{"id":42536,"date":"2014-08-26T18:00:37","date_gmt":"2014-08-26T22:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/?p=42536"},"modified":"2014-08-26T18:00:37","modified_gmt":"2014-08-26T22:00:37","slug":"ice-bucket-challenge-hits-fwcs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/2014\/08\/26\/ice-bucket-challenge-hits-fwcs\/","title":{"rendered":"Ice bucket challenge hits FWCS"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Fort<\/p>\n

News release from the Fort Wayne Community Schools:<\/p>\n

Ice Bucket Challenge Hits FWCS<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

(August 26, 2014) – With the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge making its way around, it was only a matter of time before it hit Fort Wayne Community Schools.<\/p>\n

This week several schools will participate in the challenge, which began as a way to raise awareness of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. This debilitating disease has touched the lives of many in FWCS as staff members have watched family members, friends and co-workers suffer through the life-altering and eventually fatal effects of ALS.<\/p>\n

On Wednesday, Aug. 27, Harrison Hill Elementary and Haley Elementary staff members will participate in the challenge. Mayor Tom Henry will join in the challenge at Haley, 2201 Maplecrest Road, at 9:30 a.m.<\/p>\n

Harrison Hill Principal Shawn Smiley and his staff challenged Haley Principal Brandon White and his staff to the task. Smiley and his staff have used this opportunity to talk to students about the positives and negatives of social media, as well as using it as an opportunity to learn about ALS.<\/p>\n

“We’re teaching students how social media can be used to promote positive messages and have a real effect on a cause,” Smiley said. “Many students use social media to play games or talk with friends, but we want them to understand it can be used for so much more. We also want them to understand just how far messages – good or bad – can go when they are posted on social media. There are pros and cons to using this tool, and students need to understand how it works.”<\/p>\n

Since the ice bucket challenge went viral about a month ago, the ALS Association has raised nearly $80 million. Money raised by staff members at Harrison Hill will be donated to the Stavreti Scholarship, which is named for former Northrop High School Baseball Coach Chris Stavreti. Coach Stavreti died in 2012 after a long battle with ALS.<\/p>\n

In addition:<\/p>\n