ACS Hillingdon community has moved to mobilise student and parent awareness of the desperate plight of the survivors of the recent earthquake in Haiti. In the high school the first immediate response was to hold a week-long bake sale. The High School Student Council are planning a number of events including a car wash on Teacher Conference Day in association with the Girl Scouts in the middle school, an X-Box competition and sales of plastic wrist bands - Hands to Help Haiti. The money collected in the high school will go to Doctors without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières or MSF) and a direct contact is being established with the expectation of having a speaker from MSF explain their work in Haiti.

HELP FOR HAITI BAKE SALE

From the 25th to the 29th January, every morning break was transformed into a flurry of activity outside Ms. Apple's office. Every day a small group of volunteers would sell a vast array of baked goods, sweets and soda, all donated by high-school students and faculty. The money was raised in order to help the millions of people suffering and displaced in Haiti after the devastating earthquake that ripped through the capital on the 12th January. In only five days, the joint efforts of students and faculty raised £750 to be passed on to a direct contact in Médecins Sans Frontières. Please remember that there are still many people in Haiti in desperate need of both long- and short-term aid. For now, a huge thank-you to everyone who helped out, it's made a difference. - Mell Hudson, High School

In the middle school a variety of events are planned including the support the aid fun as a part of their Charity Walk. Middle school and high school students will be participating in a spirit week to raise funds including a "Hats for Haiti" day. The Middle School Student Council has some big plans coming up. During the coming weeks, we will be collecting items that will benefit those impacted by the disaster in Haiti. These may include supplies such as water purification tablets, first aid kits, blankets and other materials. Plans are also being finalised on an art project school-wide that will show a caring message of hope. Finally, a dress up fund-raiser is being planned.

On March 17th the lower school students will be holding their annual 'Books for Friends' fund raiser. Each year, the ACS Hillingdon community bring in books in good condition and in many languages. The books are collected by the Lower School Student Council who organise them and arrange them for sale in the Head of School foyer. Each book sells for £1.00 and in the past over £600.00 has been raised and we hope to raise a similar if not greater amount this year. Posters are appearing around the school and the whole school is preparing to support this important fund raiser for Haiti.

As a special whole school activity a special "Day of Work" is being planned to raise money for the relief fund. Our ACS Hillingdon community is finding many ways to reach out a hand to assist those in need.