$35,000 by April is the goal

Camden-Rockport students raise funds to get to Japan

Fri, 12/19/2014 - 10:00am

    CAMDEN — It’s coming up on that time when students from Japan arrive to spend a week at Camden-Rockport Middle School and a short time later, students from the middle school will make their own journey to Japan. In preparation for that trip, parents and students are focused on fundraising to come up with the $35,000 needed to finance the students’ trip to Japan.

    Rebecca Graham is the Japan Exchange coordinator. Ten students from Japan visit Camden in the winter and then in April, 10 CRMS students and two chaperones will visit Japan. The annual exchange has been happening for 16 years.

    The students and adults meet every week after hours at the middle school. While the students learn Japanese under the direction of Sachiko Clough in the library, the adults meet in what they call the war-room. It’s used for planning fundraising efforts.

    The students recently sold wreaths at the recent Christmas by the Sea celebration in Camden and are sponsoring a Christmas tree pickup following the holidays.

    “The Christmas tree pickup is simple,” said Graham. “You call us and we’ll pick up your discarded tree on either Jan. 3 or Jan. 10. We’ll pick it up in either Camden or Rockport and you can make a donation to us at that time. You can also download a pick-up form on our website: sendkidstojapan.com.”

    She said the students will hold a couple of movie nights, as well; one at the Camden Hills Regional High School and one at the Camden Public Library, said Graham.

    From Up on Poppy Hill will show Saturday, Dec. 27, at 6:30 p.m., at Camden Hills Regional High School’s Strom Auditorium.”

    John Paul Caponigro is offering a fine art print at a discounted price on the fundraising website.

    “The print is of the Asticou Garden in Northeast Harbor,” said Caponigro. “The garden is styled after a Japanese stroll garden. It’s Japanese, so it’s a special edition print.”

    You can donate to the fundraising effort on the website and there are several levels of contributions. All the current donors are listed there be it business or individuals.