Nov 20, 2014 Bill Reilly Point of View
Would you call your teacher a chicken?
That’s exactly what the students of Bethlehem Central Middle School did to purchase more than 500 chickens and a cow for a sustainable project to help impoverished people in Uganda.
The students raised $2850 to present to Mark Bertrand, founder and director of The Giving Circle Inc., a Capital District nonprofit that builds schools, orphanages and sustainable agricultural projects in Uganda, where the average per capita income is less than $5 per day.
The students held a coin drive, “penny wars” and showed a movie to raise the money. They called their fundraiser the “Call Your Teacher a Chicken” drive, where each homeroom could name the chickens they purchased after their teachers or famous people.
The money from this donation will be used to purchase a milking cow for the Giving Circle’s Busoga Primary School in Jinja, Uganda. The 500 chickens will be divided into groups of 20 and given to 25 families to start small sustainable businesses that will provide breeding chickens and eggs for people who are desperately poor.
A chicken breeding building will be constructed next to the school that will also serve as a life science and agricultural teaching classroom. The building will be named “The Bethlehem Central Middle School Friendship Building” in reflection of the students’ efforts.
These initiatives were part of the sixth grade global social studies curriculum at BCMS, where students learn about the social and economic factors affecting people in different nations, as the students develop global leadership and citizenship skills by engaging in projects that have a “real world” impact.
Matt Hicks, Nassir Young and Billy VanAmburgh, are three of the sixth-grade “coin ambassadors” who spent time distributing the coin cans across the school and then counting thousands of pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters at the end of the drive.
“We did this because we wanted to do the one thing that could possibly change the whole world” said Nassir.
Billy added, “From this project I learned that just one penny can make a change.”
Matt concluded, “Students need to become world citizens because they are the future citizens of this planet.”
In response to the students’ efforts, Bertrand replied, “We are so grateful to all the staff and to the wonderful caring students of Bethlehem Middle school for their hard work and compassion expressed in this wonderful gift. The students of Bethlehem Middle School understand so well that no child should go hungry. This cow and chickens will provide milk and eggs for the students of our Busoga school. For most of the children, this meal will be the best meal of their day. For so many, it may be the only meal they will receive.”
This coin drive has been an ongoing annual event that in previous years has helped the Giving Circle to build an orphanage, purchase school desks and plant a fruit orchard of more than 200 trees.
The children of BCMS really are making a global difference!
The writer is a teacher at Bethlehem Central Middle School.
Nov 02, 2016 0
Feb 19, 2019 0
Feb 19, 2019 0
Feb 19, 2019 0
Feb 19, 2019 0
May 24, 2017 0
May 27, 2016 0
May 04, 2016 0
Feb 12, 2016 0
Capital District Transportation Authority - CDTA
8 hours ago
Did you know we have a total of three different trolleys that run at different times throughout the year in @downtownsaratoga, @downtown_schenectady and @downtownalbany & @larkstreetbid?! Plus, our Capital City Trolley runs all year long! ... See MoreSee Less
Capital District Transportation Authority - CDTA shared Two Buttons Deep's post.
12 hours ago
We love the Albany Patroons and are proud to give away seats for some of our local veterans to enjoy the game! ... See MoreSee Less
1 day ago
Even though we do not have any cottages to show at this time, take a virtual tour from the comfort of your own home of a past Model Cottage here: www.google.com/maps/@42.5830476,-73.6709163,3a,73.7y,279.45h,90t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sAF1QipMLNqOI.... ... See MoreSee Less
google.com
Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.The Spinney at Van Dyke added 3 new photos — watching snow fall.
1 day ago
Already sick of snow this winter?
Why not take a break from shoveling this afternoon and come take a tour of The Spinney! Our staff takes care of all snow removal so you could be enjoying a warm cup of hot chocolate instead of snow blowing or shoveling around your home today!
Want to move before the next (inevitable) storm? We have units ready for move-in right now! Call (518) 689-0162 or visit www.thespinneyatvandyke.com for more information about our available cottages. ... See MoreSee Less
Don't forget we are taking nominations for "Seats for Service Members" Head over to our website www.cdta.org for full details on how to nominate a hometown hero! ... See MoreSee Less
CDTA and Patroons Team up for "Seats for Service Members"
news10.com
The Capital District Transportation Authority and the Albany Patroons have teamed up to award four VIP seats to the club’s home games at the Washington Avenue Armory for active duty military mem...We are operating a regular weekday schedule today. Be sure to use the Navigator app or Google maps for real time information for any weather-related service delays. ... See MoreSee Less
Presidents' Day Service | www.cdta.org
cdta.org
February 16, 2019 Service Will Operate on Weekday Schedule The Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) will operate on a regular weekday schedule on Presidents’ Day&comm...Head out to all of your favorite spots tonight with the convenience of a free ride! Check out the Capital City Trolley and find stops near you using the Cityfinder app! Did we mention it’s the PERFECT ride for a date?!🥰🚎 ... See MoreSee Less
3 days ago
Spend your February break at the #EmpireSkatePlaza! iHeartRadio will be taking over the Ice Rink sound system next week! Schedule below ⬇️⬇️
Monday, February 18 | 1-3pm | KISS 102-3 with D. Scott
Tuesday, February 19 | 1-3pm | 98-3 TRY with Jaime Roberts
Wednesday, February 20 | 1-3pm | WildCountry999 with Jillian
Thursday, February 21 | 1-3pm | 99.5 The River with Kevin & Tracy ... See MoreSee Less
There's a general strike in the USA on April 15th and you all are invited.

After the so-called tax cuts, this year you will receive a smaller refund, or will have to pay even more taxes than other years. Do you know who is really benefitting from the Republican/Trump tax cut scam? The VERY RICH. That's all Paul Ryan wanted; he got it and ran away.

 “The 2017 law was supposed to boost workers' wages, create jobs, and drive more investment — and as we've known for a while, it's done none of that. But now we can add two more failures to the creatively-named Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA): It hasn't encouraged corporations to return their profits from overseas, and it's probably hiding a nasty surprise for many Americans come tax season.” – Jeff Spross

If in your tax bracket, after Trump's tax cuts, you received 3% more money in your paycheck, and then when you file your taxes you receive an average of 8% refund less than other years, how much are you losing?

“Lower tax refunds might hurt the economy. If Americans are getting less money back, that might mean they're going to spend less of their refund.” - Jordan Valinsky

Your (small) refunds will be delayed thanks to President Donald Trump’s shutdown.

"I DIDN’T NEED TO DO THIS." - Donald Trump as he declares a national emergency taking billions of dollars away from our Veterans, and leaving for Florida for the weekend to PLAY GOLF.

JOIN THE GENERAL STRIKE APRIL 15, 2019.
PROTEST THE ILLEGITIMATE CORRUPT CRUEL TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

EVENT: GENERAL STRIKE TO REMOVE TRUMP FROM OFFICE.

WHEN: APRIL 15, 2019.

TIME: 12:00 AM TO 11:59 PM.

WHERE: THE STREETS AND HIGHWAYS ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
Proud to partner with the Albany Patroons on "Seats for Service Members." Nominate your hero today for a chance to win tickets to a game and a gift basket! Full details can be found here 👇👇 ... See MoreSee Less
CDTA and Albany Patroons Offer Seats for Service Members | www.cdta.org
cdta.org
February 16, 2019 All Active Duty Military Members and Veterans Eligible for Promotion ALBANY, NY (February 15, 2019) The Capital District Transportation Authority and the ...Happy Weekend! If you are riding with us on Presidents' Day, Monday February 18 we will be operating on regular weekday service. ... See MoreSee Less
Presidents' Day Service | www.cdta.org
cdta.org
February 16, 2019 Service Will Operate on Weekday Schedule The Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) will operate on a regular weekday schedule on Presidents’ Day&comm...