Date: March 2025
School: McMillian Elementary
Wish Delivered: Art Supplies
Teacher Trudy McMullen says "These items will help my classroom by providing the tools to support art education. Student will get to use their creativity, problem solving skills and learn perseverance while learning about master artists. I can remember a tiger I drew and colored in with my elementary school art teacher. I never thought I was good at art, but she encouraged me to keep trying. I was always proud of the result of that project and think about it often. I want to help create these kinds of memories with my students. Due to low socioeconomic status, many of our students do not have access to galleries, art classes, and exposure to community art events. We have an amazing opportunity to partner with community members for art education within our school walls. We utilize a program called Meet the Masters. Each month, members of the community come in and teach art lessons to each classroom. They not only do a project, but learn about master artists such as Warhol, Degas, and Monet to name a few. They are learning art vocabulary, history, elements and then they are guided in creating a piece of art."
Wish Amount: $2008.30
Date: February 2025
School: Lowell Scott Middle
Wish Delivered: Sensory items
Teacher Tessie Smith says "My classroom is a special education classroom. Many of my students struggle with sensory processing. These are all tools to help them calm their senses and make it easier to focus and learn. The game is for my social skills class. We need many games that help them interact appropriately with each other."
Wish Amount: $352.89
Date: February 2025
School: Maple Grove Elementary
Wish Delivered: Classroom Books
Teacher Krimra Parsons says "Decodable books are an excellent tool for teaching reading, especially for beginning readers. These books are designed to provide practice with specific phonetic patterns and sight words, helping children decode words as they read. As mentioned on Charge Into Reading’s site, “Compelling storylines paired with a strict scope and sequence make for a series that children won’t just be ABLE to read, but that they will actually WANT to read.” My teaching partners and I will share the 352 decodable books in grades 1 and 2 to provide beginning readers more opportunities to read books that match our phonics focus for each week. These books would be used by at least 40 students each week for several years. These books are great tools for helping students develop the skills they need to read independently, and they can be used in both the classroom and at home. This would be an amazing supplement to our curriculum to keep kids reading!"
Wish Amount: $813.12
Date: February 2025
School: North Gem Elementary
Wish Delivered: 3D Printer Recycling
Teacher Alex Sandoval says "This year the kids have had the opportunity to design and print gifts for members of their families. A few of the kids have made ornaments for their moms, with the name of each family member printed on the ornament. The excitement they have had as they thoughtfully created and printed items unique to those they love. Some students have also designed and printed things intended for themselves but instead gave them to a sibling or a cousin. They have come in and shared this thoughtful act with me, followed with, "They really liked it and figured I could just print another one here." Having filament readily available, allows the kids to continue to design and create not just for themselves but for others."
Wish Amount: $6,950
Date: February 2025
School: Madison Middle
Wish Delivered: Printer and printer ink
Teacher Sundee Barrus says "In our ELA and Google Suite classes, students create original documents and writing. Students love to see their work come to life in color. At the end of the year, I create a portfolio for each student to keep of the work they have done. To be able to print the documents in color in my classroom would benefit the students as they would be able to keep their original work rather than just having it saved on the school's computers."
Wish Amount: $285.00
Date: February 2025
School: Popplewell Elementary
Wish Delivered: Classroom Supplies
Teacher Jennifer Ross says "I am a Special Educator who works at Popplewell Elementary School in Buhl. My position as a Behavior Lead Teacher is new to the school district this year. We have found that there is a great need for our youngest students to receive direct instruction in self-regulation skills as well as social skills. By learning these skills at an early age, our students will have more success functioning in the general education setting, and will obtain the academic skills they need for future success. Fortunately, I have a great, research-based curriculum to use with our students, but I don't have a hospitable place to provide my instruction! I have access to an empty classroom, but it does not contain the types of items needed to provide kids with a calming space that will meet their sensory needs while they are working through their lessons with me."
Wish Amount: $517.37
Date: February 2025
School: Rulon Ellis Elementary
Wish Delivered: Sensory Supplies
Teacher Emily Jayme says "My current 2nd grade class is composed of approximately 30% students with diagnosed ADHD and/or trauma backgrounds. Some of my students' behaviors in school have added to the trauma of other students. I have recently completed training in Bal-A-Vis-X which is a simple exercise program that I can use with my students to help them self regulate and create pathways in their brains to calm them and prepare their brains for learning. I am very excited to work with students and help provide the support that they need to be successful in the classroom."
Wish Amount: $775.55
Date: February 2025
School: Washington Elementary
Wish Delivered: STEM Supplies
Teacher Hallie Reikowsky says "The requested dramatic play learning tools will be used by grades Kindergarten through 4th reaching over 250 students. Joining me in our cozy learning tent surrounded by plum trees and open skies, each individual class attends our OE course at least once every week for 40 minutes (multiple classes join a second weekly session). With these supplies students will: Use STEM methodology to build shelters and habitat for each animal. Make ecological connections that all creatures rely upon one another via the food chain for balanced population dynamics. Apply knowledge and use natural items and puppets to dramatize how the food chain works. Strengthen literacy skills using reading resources to find answers. Use critical thinking skills to solve imbalanced food chain and genetic pattern scenarios. Understand the significance of Idaho’s natural resources by making connections through dramatic play. Building a collection of dramatic play items and growing our library will enhance our program and deepen scientific inquiry lessons. These tools will be used in a specific ecology learning block as well as used year round for many other learning opportunities."
Wish Amount: $434.27
