Blanket of White

We rose to a blanket of white. Forecasters had estimated a total of just over a half inch for our area; when we sat down to pancake, it was obvious there was nearly a 2” frosted blanket on the ground. The excess was a pleasant and relaxing start to the weekend. Our plans were adjusted so we could enjoy the snow.

A local women’s service organization is in the midst of their annual linen drive. We’d brought home a box of donated king-size sheets that had minor tears in each. I asked my two teens if they’d want to learn to use the serger and practice on the sewing machine to help make bedding for the Mission and shelters. Imagine the great feeling when both dedicated hours to help make six twin flat sheets and a dozen pillowcases today!

The time together led to discussions about boring white sheets, families without homes, what a class had discussed about women’s rights in Asian countries, and odd things, like why one of the dogs kept sitting on the power foot of the serger. (‘He was trying to sew but forgot the fabric.’)

Besides making the task more interesting and getting two helpers (the basics), today was priceless in the way we worked as a focused team. They will remember working on the project for ages. They improved a skill.

While working I remembered the lesson of teaching a man to fish and how he could then provide for many. It made me think of what the Business Partner and Community Supporter program does: the community supports the school/students by donating supplies or supporting a program (basics) but it teaches a life lesson – we, the adults and businesses around you support you and want you to succeed!

The white blanket over the surface today had a purpose. Our pace changed and the focus of the day was helping our community.


WISH LIST: The Business Partner and Community Supporter program has a wish list submitted by administrators and teachers in USD#450. The list isn’t posted as in changes as donations are made and new items appear. Whether you help provide broken machines the 7th graders use learning about simple machines, axles, pulleys, and wedges; your organization provides funding for special needs curriculum; or your business can help with bricks and mortar efforts, every part of the puzzle, each individual has something that will help our students in their educational efforts. Thanks for being there for them!

How do you eat an elephant?

One bite at a time!

Okay, so it’s a childhood joke, but it relates to how to achieve the items on the school district’s wish list.

As the Business Partners & Community Supporters program was introduced to district administrators in October, each was asked to think about items essential to educational basics that we needed.

I learned that we need help purchasing books for our readers that excel and our under-developed readers. (Probably not the technical terms educators use, but what I as a parent understood.) Students at both ends of the spectrum are challenged with reading for course work when it is too simple (not challenging) and too difficult. Yet we can’t afford enough materials for those groups – we tend to provide to the middle of the bell curve. Could we ask supporters to specify books be purchased with their donation?

An open house proved to be an eye-opener. The English teacher matter-of-factly mentioned the textbooks under the chair are what our students would use. Questions from the parents led to the entire picture. There aren’t enough textbooks for each student to have one, they use the books in class, then leave them for the next class to use.

Before Thanksgiving my youngest casually mentioned during dinner one evening that not all the kids have calculators in math class. ‘So what do they do to get their work done?’ I tried to ask casually, without alarm. Students were sharing. Yes, sharing is a worthy attribute, but it makes getting class work done a challenge. Within the week I had received a request from the middle school math teachers for 60 calculators (just 10 for each classroom).

Well one bite at a time, we are heading towards success. Today a local business committed to a donation that will get almost 50 calculators! A wish nearly fulfilled for the math teachers and students.

Let’s see what we can do with the rest of the elephant!