EVERY CHILD COUNTS...
EVERY STUDENT MATTERS...
EVERY PERSON may have something of the sacred...

JANUARY 2012:
Jan 19: Hats off to Rev. Faye Wheatley for sharing with EveryChildCounts...EveryStudentMatters. We thank you for supporting this Child Help Organization as we busy ourselves helping children in need. If this year we are hoping for 2012 reasons to say thank you, then you are most certainly already one of them.

Jan. 14: ECC...ESM wishes to offer a big, big Thank you to Knox United Church Fellowship Group for inviting Rollie Herritt to have breakfast with them today and share about this Child Help Organization.We so salute all the supporting things they do to help others and since we both share that in common we are indeed partners in a common ministry - that we are willing and determined to engage in outreach missions internationally, regionally and within our own community. Our spirit of attempting to add to the 'common good' allows us to partner in good will. Again a most sincere thank you for your fellowship, hospitality and sharing an enjoyable meal. Blessings ALL.

Jan. 13: ECC...ESM is delighted to say Thank You to The Farrell Sisters of Antigonish, Nova Scotia for several years in a row offering support to this Child Help Organization.Again this year you have allowed the smile in your heart to extend to a donation to EveryChild and we so graciously acknowledge you and our sincere thanks. We know that a child will smile more because of you. (We learn from every little smile and every bit of laughter that EveryChildCounts and EveryStudentMatters)

Jan. 12: Today (Thursday), Rollie as an associate of ECC...ESM enjoys meeting with a young group of High School Students at Prince Andrew High School, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia as they discuss their next fundraising activity for EveryChildCounts...EveryStudentMatters. They are one truly impressive, dynamic and engaging group of young people. They meet, they discuss, they plan, they do. They are determined to live a life that is bigger than themselves. In particular, just as they are in the 'thick' of academic success, they are willing to share a few moments every week and from these efforts offer a child they have never met a reasonable chance to access an educational opportunity. Our students are becoming 'leaders' at an earlier and earlier age. They are part of an ever larger growing group of students who are willing and want to be a part of the change they wish to see in their world and this is very evident at Prince Andrew. Kudos to all who were at the meeting today and a big Thank You to Ms. MacLeod for her advice and assistance in helping us advance our goals. More exciting things to share soon. YES!!!!!

Jan. 1: GREETINGS EVERYONE...Wishing You All A Happy New Year for 2012. Yes, we so graciously thank EVERY PERSON who supported EveryChildCounts...EveryStudentMatters in 2011. It has been another year of 'more than a handful of people' choosing to make a difference in some child's world. Because of those who decided to share some of their resources this Child Help Organization was able to ensure 22 children in Haiti and 2 in Kenya were offered another entire year of schooling. They have been funded with both educational opportunities and meals right up to June 2012. Then we hope to be in a position to help these 24 young persons to climb further up their educational ladder. In addition in 2011, we sent funds to The Human Coalition of Canada and The World Food Programme to help children in Kenya-Somalia because of the acute famine conditions there. We can't say Thank You enough to all who helped us in 2011, but we will keep expressing our gratitude on behalf of the children we assist with your help. To any reader who may wish to be a part of this 'caring energy' called EveryChildCounts...EveryStudentMatters we would so appreciate if you would be in touch with us. Just think, if EVERYONE who read this decided to find a way to raise just $20.12 for ECC...ESM, then we would help even more children in need. That is our passion to help children and we are so eager to rev up our energies for the New Year. So 2012 we're giving you heads up here, we are challenging ourselves to help make a child's world a little more, and that our resources extend to more children in need. Every child deserves a reasonable chance. YOU and I may be the ones to help make that reasonable chance be there. Blessings to all who help. Encouraging you to consider ECC..ESM this year.

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DECEMBER NOTES:
December 25: Just wish to share something so AWESOME. Several family members and friends decided to offer ECC...ESM a 'Christmas gift' in the form of a financial donation. A number of cheques and cash came in amounting to several hundred dollars to help us begin 2012. These are Christmas Gifts guided by the Christmas Spirit and we at ECC...ESM are so entrusted with the responsibility of 'every penny donated will go directly to help a child in need". You know who you are who did this and we are ever grateful.

December 19: Mother's Union of St. Francis By The Lakes Church, First Lake Dr. Sackville, Nova Scotia decided to 'tap into' the beauty of Christmas and offer a blessing to EveryChildCounts...EveryStudentMatters by making a donation of $180 to this CHILD HELP ORGANIZATION. The Mother's Union members could have so used these funds for Christmas Gifts among themselves. Instead they so unselfishly chose to support ECC...ESM. They know the gift of giving to help others and may their hearts be rewarded with the 'joy' of giving. Thank you, Thank you to Elaine B, Joan, Shirley K, Elaine L, Dawn, Bev, Rose, Sarah S, Mona and Ann.

December 04: There is every good reason to express our most sincere thanks to Lady Lin Slade for supporting EveryChildCounts...EveryStudentMatters. With her contributions we are able to assist more children in need. You truly are a part of the 'wind in our sails' Lin, and we are ever appreciative of your support. YES!!

December 03: A business person calls today and informs us they had their staff party last night and that he wished to donate all the recycles to EveryChildCounts...EveryStudentMatters Child Help Organization. That was just delightful music to our ears. Yes! Yes! Yes! A short while later he arrives with them. I take them to the recycle depot for a refund for ECC..ESM. What a terrific idea and... we can't thank him enough. To our readers - are you having a staff party soon, might you consider us for the recycles. We would come to pick them up. To our younger readers, maybe Mom or Dad, older bro or sister may be having a staff party. Perhaps you might think of us and suggest to them how grateful we would be to receive their recycles. Please check out our website and see what we are doing. Greetings Everyone. Be in touch 229-3111

Dec 01: Calvin Parsons, Educator in the NL school system and formerly from Hermitage, NL, dropped by John Watkins Academy today and in addition to greeting students and staff, acknowledged EveryChildCounts...EveryStudentMatters and offered a donation to support it. Charlie Cox, administration member of ECC...ESM was delighted with this generous gesture and certainly along with all of us volunteering with this Child Help Organization, wish to say Thank you, indeed, Calvin, Mr. Guitar Man.
      
NOVEMBER NOTES:
November 22: Today I get to meet Lila Pavey for lunch. She is currently with Stepping Stones International working with youth in Botswana, Africa. For a few days she is visiting Nova Scotia, and she is ever gracious to allow me a few moments of her busy schedule. She is so willing and committed to offering a part of her young life to helping others and is an inspiration to any of us who knows what it is to give from the heart. This pic shows her in her Africa locale soaking up the ambience of this wonderful continent. Kudos to you Lady Lila for all your stellar humanitarian efforts. YES!!!!! (You can learn more about Lila at www.steppingstonesinternational.com)

Students and Staff at Clayton Park School, (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada) collected Toonies and Quarters in September 2011to support ECC...ESM in helping Famine Stricken Students in Somalia-Kenya. We are ever so grateful!!!!!

Students and Staff at Ellenvale, (Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada) collected Toonies and Quarters in Septmber 2011to help ECC...ESM assist Famine Stricken Students in Somalia-Kenya. Our total thanks and appreciation!!!!!

Students and staff members at Lockeport Elementary School Nova Scotia, Canada - all September 2011 supporters of EveryChildCounts...EveryStudentMatters!!!!!!! We are so grateful..YEA!!!!!

Standing lt to rt: Samantha Dash, Connor Nickerson, Nicholas Wolfe, Ethan Wolfe, Matthew Holden, Marissa Dash

Front lt to rt: Mr. Ruth Morrison, Grace Forward, Amber Cotter, Linden Martin, Mrs. Janice Holden

OCTOBER NOTES:Getting ready to share with everyone about the September Somalia-Kenya Famine Relief Fundraising Initiative. In particular we have several schools to thank - Big Time! John Watkins Academy, Ellenvale, Clayton Park, and Lockeport Elementary. And a number of individuals who graciously shared in this special effort (See Supporters). During this period we have been most fortunate with the help of many to now send $1400 to East Africa to help children in tremendous need. We are a T(WE)AM (Together We Achieve More)


SEPTEMBER 01-30: During these 30 days ALL our energies at EveryChildCounts...EveryStudentMatters are being directed to fundraising for children in Somalia-Kenya. We are dedicated and determined to making extensive efforts of kindly encouraging many, many Atlantic Canadians to support our Child Help Organization (based here in Atlantic Canada) to truly make a mark in helping children in Somalia-Kenya in their time of almost unimaginable need. Please check this website to download posters and brochures to help engage all of us.[Please go to Ways To Help Menu to obtain copies]. We could call our efforts, our contributions ATLANTIC-AID!!!!! Let us show our great humanitarian energies. Yes!!! Yes!!! Yes!!!

SEPTEMBER 24 - 2011:
Today EveryChildCounts...EveryStudentMatters participated in a Food Drive effort to help secure food supplies for a number of families. Despite the little attempts at rain to slow our pace or at least make us look less presentable at someone's door, the hearts of people to share was simply wonderful. Grocery bag, after grocery bag, after grocery bag, after grocery bag was donated and collected to be administered by a local Metro Food Bank. EveryChildCounts was very pleased to offer 'footpower' to go 'door to door'. Thank you everyone who gave so children and parents who are in need of these resources may now continue to do so because of generous hearts. Another way for ECC...ESM to be there to help children.
Monday Sept. 19: Great News!! for some children in Somalia-Kenya. Here is a pic of Charlie Cox, a Grade 10 student, receiving a cheque from Principal John Skinner as a result of participating in the Quartoonie Challenge. Thank you Mr.Skinner, Thank you Charlie, and all students and staff at John Watkins Academy for this gracious fundraising donation to EveryChildCounts...EveryStudentMatters. (Photo: Wesley Harris Credit) Thank you, Wesley!

Wednesday Sept 07, 2011: Charlie Cox shares today that his school, John Watkins Academy, is going to support ECC...ESM in the Quartoonie Challenge. Yea! Good News!!! We sincerely encourage other schools to make a matching effort. All for the children of Somalia-Kenya.

Friday August 26, 2011: News that we are so celebrating - and this is from Charlie himself - "Yes folks, I am now a member of the A-Team of EveryChildCounts...EveryStudentMatters!!!"

Thursday August 25, 2011: Today, in consultation with Charlie Cox, discussing how we might do a fundraising effort in Hermitage-Sandyville-Seal Cove, NL during the next week to help children in Kenya-Somalia in such MEGA need. Charlie, it is a totally delightful privilege to be a partner to your marvellous humanitarian efforts, and we would so welcome you to the Administrative Team (A-Team) of EveryChildCounts...EveryStudentMatters. Folks, this young man is just beginning High School, and what a legacy of good will and noted
deeds he has already shown us.

Thursday August 18, 2011: A TOTAL GEM OF GOOD NEWS AND GOOD FORTUNE FOR ECC...ESM TODAY. PATRICK MATHER IS NOW A MEMBER OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM OF THIS CHILD HELP ORGANIZATION. WE OFFER HIM OUR CONGRATULATIONS AND OUR SINCERE THANKS.

Wednesday August 17, 2011:

EveryChildCounts EveryStudentMatters Today Aug 17, Lady Sage Marshall dropped by to help EveryChildCounts...EveryStuden tMatters fundraise with Yard Goods Misc Donate-a-thon. She brought a number of items to put in our General Pool of "Goodies". You are truly a young person with a big heart. Thank you for your many helpful efforts this summer. Together we are accomplishing more for Children in Need. Right now we are fundraising for Children in Somalia-Kenya. Kudos to you Lady Sage.

Monday August 15, 2011: EveryChild a Student...EveryStudentMatters wish to send out a whole week of Greetings and Thank you e-notes to Sam Wareing, Rachael Cameron, Col. Mike Brownlow, Patrick Mather, Simon Wilkin, Stephanie-Bruce-Ethan & Calen Abriel, Donna Aucoin, Mike Lewis, Tim Murphy, Charlyne & Perry Herritt, Shirley Gale, Tom LeBlanc, Shirley & Sinclair Bannerman, Karen Huxter (in Haiti), Lila Pavey (in Botswana), Gertruce (Rudie) Rose (in Boston), Ryan & Jamie Spruin, and so, so many more to be acknowledged this week for sharing beautiful energies.
S H A R I N G .. E N E R G I E S ......... H E L P I N G ECC...ESM G R O W!!!!!!!!!!!
Also saluting big time: Guy & Maisie Herritt, Don & Beth Decker, Jeff, Myra, Alicia & Hayley Herritt, Joan Helpard, Lin Slade, Jon, Tina, Donavan, Brianna & Jaden Cyr, Emily MacTavish,
Saturday, August 06, 2011: So many reasons to say Thank you to so many folks who have been helping us with Donations at the Yard Goods Miscellanous we are offering at 12 Nappan Dr, Sackville, NS. A special Hello and Thanks to Debbie and Steve for all that they graciously shared with us!!!!!
Monday, August 01, 2011: Happy Civic Holiday Everyone!!!!!!
Thursday July 28, 2011:Today is another marvellously special day. I get to share a little time with Lady Karen Huxter of HATS-Haiti. Taking her to the airport as she is enroute to Sprindale, NL. If you want to know about inspiration don't bother going to Webster, just learn about Karen who has given the last fifteen years of her life to helping children in need in Haiti. At EveryChildCounts...EveryStudentMatters we support 21(nearly 10%) of the students who go to Karen's school and we are doing so again for another full year of school starting in September. We thank her for this occasion to share with us and wish her every success and safety on the rest of her journey in Atlantic Canada. You can read Karen's blog by visiting www.hatshaiti.org/ Donate-a-thon is continuing today at 12 Nappan and we would love to see you drop by. There is so much to chat about. Wishing everyone a super day.
Monday, July 25, 2011: During the past few days the Administration Team (I call them the A-Team) have set up things to offer the occasion for a Donate-a-thon for EveryChildCounts...EveryStudentMatters. We have been delighted to meet so many people whose hearts have just reached out and helped tremendously. People have been most gracious, hospitable and generous in their donations. Many have shared their involvement otherwise in helping children in need and they are inspiring stories. We are ever grateful to All who stopped and shared with us and wish to say a Biggest Thank you. Some have been telling others and that has meant more people are dropping by. Some are so gracious to add to the various items for which others may make a donation. Again, how thoughtful and helpful we are finding people toEveryChildCounts...EveryStudentMatters. Some have dropped off refundable recycles for us to take to the Recycle Depot to help with our fundraising efforts. We shall keep the Donate-a-thon operating this week weather permitting. If it is convenient, please pop by. There just may be a little treasure waiting for you. Cheers to All and Blessings.
Thursday, July 21, 2011: As an educator in the public schools of NS, I felt privileged to share the classroom with a young Grade 9 student, David Jones. Today we met and shared lunch. He is currently working on a degree at one of Metro's Universities. Just as it was then, equally today I felt privileged to share in the presence of this remarkable young man. We met and reminisced a little and then we chatted about EveryChildCounts...EveryStudentMatters. David was both gracious and generous as a supporter of ECC...ESM. When a young person becomes engaged in helping children in need, we are witness to a sense of humanity with great promise for the future, for our future. Kudos big time to you Sir David.

Please click on What's New (and also on FB) to find out about exciting possibilities in September 2011!!!

ECC...ESM has been b-u-s-y helping in Haiti!!! Here are 4 of the young people for whom we pay school costs and you can see 19 more photos posted below. Click Here to view more students. YES!!

EVERY CHILD COUNTS on someone to help them in their growing years.
EVERY STUDENT MATTERS to caring parents.
EVERY STUDENT MATTERS to caring and determined teachers.

THIS website is dedicated to the acknowledgement of every child, to the miracle of what they already are and the promise of what may be their's to become. As a child knowingly or unknowingly we count on someone, often many someones, to help us in our growing years. Would that we imagine Les enfants sans frontiérs.

Also in equal proportions this website is dedicated to the proposal that every student matters. It has been my experience as an educator that no one loves students more than parents do. And too, I hope parents have learned that every student matters to caring and determined teachers.

I salute every child and Bravo for every student!!!!

I have spent my 'revenue generating efforts' (what some call the work world) almost entirely with children, with students. These past 35 years in the classroom have been a total privilege offered this one human being.

To honour all the young people with whom I have shared classroom space, and as I look back in gratitude, I eagerly look forward 'indebted' to that gratitude.

Funds are being generated through my efforts and many others to assist children / students here in Canada and globally in equal approaches. All those who give are acknowledged on this web site, and information on every project is provided.

If you wish to contribute to this fundation where every penny donated goes directly to a particular need of a child / student, for every child counts and every student matters, then please, your generosity will be immensely appreciated.

I have been offered the privilege - at the very least a delightful challenge - to 'work' (oops, I mean share) with several thousand young people over the years. This website gives a 'face' to efforts honouring all these youth by paying forward to those who now count on others or who are now finding their beginning footsteps in the corridors of learning as well as those who ask but only the opportunity to attend school.

Thank you students of Ellenvale and Bicentennial (in HRSB) from 1972-2005, and students in a host of schools in HRM since then.

If tomorrow offers us the occasion to remember, today offers us an opportunity to begin that memory - but a memory of helping a child, a student, has first to be an act of doing. With apologies to the renowned literary 'giant`, my favourite half-Shakespearean quote is `to be and to do`, or as my students so patiently taught me, to do is to be, and so again with total thanks to them, with all of their generous doing, I became more than I might have dreamed.

May it first be in our hearts that Every Child Counts and Every Student Matters, and in our efforts may we indulge ourselves to a lifetime of heartwarming rewards.

Sincerely ,
Rollie Herritt