When West Salem Elementary organized a quick collection for victims of the devastating earthquake in Haiti, the school’s anti-bullying IMPACT rally last Friday seemed like the perfect time to reveal the results.

Although IMPACT stands for “I am a person acting with courage and teamwork,” fifth-grade teacher Mary Czajka told the rally’s attendees that it could also stand for “the impact we have on the world.”

Although more than $1,000 had been collected by last Tuesday, donations kept flooding in over the last three days and even Czajka didn’t know what the final total was going to be. That was to be revealed at the end of the rally when a replica of a giant check would be presented to Scott Friell, special events coordinator for the Scenic Bluffs chapter of the American Red Cross, Scott Friell.

First, however, students from Czajka’s class (most in costume) presented the audience with basic facts about the scope of the disaster in Haiti and the need for help from the rest of the world. Student council representatives from the middle school and the high school told the students about relief efforts at their respective schools.

The middle school students decided to contribute $1,200 to Haiti from money raised earlier this fall while money continues to be collected at the high school.

To add to the drama for those students wondering how much money they had actually raised, the staff had the school’s first-graders enter the gym on the run fitted out with signs representing dollar amounts.

They represented a kind of “running tally” that mounted to $1,000, then $2,000, then $3,000 but ended with a giant question mark.

With the suspense at a high point, kindergarten teacher Sherri Wizner and Gayle Lassen unrolled the check replica to reveal that the students had raised $4,000 for Red Cross relief efforts — an amazing $3,000 or so in the last three days of the collection effort.

After thanking the students, Friell explained that the money would be used for what is most urgently needed at this point for the Haitian people — food, water and shelter.

Afterwards, Czajka and other staff members seemed stunned at the generosity of the students and their families.

“With the rally today, the money just kept coming in right up until the end. The number was so close to $4,000 that staff members chipped in to make it an even four grand,” Czajka said.

The collection idea was originally a staff idea that fit in with the school’s “Make an Impact” anti-bullying theme. Letters were sent to all elementary parents on Jan. 20, Czajka said.

“Jane MacDonald, Sherri Wizner, Jan Liles were probably the idea ladies. I’m the one who gets things movin’, so to speak,” Czajka said. “We teach kids about being the hero when a bully is in full swing, don’t be a bystander, get involved, so this seemed appropriate. The idea was: don’t stand on the sidelines and watch others help out Haiti — get involved and make a difference.”