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Patricia Diesel PO, CEC, Author/Columnist Keep It Simple Now, LLC 908-642-1226 www.keepitsimplenow.com Call Now For Your FREE Assessment Kit Life Coaching & Professional Organizing Passionately Enhancing Your Way of Life • Reduce Stress • Conquer Procrastination • Find Work-Life Balance • De-Clutter Your Life Life can change in an instant, as Car- olyn Coppola experienced. In 2010, the Bernards High School (BHS) art teacher’s two year old niece, Sofia Grace, was diagnosed with ALL Leukemia. Having taught at the school for seventeen years, her pas- sion for art helped her grapple with the news as she wanted to help others also suffering from illness. As a result of Sofia’s diagno- sis, the service-learning project known as, “Sofi’s Happy Hankies” was creat- ed. Originally starting off as a Valentine's Day fundraiser, the art students would hand weave coil baskets during class and sell them to stu- dents and staff. The art classes decided that all pro- ceeds from the sale would be used to purchase sup- plies for future tie-dying. This project involved a small group of ten students who would tie-dye handkerchiefs and donate them to local cancer centers in honor of Sofia’s fight. In February 2013, Sofia ended her treatment and the feisty eight-year old now lives cancer- free. Late in 2015, Coppola got the idea to combine stu- dent’s artwork with a service learning proj- ect, hoping to include more students and the community. “This started off innocently, when I mentioned we should make our own coloring book,” Coppola remembers. “The kids really pushed the idea (and me) to make this a reality. It was inspir- ing how enthusiastic they were.” After discussing this with a class, it was decided that the BHS art students would create their own coloring book where all proceeds would go right back into service learning. For every book sold, two are donated to local cancer treatment centers for the use of patients. With the help of two stu- dents, juniors Lindsay Uber and Cristina Perez, Coppola collected stu- dent work and began putting the book together, “Color for Cause: A coloring book made by Bernards High School Art Students,” which was then put on Amazon. The Chamber of Commerce and local merchants helped to raise money for the colored pencils for each coloring book purchased. As a result, a coloring book with a tie-dyed handkerchief wrapped around color pencils is then donated to those battling a tough fight. As of December, approximately 400 copies have been donated. Coppola has heartfelt emotions for the students and locals who helped bring this proj- ect to life. “This project included after school hours at times, and the stu- dents never backed down. It’s very exciting to know my students are pub- lished artists!” she says. BERNARDS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS CREATE ART FOR THOSE IN NEED By: Katrina Musto ORBERA ™ Intragastric Balloon is a New Treatment in Battle Against Obesity Start Your ORBERA ™ Journey Right Here, Right Now Simple Design Portion Control 3x the Weight Loss of Diet & Exercise Alone We specialize in Gastroenterology, which is the treatment of diseases and disorders of the digestive system or gastrointestinal (GI) tract. %$&% (& ( &" + ( & %+$ $(& "##' %&%) ! )"( "' ( + ,PAGE 25
