WINDHAM — Yesterday, Haiti and Windham met on the high school's stage. Students sang, presented donations, and offered expressions of grief to a diplomat from the earthquake-ravaged nation.
Marie Weslyne Nicolas, consul general for Haiti in Boston, placed a hand over her heart after the ceremony, surprised by its extent.
"Surprise ... oooh," said Nicolas, whose first language is French.
She told the 300-plus students in the school auditorium of her country's continuing need in the wake of devastation wrought by the Jan. 12 disaster.
Those needs include tents, portable toilets and hand tools, including shovels and hammers.
High-school student groups, including the Student Council and a homeroom association, collected toiletries and raised about $300 for the relief effort. They raised money through coin drops and a Hats for Haiti event in which students donated $1 to wear a hat to school for a day.
Some students put together their part in yesterday's ceremony in short order. The school chorus learned verses from the Haitian national anthem, "La Dessalinienne."
After singing their own national anthem, they sang Haiti's.
Nicolas sang along quietly to her country's national anthem, clearly impressed by the students' singing.
The school's 17-piece jazz ensemble played a Latin jazz piece, "Manteca."
Two students presented a photo slide show of the earthquake's aftermath, the images accompanied by slow piano music. The montage included hands clasped in prayer and dust-covered children.
One child embraced a frayed stuffed animal, another stared with one eye. Her face was swollen, cut and heavily bandaged. Thousands of children were orphaned in the disaster and hundreds of thousands of people died.
Freshman Max Masse said he felt good knowing that his school is helping Haiti. The ceremony's most memorable moment was hearing Nicolas speak, he said.
"Just to hear someone from Haiti," Masse said.
Still, the Windham students appeared shy during a question-and-answer period, none wanting to take the microphone.
Principal Rich Manley told the students that Windham and Haiti were worlds apart, both geographically and economically. He said he hoped the students' recognition of Haiti's need and their willingness to give helped fulfill the school's mission — for students to become purposeful citizens of Windham and the world.
Sophomore class President Scott Priestley and class Vice President Sarah Vivinetto welcomed Nicolas to the school.
Later they presented her with "Jag-wear," a T-shirt emblazoned with school logos.
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