`rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book' Follows Mowgli, Jason Scott Lee, Right, 
Who Grows Up In The Jungle And Is Eventually Drawn Back Into Civilization 
Where He Helps His Wounded Friend Major Brdon, Sam Neiill Left.

By JENNIFER LEARN; Times Leader Hazleton Bureau
 Saturday, December 24, 1994 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 





BUTLER TWP. -- First- to sixth-grade students at Drums Elementary School
like to do what children throughout the country enjoy this time of year:
exchange gifts with their classmates. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But this year, school officials at Drums put a twist in tradition. Instead
of give-a-gift, receive-a-gift, the students were asked to make a sacrifice by
donating money they raised to charity. This would mean no gift in their own
stockings. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Students voted on the idea by raising their hands. The first and
second-graders opted to keep their cash in the classroom and receive their
gifts. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But the third-, fourth-, fifth-and sixth-graders -- except one fifth-grade
class -- voted to give away their combined funds of roughly $600. Money that
normally would be spent on dolls and trucks went to local charities instead. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I'll miss the present," said third-grader Jamie Eckrote, whose class voted
to donate money to the Hazleton Animal Shelter. "But I feel better donating
the money to help animals." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Eckrote and his classmates spent the last few weeks learning about some of
the animals they'll help. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Other causes were selected. The fourth-graders chose the American Red
Cross. Fifth-and sixth-graders will donate money for Adam Zambotti, a
four-year-old township resident who has leukemia. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Like Eckrote, third-grader Christine Pintar felt proud helping the animal
shelter because the charity once helped her when she found a stray puppy. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "It was freezing and we called the animal shelter and they came to pick him
up," Pintar said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Third-grade teacher Lenny Paranac helped to organize the program because he
thinks it demonstrates some powerful lessons. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He said it helps students learn about democracy by taking advantage of the
freedom to choose how to spend their money -- or in most cases, their parents'
money. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He believes they also learn how to act like responsible and caring members
of society. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "But the most important lesson this teaches is how to celebrate the true
meaning of Christmas -- helping others," Paranac said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Drums Students Show Sacrifice To Some Thoughtful Kids, Christmas Means Helping The Community Rather Than Themselves