Dengeos Restaurant Day!! Thanks for your support on March 2, 2011!

 It's McCracken Day

At Dengeos

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, March 2, 2011.

Dengeos' Skokie Restaurant is located at the corner of Main and McCormick.  Dengeos will donate 20% of any purchase made at their restaurant on Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011 to McCracken School ACT (Aiding Children Together) and the 8^th grade fundraiser!

ACT and the 8^th grade are raising money to help support an orphanage in Ghana, Africa.  One of our districts’ second grade teachers, Shelley Nizynski, has made seven trips to Africa devoting a great deal of her time, energy and resources to run the orphanage.  She started the foundation, A Better Life for Kids which funds the orphanage.  The orphanage houses many children, some with disabilities that are shunned in the Ghanaian society.  Most of the children can’t go to school and the orphanage has difficulty simply feeding the children and giving proper medical care.  Please help support our school by dining in or carry out on March 2nd. Eat delicious food & donate to a worthy cause. 

Present the attached coupon to the Dengeos employee when paying for your purchase.

Thanks to Dengeos and YOU for supporting A Better Life for Kids!

Present this coupon when purchasing your order at Dengeo’s on Wednesday, March 2^nd, 2011.

Order amount:              $____________________________

(Completed by Dengeos)

Thank you for your support!

Trying Gruel

This morning, the 8th graders in extended advisory tried vitameal, which is what we as a school are helping to provide to the orphanage in Ghana because it is rich in nutrients, anyone can eat it and it doesn't make you thirsty.  The majority of the group thought it was ok, but it needs more flavor.  Vitameal is a mixture of rice and lentils that needs to be boiled in order to eat it.

Raising money for A Better Life for Kids

Past events:

1. Despicable Me was shown at recess for a $1 donation
2. Badminton tournament at recess to raise money
3. Handmade bracelets were sold by a student

Ongoing events:

1. A Better Life for Kids bracelets are being sold for $2.  If you'd like one, please contact Bethany Blades or Paula Freeman through the McCracken School Office (847-673-1220).
2. Monetary donations for the cause

Upcoming events:

1. Basketball tournament begins Monday, February 14th!
2. T-shirt sales for the A.C.T. Walk-A-Thon.
3. A.C.T. Walk-A-Thon for A Better Life for Children on June 1, 2011. 

A Better Life for Kids

Second grade teacher, Ms. Shelley Nizynski, at Middleton Elementary, devotes much of her time and resources to help manage an orphanage in Ghana.  Her foundation is called A Better Life for Kids.  Ms. Nizynski has made seven personal visits to Ghana to help make these children's lives brighter. This orphanage accepts all kids no matter if they have a disability or illness.  Many of the kids are found on the street because they are not accepted in other orphanages or by their own families.  Some of these children that became orphans have no other way to feed themselves, but to become prostitutes for money. At hospitals there are children with AIDS who offer their blood for money, spreading this disease around the country. The orphanage tries to help kids like these have a better and more promising future, but it is still bleak. A very improtant and specific need for this orphanage is baby formula. When they run out, the only thing they have to feed the babies is bread, which isn't safe and doesn't give them the nutrition they need. There are very few hospitals and only one that is anywhere near the orphanage. Their supplies are very limited, and many of the children need specific medical attention that cannot be provided in Ghana.  For example there is one boy who has an enlarged brain that is pushing his eyes out of his head.  Therefore, the McCracken A.C.T., Aiding Children Together, organization definitely needs to help do what we can to give these children a chance to the rights and development they deserve!!!

--By:  Megan