“My students voted to do this as a class project,” Baker said. “I thought we might get about $100 per class, so our goal was approximately $300. To see them raise such a large amount of money was beyond my expectations.”
Furlough Middle School Principal, Jay Thompson joined the class’s effort by committing to match donations up to $100. Little did he know the students would raise the $100 in the first week. Because the class exceeded their initial goal, there was enough money to purchase fishing nets for the families in addition to the livestock.
As part of the sixth grade Pre-AP ELAR curriculum, students are required to volunteer six hours of their time per each six-week period during the school year. According to Baker, the students have embraced the volunteerism.
“I expressed to them the importance of doing something for others,” Baker said. “It could be something as simple as reading to a younger sibling, mowing your neighbor’s yard, picking up trash, or helping clean the lunchroom at school.”
Baker feels that having first-hand experience in volunteerism is what motivated her students to raise money for charity. She notes that their giving spirit has blessed her this Christmas season. Thank you to these outstanding students for leading by example through generosity and selflessness.