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| Contributed photo Marissa E. Lloyd was a second-grader at Hilltop Elementary school when a car crash took her life. |
By Natalie De La Garza
Staff Writer
Marissa Lloyd was only in second grade when a car crash claimed her life in 2008, but her positive attributes and smiling face are embodied in a program that helps second-graders learn about some tough issues — like coping with the death of a loved one and bullying.
This year, second-graders in Woodland, Caribou, Connor, Limestone and Washburn were given the option of receiving a book dealing with one of two issues, “Chester the Raccoon and the Big Bad Bully” or “Chester the Raccoon and the Acorn Full of Memories,” both written by Audrey Penn.
Over 140 books were distributed amongst the five schools though the Marissa Lloyd Sunshine Fund, with “Chester the Raccoon and the Big Bad Bully” being the most popular amongst students again this year.
Both books were discussed during a half-hour presentation by the fund’s board members, with an emphasis placed on the topic of bullying (as it’s the most requested book). Students are assured that they can always go to a trusted adult for help and reminded how important it is to use their voice. A common phrase taught through the fund is “a voice is a voice, no matter how small.”
For the second year, the Fund also oversaw the Sunshine Citizenship Award for each participating second-grade classroom in Caribou, Limestone, Connor and Woodland.
“This is a special award voted on by the students themselves,” explained Marissa’s grandmother and Sunshine Fund board member Connie Lloyd. “The students vote for their peers that they believe are an outstanding citizen, meaning they are helpful to others, listen to teachers and classmates, take care of property, are polite, courteous, respectful and don’t bully other classmates.”
Sunshine Citizenship Award recipients this year were Darian Langille, James Cherrier, Logan Griffeth, Nickie Deschaine and Selena Savage, from Hilltop Elementary School; Tressa Salch from Connor; Candence St. Pierre from Limestone and Nevaeh Trombley of Woodland.
“Marissa held all of the qualities that the recipients of the ‘Sunshine Citizenship Award’ possess, and it is an honor to be able to provide these awards to the children at the age that we do,” said Marissa’s mother Kristen Lloyd, adding her hopes that each of the children would be able to spend 10 minutes with their parents or guardians reading the new book together.
Sunshine Citizenship Award recipients were celebrated by their peers during the Sunshine Fund presentations, and they each received a certificate and a T-shirt with the Marissa Lloyd Sunshine Fund logo on it.
This year’s book distribution was assisted by a grant through the United Way, which supplied $1,700 for each student to receive an autographed copy of whichever book they selected.
Additional information about the Marissa Lloyd Sunshine Fund can be found at www.MarissaSunshineFund.org or by visiting their Facebook page.
