Parents:

Civic and Charity Involvement

• The faculty contributes Thanksgiving food baskets through the Volunteer Center. We provide holiday gifts and household needs to families through the Gainesville Housing Authority. Over 160 families through the years have had happier holidays due to the generosity of the GCDS families.
• GCDS has a Relay for Life Team which benefits the American Cancer Society.  The team has won  "Rookie of the Year," "Highest Fund Raising School," and "Highest Raising Veteran Team."  This will be our seventh year participating.
• The parents and faculty provide gifts to children through the county's Guardian Ad Litem program.
• The faculty buys over 50 toys every December to contribute to "Toys for Tots."
• GCDS has been involved in the March of Dimes Walkathon for many years, and won the award for the #1 Walkamania School, per capita, for three years.
• Our "Pennies from Heaven" project collects money throughout the year to be contributed to communities or areas affected by natural disasters.
• The second grade Ghost Pops classroom consumerism and economic education project earns money that is contributed to school and community projects.  Past benefactors include Stop Children's Cancer, Gainesville Pet Rescue, Shands Miracle Network, and ACS.
• The students collect change for CureFinders which is a national school project to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's research and education.
• Our classes have adopted soldiers in Iraq and through parent and teacher donations, have sent care packages to them.
• GCDS is involved in Elder Outreach Projects including volunteering and singing at local nursing homes: involvement with the local VA hospital: having Gift of Aging Celebrations and luncheons at school.
• We participate in the annual local "Coats for Kids" and collect warm clothing for less fortunate children.
• Our fifth graders are committed to fulfilling 36 hours of volunteer service per year.