$400 worth of pennies to charity last week.

Students and teachers, spearheaded by teacher Gloria Francis' Year Two advisory group, collected 41,278 pennies.

They got the idea to donate the coins when they read about the Junior Services League's "Coins for a Cause'' charity drive in The Royal Gazette .

Mrs. Francis said "knowing the power of a penny'', she brought the idea to the school's attention -- and response was immediate and enthusiastic.

Junior Service League representative Pat Shaw said she adapted the coin drive from an idea on the Oprah Winfrey Show and applied it to Bermuda.

Proceeds will be equally divided between PALS and the Bermuda Health Alliance.

COINS FOR A CAUSE -- Spice Valley Middle School presented $400 worth of coins to the Junior Service League. Pictured, from left, are Gloria Francis behind podium O'Brian Osborne, Pat Shaw, Stephanie Outerbridge, Alexander DeCouto, Ashley Roberts, Charles Pitt, Devin Smith, Robert Bascome, Richard Arnold, Kevin Darrell, Michael Oliveira, and Dean Dill.