OXFORD – The 150 fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders at Madison Avenue School have embraced the part of their school mission statement that states, “Students will be empowered to become independent, responsible citizens of our community.”

At a recent Student Council meeting, students decided they wanted to do something to support relief efforts for victims of the Dec. 26 tsunami.

The students set a goal of collecting 100,000 pennies ($1,000). The pennies will be laid out in rows on the gym floor during a special event on Friday evening, Jan. 28. Various events are being planned for that evening to raise more money.

The pennies, indicative of the 100,000 plus lives that were lost as a result of the disaster, will be sent to the UNICEF Tsunami Relief Fund.

The public is invited to participate in the special project. Pennies can be taken to the school during school hours or brought to the gym on Jan. 28.