Here are some cool news from Central Arkansas schools to wrap up the year and start the summer with:

Vicki Stroud Gonterman, M. Ed., International Studies Specialist at Gibbs International Magnet School, reports on the efforts of students at her Little Rock school to help the grieving families of Newtown, Conn.

Following the devastating shootings last December in Newtown, Conn., a group of third graders at Gibbs asked their teacher,  Jennifer White, what they could do to help. They made snowflakes, as did hundreds of thousands of students around the world, but these students wanted to do more than make decorations. With her students, White brainstormed various ways of helping. One of her students said, “I make things out of duct tape, and we could sell them to make money.” The idea for the highly successful Kids Stick Together (KST) project was born.

Gibbs students raised over $2,500 throughout the year, with the money donated to Healing Heart Center for Grieving Children and Families in Danbury, Conn. Read more about the fundraising drive in the digital edition of Little Rock Family's June 2013 issue.

Here's what else made this month's School Crossings feature:

• The Warrior basketball program at Hall High School celebrated their 2013 State Championships for both the boys and girls teams earlier this spring. The boys team won the Class 6A final against Jonesboro with 34-33 in a game that had fans on the edge of their seats. The Lady Warriors defeated Parkview with a final score of 56-45.
• On May 8, students across the country participated in Bike to School Day, including local youngsters at Forest Park Elementary School in Little Rock and Crestwood Elementary School in North Little Rock. Both schools hosted events to teach children bicycle safety and healthy living. Crestwood students prepared at a bike rally the previous weekend, hosted in conjunction with the city’s Fit2Live program.
• On April 5 & 6, young performers at Parkview Arts/Science High School hit the stage to perform “Hairspray: The Broadway Musical,” a fun romp through 1960s Baltimore.
• In December, EAST students at Roberts Elementary sponsored a “Koats 4 Kids” drive, asking fellow students to donate gently worn items. The children gathered 325 coats, as well as hats, scarves and gloves.
• Hats off to the amazing 2013 seniors at LISA Academy North! Along with their diplomas, the North Little Rock School’s very first graduating class of just 11 students received over $1 million in scholarships.
• Students are sure to shine in the stellar new amenities unveiled at Horace Mann’s Arts and Science Magnet School. A $4.3 million, 11,614 square-foot Fine Arts wing was dedicated earlier this year, and includes professional dance floors, dressing rooms, sound-absorbing walls, a 20-person piano lab and more.

Does your child's school have some cool news?
Send your school’s fundraising accomplishments, unique classroom initiatives, teacher accolades and more to BNeel@ABPG.com, and you just might see your school’s efforts recognized in our next installment of School Crossings.