Six local schools just proved that even the smallest of change can make a big difference.
Holy Family vice-principal Val Yockey challenged all the schools in the Battlefords to a spare change drive for the month of January, to raise money for the CUPlex.
St. Vital, Battleford Central, 脡cole Monseigneur Blaise Morand, Connaught and Bready answered the call and together raised $6,913.47.
"I was hoping we'd raise $5,000," said Yockey, adding she was surprised at the success of the challenge.
For the school that raised the most money per student, the North Stars donated tickets to a game and the City of North Battleford donated a pool party.
Although Bready raised the most as a school ($2,118.17 or $8.72 per student), St. Vital took home the prize, raising a total of $1,672.42, or $9.29 per student.
"Being able to raise for the community was awesome," said St. Vital principal Don Buglas.
But it wasn't the pool party or hockey tickets motivating the students to dig up all the spare change they could find; the school came up with their own unique and unusual incentives.
If the students raised $200, they could duct tape their physical education and band teacher, Eric Cawood, to the wall.
When the donations hit $400, the student leadership advisor, Kelly Waters, would have a new psychedelic hair colour.
At $600, Buglas and vice-principal Kirby Arbeau would wear dresses and, in the unlikely event the school managed to raise $800, they would also put on make-up.
Buglas said the students were giggling with glee when they found out they doubled their goal.
"They've been laughing about this all week," said Buglas.
A special assembly was held, but it seemed more like a circus had visited the gymnasium, as students eagerly lined up to tape poor Cawood to the wall. Flashes filled the room as kids took pictures of their principal looking like an escaped clown and Arbeau as the bearded lady.
Even without the incriminating photographs, it will likely be a day the students will never forget.
