donated every dollar they had.”

The items purchased are being donated to children at the Youth Opportunity Center in Muncie.

“It was a beautiful project with a lot of generous kids sharing so much. We hope the children enjoy the gifts, but even more, we hope the Silver Package Project stays in the hearts of our Salamonie Rebels for years to come,” Huber said.