Upper St. Clair students host costume drive
The International Baccalaureate program has some kids helping teachers in their school, while others collect books, and still others think a bit more seasonally for their community service.
“Can you imagine not getting any candy on Halloween?” asked Declan Gessel and fellow sixth graders Diana Chakos and Constantine Tripodes. The trio is collecting Halloween costumes for children and families unable to purchase the spooky getups.
The Boyce Middle School students have drop-off boxes at Baker, Eisenhower and Streams elementary schools in addition to their host school, where donations will be accepted through Oct. 10.
“Declan was on with the school announcements (Sept. 22) and was letting students know here in the school for the first time what these colorful boxes were all about,” teacher Justin Gremba said.
Gremba is Gessel’s math teacher, and supervisor of the school’s student council.
“It was very cool as council found out, other members starting making posters to advertise the boxes and the program,” he said.
As part of the International Baccalaureate program, students are “strongly encouraged” to do at least 20 hours of school or community service, according to Gremba.
“Half of our sixth graders are in the I.B. program, which is open to kids 3-19 in most schools.”
According to the I.B. website, the program aims to build better civic leaders in a global environment.
“The costume drive was such a unique idea, the kids hope to continue this every year, and hopefully students after them will keep it up as well,” Gessel’s mother, Maura Callahan, said.
Right now the kids are focused on this year’s drive.
“I told them, ‘you know, you need to advertise this and get this out so people know about it,’ and get them thinking about media attention and how to get the community involved,” Gremba said.
The students have asked that any donated costume include a slip indicating size and age appropriateness of the costume. According to Callahan, the costumes will be distributed through the non-profit FOCUS North America, and given to families at their Hill District Location, 2228 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, Pa. When families come to the center, children will have an opportunity to choose a costume.