South Central Community
Raises More than $1,400 for
First-Grader Battling Cancer
B
y the end of the last lunch period Wednesday, South Central
Elementary teachers were tearing about six pounds of
brightly-colored duct tape from around Principal Mrs.
Tomicek, who spent several hours allowing students to secure
piece after piece – all as part of a fundraiser that netted about
$1,400 for one of her first-graders.
The event was just one way the South Central Elementary
School is rallying around their classmate and friend, Gregory
Lomax, who has been battling cancer since a grapefruit-sized
tumor on his kidney was discovered this past October.
Gregory is currently undergoing chemotherapy once a week –
treatments that will continue for six months.
In support of Gregory, the
school is selling T-shirts and also
orange #gregorysmash bracelets.
The bracelets – which cost $2 a
piece - are available for purchase
at the Papa Johns and Big Fellas
restaurants in Canonsburg.
T-shirts may be ordered by
emailing [email protected].
His family and friends have
also launched a GoFundMe
account for Gregory, which can
be accessed here. They have
also planned a spaghetti dinner
fundraiser for Gregory that will
take place from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9 at the American
Legion Post 902 in Houston.
Mrs. Tomicek thanked everyone who came together to help
make the fundraiser a success, including all the teachers and
staff members who gave their lunch and prep times to provide
assistance.
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C AN ON - MAC SC HOOL DI STRI C T NE WS
F
irst Street Elementary School Principal Shannon Balch
told students, staff members, administrators and
special guests that a special feeling comes over her
every time she walks through the halls there: The feeling
you get when you know something amazing is happening.
“That something amazing is people making a difference
for others and kids growing,” she said at a Dec. 11
celebration of First Street’s recent designation as a national
Blue Ribbon School. “Not just growing in what they know –
but in who they are as citizens and people.”
Mrs. Balch explained to students about how special it is to
be designated as a Blue Ribbon School, and told them they
sho [