Pennies for Patients and/or Pasta for Pennies

Our school is hosting a donation drive/service project for Pennies for Patients and/or Pasta for Pennies (I've heard both ways) sponsored by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The class that gets the most money, gets a pasta party provided by Olive Garden. Oh...and it benefits cancer patients, like me. But really...that's beside the point. We want PASTA! This is the first year our school has done this and I'm their "honored hero". There's even a whole bulletin board by the cafeteria dedicated to me. I know what you're thinking...me, me, me! Oh, no wait. That's what I'm thinking! I always said the world would be a much nicer place if it revolved around me. Kidding! (Though probably not according to my brother!) Anyway...the project and bulletin board were coordinated by our counselor, Tore. I'm going to take a picture of the board tomorrow and post it then. My sister-in-law, Melony, wrote the bio for me. This is what it says:

Kimberly Riggle has been teaching children with autism in Grand Prairie for the past five years. Teaching students with special needs takes a very special person and that is exactly what Kim is. To take words directly from her, "I don't teach ordinary kids...my kids are the most amazing kids ever. They struggle through day to day activities, never giving up. In our class, we don't celebrate test grades or well written essays. We have small victory parties and tears over tying shoes for the first time or swinging by yourself on the playground without help." You can hear the passion and love she has for her kids in her words, her attitude and her actions. Teaching students with this kind of passion in itself makes her a great candidate for honored hero for the Pennies for Patients campaign. This commendable feat is enough for any person to receive commendations for. The fact that Kim taught the past year with this kind of energy and passion while also battling Hodgkin's Lymphoma makes her a true hero. Kim was diagnosed with Hodgkin's on July 16, 2008. She took this news just like any other challenge in her life - head-on and with a positive attitude. Kim is a true fighter. The fact that she came to work each day while undergoing chemotherapy, radiation and many sleepless nights is a true testament to her fortitude. We are all so blessed that Kim won her battle against Hodgkin's on December 8, 2008. If you ask Kim today about the diagnosis and her battle she will answer you in her ever present positive attitude - I am stronger for having this disease...I am even stronger for beating this disease.

She did good, eh? :) If you're interested in donating to our class, go here: http://campus.gpisd.org/mos/GradeLevels/SLC/tabid/680/Default.aspx -there's a link to donate online. Thanks!

Tonight was the Teacher of the Year reception. My whole family was there as well as some of my co-workers! Though I didn't get chosen as a finalist for the district (therefore avoiding the whole interview process...yea!), I'm still beyond honored to be chosen for my school. I'll post pictures of that soon, too.

Speaking of pictures...I posted the ones of my cousin, Lindsey, cutting her hair for Locks of Love in the same album as Shelley's. I also added some more of Light the Night that I finally got from our art teacher. I made a note of where those start so you don't have to weed through all of them.

Okay...that's it until the pictures are taken. Thanks and goodnight!