Topeka schools find creative way to combat the crud
Originally published 12:36 p.m., February 26, 2008
Updated 03:49 p.m., February 26, 2008
Topeka Schools are trying to help kids get rid of their germs by making hand washing a little more exciting.
Students from Topeka elementary schools competed to create a design for 210 new soap dispensers.
"Well, we were having a contest at school and they handed out the papers and so, we were supposed to draw a picture of someone washing their hands, because it had to promote hand washing on it," student Maizie Toland said.
The competition helped generate discussion about staying clear of the crud and will remind students to always wash up.
Maizie Toland's winning design
Toland, from Lowman Hill, was the winner of the contest. Her design has someone washing their hands on it and little germs falling off the hands.
"They have eyes and a frown on them, and some of them are trying to save the others," Toland said.
She feels a little famous. Her drawing will go on 10 soap dispensers at every elementary school across the district.
The soap dispensers were donated to the district by Clayton Paper Company, school spokesman Ron Harbaugh said, in exchange for the district purchasing foam soap from the company. In the past, the district purchased liquid soap.
Flu facts
- New state reports show flu is widespread in Kansas for fifth week in a row.
- The flu is currently widespread in every state but Florida.
- The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reports 943 Kansans have died from flu or pneumonia complication this flu season, which runs from Sept. 1 through May 31.
- Last year more than 1,700 Kansans died from the flu or pneumonia complications.
“The foam is better for the students,” said Harbaugh.
The foam costs .0043 per hand washing, he said. The middle and high schools will also get new soap dispensers with the Topeka Public Schools logo on them.
Lowman Hill school nurse Barbara Mercer is a big advocate of hand washing and keeping clean, especially now when flu has hit the nation and schools hard.
"You come in here, you might touch things," said Mercer. "I do a lot of wiping, I do a lot of hand washing, I do a lot of spraying and I just encourage the teachers to do the same thing."
She said the new, bright soap dispensers should help fight the flu bug by helping kids get in the habit of washing their hands.
“Anything that gets the kids’ attention will help them,” Mercer said.
Toland will be honored for her winning design at a school assembly Friday afternoon. Her school, 1101 SW Garfield, was also awarded a $250 prize by the dispenser company.
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