January 31, 2000

Sixth-graders from the Montclair Renaissance School team up with Montclair State to collect books to send to the Gallon Jug Community School in Belize after Nancy Tumposky of Curriculum and Teaching visited there last summer. Pictured, from left, Gina Marie Tischio, a teacher at the Montclair Renaissance School; Montclair State student Tanya Klafter; and sixth-graders Jared Snipes, Mary Mitchell and Ross Mitchell pack the books.

A new chapter is unfolding for students in Belize thanks to Nancy Tumposky of Curriculum and Teaching, and faculty, parents and students of the Montclair Renaissance Middle School.

During a Global Education trip last summer to Belize, Tumposky visited the Gallon Jug Community School, an English language elementary school, and was disheartened to see the school's library had many outdated books. It was then she decided to organize the Books for Belize program that would provide more recent materials to students in the Gallon Jug Community School.

In September, the idea took flight when Claire Ciliotta, a Montclair resident and Renaissance Middle School parent, learned about the program and began donating books. The following month Tumposky spoke to sixth-grade students about her plan. "I showed them slides of Belize, did a presentation and left photos with them of the Gallon Jug School and the students," Tumposky explained. She proposed that the students participate in collecting books and raising funds to ship the books to Belize. This provided a perfect opportunity for students at the Renaissance School to help others and simultaneously integrate the service component of the school curriculum.

Through weekly bake sales, the students raised $156 in one month. "They were enthusiastic to bake and participate," said sixth-grade teacher Gina Tischio. "They are a good group of kids and work well as a team."

The students also brought in their own books for the program. Tumposky said second-hand books are welcome because the Gallon Jug School, which has limited resources, will not be required to pay duty on them.

Students from the Renaissance Middle School delivered the books and a check to Tumposky earlier this month. The books are being temporarily stored in the Center of Pedagogy. On Feb. 17, Tumposky will present the check to the Montclair State chapter of Kappa Delta Pi, whose members will pack and ship the books to Belize.

"I hope to set up a long-term relationship between the Renaissance School and the Gallon Jug School," Tumposky said.

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