Students from Lipsey Middle School recently partnered with theircounterparts from a North Dakota elementary school to provideassistance to Gulf Coast victims of Hurricane Katrina.

The effort by the student councils from Lipsey and J. NelsonKelly Elementary in Grand Forks, N.D., yielded $1,300 and over 100books donated by students. The campaign was a good one for Lipseystudents.

“It was fun ’cause we got together (with students from NorthDakota),” said Lipsey sixth grader Kierra Gray.

The partnership initiated with a Lipsey student whose auntteaches at Kelly Elementary.

Initially, Kelly Elementary teachers wanted to directly supportBrookhaven residents impacted by Hurricane Katrina. However, Lipseyrepresentatives suggested the two schools partner in a combinedeffort for Gulf Coast students.

In addition to school supplies, Lipsey students brought in theirspare pennies as part of the campaign. Lipsey Student Councilsponsors Mandy Bayliss and Heather Smith said fifth and sixth gradestudents competed in a penny drive, with the homeroom class raisingthe most money winning a pizza party.

While all members of the winning classes enjoyed the pizzaparty, some students mentioned the intrinsic reward of communityservice.

“I just like to help other people,” said sixth grader TramellBenson. “That’s just me.”