By Sarah Millman
Cobequid Educational Centre recently had 18 students participate in the 30-Hour Famine, an event that aims to spread awareness and raise money for education, safety, food and water.
The students raised $3,200, which will be directed to the construction and upkeep of schools in North Sudan and training teachers in Indonesia.
Karley Hewitt, a Grade 12 student, organized the event.
"I think that it's important because not a lot of people take the time to think about things that don't affect them, like poverty, insecurity or lack of food," said Hewitt. "Any person can have a significant impact in another's life and I was given an opportunity to do so, so I'm thankful for that.
"I think a lot of the participants realized how appreciative they are of the things they have, and how much we take for granted as Canadians."
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Band members from CEC visited High River, Alta., in March to participate in a cultural exchange with Highwood High School and now 41 Alberta musicians and five chaperones have arrived in Nova Scotia. Both bands received gold in classical and jazz classes at the Truro Music Festival and are travelling to the Atlantic Band Festival at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax.
Highwood students are in the Maritimes for seven days and while here they're touring and attending classes with CEC students. The exchange came about through CEC's music director Jeff Graham, who formerly taught at Highwood High School.
Highwood students report a newfound love of lobster and greenery.
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CEC has started a school-wide penny drive to raise money for both the school library and Wadeng - Wings of Hope, an organization building schools in South Sudan.
Students are having a classroom-based competition to fuel donations but money is coming in slower than expected so now they're asking for the public's help.
The students want to raise $10,000 (that's one million pennies) for these causes and they want you to save your spare change, dump out your piggy banks and do some good by bringing it to the school.
If the public will work with the school towards this goal it will make even more of a difference, and maybe you'll sleep a little easier at night knowing your loose change is changing lives.
All donations are appreciated.
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CEC is getting ready to host the track and field district competition on May 11-12 and new head coach Scott Annand is up for the challenge.
"I am very optimistic about the upcoming track season," he said. "We have a very veteran group of athletes in all disciplines - on the track, and in field events, particularly the throws events.
"If we remain patient and disciplined in our training and stay focused ... stay healthy, it could be a very special year for CEC track."
Sarah Millman is a Grade 10 student at CEC. She lives in Truro.
