Date: August 2025
School: Mary McPherson Elementary
Wish Delivered: Classroom Furniture
Teacher Dusti Steiner says "This year in 2nd grade, we are expected to have some of the biggest class sizes yet! Typically, small groups would have 4-5 kids in each group. However, starting this year, we are anticipated to have 6-8 kids in each group. My small group table is very squishy with 5-6 kids, so going up to 8 kids in a group means not everyone will have an ideal seat at the table. I would love to have an upgraded table to be able to fit 6-8 kids more comfortably! I am also asking for some smaller individual whiteboards with lines that we can use during small group instruction. The cherry on top of this grant is the touchscreen monitor. When our district switched from projectors to televisions, we lost the ability to interact with slide shows. I would like to be able to connect my laptop to a touchscreen laptop during small groups so that students can physically interact with the lessons again. These three items would make a huge difference in our classroom"
Wish Amount: $611.98
Date: August 2025
School: New Plymouth Elementary
Wish Delivered: Tables and Classrooms supplies
Teacher Felicity Steers says "As one of the current third grade teachers, I want to do everything I can to make sure this transition feels smooth, supportive, and successful. That’s why I’m submitting this Classroom Wishlist—to help provide the essential items that will make this new classroom feel welcoming, purposeful, and ready for learning. One of the biggest needs is tables. In third grade, students benefit greatly from collaboration, and tables make it easier to work in partners or groups, move around the classroom, and support small-group instruction. This kind of flexible seating helps create an engaging and student-centered learning environment."
Wish Amount: $2,368
Date: August 2025
School: Ponderosa Elementary
Wish Delivered: Classroom Supplies for Deaf Students
Teacher Brittany Orr says "I am Ponderosa's Teacher of the Deaf. The students I teach range between Kindergarten and 5th grade and are unique because they are Deaf. Children who are Deaf or hard of hearing often face significant barriers in acquiring language and literacy, especially when traditional auditory-based instruction is the norm. Our goal is to close this gap by implementing visual and tactile educational tools that align with how Deaf children most effectively process information—through sight, motion, and pattern recognition."
Wish Amount: $199.95
Date: August 2025
School: Maxine Johnson Elementary
Wish Delivered: Recess supplies
Teacher Becky Fogg says "Recess is a huge part of the school experience! We are a Title One school that serves a variety of students. While our building is a K-4th grade building, we do share our playground with 5th and 6th graders as well. Our little Kindergarten students aren’t able to use equipment or participate in some of the activities that our 5th and 6th graders can. We feel fortunate to be a school that provides full day Kindergarten. In some ways it has been a struggle but we feel blessed that we now have more time to allow the kids to play, interact with their peers and watch their imaginations flourish."
Wish Amount: $1,904
Date: August 2025
School: Kootenai Classical Academy
Wish Delivered: Classroom supplies
Teacher Deborah Coons says "As a charter school we receive very limited funds through the state and only a $50 classroom budget from our district to purchase materials. Any funds allocated to our school from the state are used for other resources and any fundraising we do has been used to fund the middle school wing of our building. This means that nearly all classroom materials—from pencils and paper to learning tools and curriculum we are to teach every day—are purchased out of our own pocket or through parent donations."
Wish Amount: $2,717
Date: August 2025
School: Reed Elementary
Wish Delivered: Classroom supplies
Teacher Chris Dixon says "These Items will help with STEM in my classroom and with my Lego League Students during all of the Year and at competition times each April. We are in a school that is over capacity and storage is limited so the Storage bins and shelves will help us out so much! The extra art items and glue gun will help so much for the posters that our Lego league students have to make to show their journey throughout the year and the hard work we put in. They will also help my classroom students with projects and posters that we make throughout the school year. It will also help teach the fundamentals of coding as a youth! This really brings a lot of confidence and happiness to children who are not able to do it themselves."
Wish Amount: $2,324
Date: July 2025
School: Adams Elementary School
Wish Delivered: Classroom Furniture
Teacher Ellie Rivard says "As a first-year teacher, I’m working on building my classroom from the ground up. I want it to be a safe, welcoming space where students can learn, grow, and feel excited to come to school every day. Many of these items, like the rug, circle pillows, and round pouf, will help me create a cozy reading area where students can relax and enjoy books. The reading phone will let them hear themselves read, which helps build confidence and fluency. Things like the 5-drawer chest, plastic drawer containers, storage bins, wood crates, cubbies, and magazine holders will help keep the classroom organized. These will also give students a place to keep their things, helping them take responsibility for their materials. Items like clipboards, carpet dots, and stickers will help with classroom routines and management. The stickers and LifeSavers will be used as fun rewards to motivate and celebrate students' efforts and good behavior.The magnetic tiles will be used for hands-on play and learning, helping students build creativity and work together. Each of these items will help me create a space that’s fun, organized, and built for student success."
Wish Amount: $725
Date: July 2025
School: Adams Elementary
Wish Delivered: Art Supplies
Teacher Beatrice Gatica says "I am an educator at Adams Elementary in Rexburg. I have experience teaching both Kindergarten and first grade, and I will be focusing on Kindergarten for the upcoming school year.
On my wish list, I have special pencils designed specifically for kindergartners. These pencils will assist our students in learning the proper way to hold a pencil, which is crucial for developing their handwriting skills. Additionally, I am seeking sensory toys that can be utilized during centers or provide students with a much-needed break from their learning activities. My wish list also includes various supplies for art and educational purposes. In Kindergarten, we utilize a wide array of materials to make learning enjoyable and engaging!"
Wish Amount: $650
