THOUSAND OAKS : Sixth-Graders Use Skills to Help Library

On a hilltop overlooking the Conejo Valley, sixth-graders from St. Patrick’s Episcopal Day School were hawking their skills: baby-sitting, computer tutoring, homework help, pet care and baking giant cookies.

“Ticket or money,” said student Danny Leon, his hands outstretched as parents arrived for car-pool pickup Friday afternoon.

By selling $1 tickets and raffling off their services, the youngsters were trying to raise money--as other students throughout the valley have done--to help repair earthquake damage to the Thousand Oaks Library.

St. Patrick’s students said they decided to use their annual class project to help the library because it’s near the school and they use it often.

“It’s an important part of our community, I guess,” said 12-year-old Kate Baker, at the ticket booth.

Carol Bealer, whose daughter Kelley is in the sixth-grade class, wound up buying two tickets--one for the cookie raffle and the other for baby-sitting.

By Friday, the class had raised $163 to put toward the estimated $2.5 million in damage. After being closed for three months, the library reopened Monday with a concrete floor and its girders exposed, but plenty of patrons.

The sixth-graders plan to continue selling raffle tickets before and after school next week. The school is part of St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church at 1 Church Road.

In addition to community fund-raising, the library has benefited from corporate donations.

Exxon U.S.A. officials announced Friday that the company will give $15,000 toward the library. A ceremony marking the donation is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. today in front of the library at 1401 Janss Road.