Human Ribbon of Hope Created at Babler Elementary

One school group in Wildwood takes their fight against cancer personally and seriously, particularly since one of their own took up his own battle with a rare form of skin cancer. And as this tight-knit group demonstrated this week, it's good to focus on "hope."

Bulldogs not only educate and talk about community service; they put themselves smack into action. The latest example consisted of creating a huge purple and white cancer awareness and support ribbon literally out of the student body and staff outside the building Wednesday.

Babler Elementary Principal Diane Metz said it was the sixth year for a schoolwide photo to be taken. Partnering with photography company Lifetouch, as well as , the team gets creative about how to capture such a large group.

Lifetouch St. Louis territory manager Jeff Shackelford said they first did a series of photos years ago. "We had to figure out how to do:  'Peace, Love, Bulldogs' and so one year did a peace sign, the next year did a heart and the third year did a pawprint," he said.

Babler Elementary teachers diagram how to approach the overall photo/people design and where participants will stand so that a Lifetouch photographer can shoot from atop a tall firetruck ladder provided by Metro West firefighters. Shackelford said Babler was the only area school with which they do such a planned, full-school annual photo.

This year's all-school photo embodied a message both for a fellow student and for the Rockwood School District as a whole. A Babler Elementary third grader from Wildwood, known as Sammy, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of skin cancer last year when he was in second grade. Students and staff have journeyed with him through treatment and recovery, first by last year rallying around a campaign referred to a "S.O.S.," for Save Our Sammy.

Babler Elementary Assistant Principal Missy Parker said this year's full-school photo project was headed by a members of the Caring Schools Commitee there.

Metz said the actual design, or form, that would be taken for the photo came up in some of her lunches with fifth grade students. "There was a huge excitement among them about giving back."

After forming the purple human ribbon for the photo, all participants took a remembrance lap around the school's track outside, walking past the "Babler Bulldogs Bark Back" banner. Parker said the rest of the day would be spent with students walking or running laps for the school's mini-relay, conducted similarly to the annual Relay For Life held at rotating Rockwood School District high schools. She said students would be paired with their "school class buddies," which is an initative there that enables older students to mentor younger students.

Parker said students bring collected cash to donate to the Relay, and that approximately $6,000 was raised last year through their efforts.

"It's pennies, nickels, and dimes, and it all adds up. They just want to give back," said Metz.

And what about Sammy in all this? Metz said they had hoped he would be participating in the group photo, but his family is in Hawaii this week on a special trip provided by Make-A-Wish foundation. She said his classmates were walking for him, though, with stickers on their backs carrying his name, headed by teacher Tracy Reeves. Metz said Sammy had finished treatment and appears to be doing better healthwise.

"When Sammy returned to school this year after cancer treatment, it was a big deal," she said. "When kids have a personal connection to something like this, it makes the community service effect that much deeper."

More Support to Come Districtwide

Friday, May 11, is “Power of Purple Day” throughout the . All students, staff and teachers are encouraged to wear purple or Relay gear to increase support and awareness of Rockwood’s Relay For Life event.  Purple is the signature color for Relay For Life, and represents all cancers. 

This year marks the 12th annual Rockwood Relay For Life event, which will be held June 1-2 at Rockwood Summit High School, 1780 Hawkins Road in Fenton. Opening ceremonies begin at 7 p.m. on Friday and closing ceremonies take place at 5:30 a.m. on Saturday. The event is from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

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