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Neighbors | Zack Shively.The Poland Union second-grade students who particpated in the Emoji Contest all recieved prizes. Pictured are the students and Diane and Lauren Demetrios of Let's Make a Difference.
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Neighbors | Zack Shively.The members of Let's Make a Difference handed out awards for an Emoji Contest sponsored by Barnes and Noble. The Poland Union Elementary second-grade students drew an emoji and parents and grandparents voted on the best ones. Pictured are third place winner Codi Collins, first place winner Dominic Volpini and third place winner Giada DeSantis.
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Neighbors | Zack Shively.After reading "Listen to Leslie" to the students, the representitives from Let's Make a Difference handed out copies of the books to the students. They took some time to look at the pictures and read the back, which offered additional information about author Diane Demetrios and the organization.
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Neighbors | Zack Shively.Members of Let's Make a Difference spoke at Poland Union Elementary on Oct. 24 to discuss bullying prevention. Let's Make a Difference is a program run by Making Kids Count, a nonprofit in the Mahoning Valley that helps children. Pictured are, from left, Lauren Demetrios, Diane Demetrios, Jana Coffin and Colleen Eisenbraun.
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Neighbors | Zack Shively.Diane Demetrios and her daughter Lauren of Let's Make a Difference, a program run through Makie Kids Count, came to Poland Union Elementary on Oct. 24 with other members of Making Kids Count. Lauren read her mother's book to the students.
by ZACK SHIVELY
Poland Union Elementary welcomed guest speakers to the school on Oct. 24 to discuss making correct decisions.
All second-grade classes reported to the gymnasium where they sat to listen to speakers from the Making Kids Count program “Let’s Make a Difference!“
Before the group began their program, principal Michael Masucci and school counselor Lauren Mechling spoke about making right choices, bully prevention and introduced the speakers.
The group included Jana Coffin, Colleen Eisenbraun, author Diane Demetrios and her daughter Laura. Laura Demetrios led a reading of her mother’s book, “Listen to Lesie,“ which covered anti-bullying message and stressed making good decisions and realizing everyone is different.
Laura Demetrios said that the final sentence of the story, “Keep in mind to be kind,“ stood as their message for the event.
The group handed out copies of the book to the students after the reading. The students took a moment to peruse it and look in the back of the book, which had additional information on Making Kids Count and Diane Demetrios.
Then, the group handed out awards for the Emoji Contest, sponsored by Barnes and Noble. For the contest, the students had to go to the store and draw an emoji. Parents and grandparents at the event voted for their favorite drawings. After they received the prizes, the students went back to class.
Making Kids Count is a nonprofit organization that helps children in Northeast Ohio. They run many programs and events, such as a candy bar sale Demetrios runs, a diaper bank that provides diapers for children like a food bank does with food and a program wherein they provide comfort kits of clothes and blankets to children going into foster care.