Kindergartners took Olney Adventist Preparatory School (Md.) by storm, winning a three week long Penny War. To help raise money for the school’s building loan, each classroom was equipped with coin jars. The object was to collect as many pennies as possible and set other classrooms back by putting silver coins in their jars.
“Each week had a different theme,” explained Principal Jami Walker. “The first week, winners got an ice cream treat. Second week, students could vote for me to do something, including dying my hair green. They chose to cover me in ketchup and mustard. Week three, the winning class was thrown a party with a bouncy house.”
Kyra, a first grader, gleefully squirts mustard on her mother, Principal Jami Walker.
This is the first year all classes have been under one roof. Since opening nearly 17 years ago, Olney had been operating from the church and temporary buildings, but God had a plan. The Commonweal Foundation, a foundation which operates and supports educational programs and projects assisting under-served children and youth, granted $1.55 million and the Potomac Conference donated $250,000 to help with the new building.
Olney Prep is now working to pay off a $600,000 loan. “We raised almost $2,000 through the Penny War,” shared Walker. “Our new building is such a blessing. Students can play together and we’re able to do activities that we weren’t previously able to do. Now, we have a prayer buddy program, where older and younger students come together, have prayer and do activities together. The Lord has blessed us.”
The new school building allows all students to learn and play under the same roof. For nearly 17 years, Olney had operated from the church and temporary buildings.
