Alderwood puts 'Hats On For Haiti'

The students and staff at Alderwood Basics Plus Elementary School came up with a unique way to raise money for a good cause this week. Alderwood students are generally not permitted to wear hats or baseball caps during school hours, but on Wednesday they were allowed to break that rule as long as they contributed at least a dollar toward relief efforts in Haiti. The idea came from sixth-grade teacher Peggy Landon-Koustik. Ultimately, more than 70 percent of the student body – and 100 percent of the staff – gladly chipped in, raising more than $1,800 in what was billed as “Hats On For Haiti.” While the majority wore standard baseball caps, others opted to go a bit less traditional with wigs, cowboy hats, beanies and other creative lids. “It went really well,” Principal Ken Horner said. “It was very successful for kind of a spur-of-the-moment idea.” Our hats are off to Alderwood for initiating such a clever fundraiser and contributing to the relief efforts.