Marley Park Elementary

The Marley Park Team made a strong showing this year at the Character Counts! Character Challenge 5K run/walk at Wesley Bolin Plaza in Phoenix on March 2, benefiting the Arizona Character Education Foundation. Marley Park Elementary School students, their families, teachers and staff, along with Marley Park residents and employees took part in the event.
Last month, 30 students and staff members from Arizona Charter Academy in Surprise traveled to Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point), Mexico, for four hard but rewarding days.

Instead of spending their time doing traditional vacation activities like frolicking in the surf or playing in the sand, the group focused on a more altruistic goal: helping others.

While in Mexico, the staff and students built a home for a local family living in poverty. The school worked with Casa de Amor, an organization that helps partner U.S. groups with Mexican residents in order to help build homes.

Arizona Charter Academy is the first public school to work with Casa de Amor.

“The family had been living in a one-room home made from sheetrock, with dirt as their floor and no windows and doors,” Principal Heather Henderson said. “We built a safe and livable home for them.”

Students and staff had to hand mix the cement and stucco. When they were finished, they presented the keys to the grateful family.

Arizona Charter Academy Vice Principal Stephani Olson said the students raised about $4,000 to make the trip through a combination of fundraisers and community donations. The funds bought food for the trip as well as transportation, lodging and supplies.

Posted by http://www.azcentral.com