I'm adopting a school!! :D

**madhen** · 12-29-2008, 09:41 PM

Found a woman through Freecycle who teaches at a small school in my county. She has eighteen students, all very low income (to the point where some didn't get any presents this year and some don't even have winter coats), and she responded to my offer for some Halloween lights, because she likes to make the schoolhouse (one-room) as festive as she can. Ages are 6 years old through 13 years old.

I'm going through all my stuff to find them some crafting supplies, and I'd like to try to get them all some gifts, hopefully by Valentine's Day, but I don't have any younger kids in my life, so I don't have a CLUE as to what 6-13 yo children like (and no, I can't afford to buy each of them a Nintendo).

Any suggestions as to frugal gifts that have been tested and proved worthy to kids of this age? With eighteen of them, I'm going to have to keep costs low.

Also, any suggestions from teachers as to what I could get for the school?

**LastDragonfly** · 12-29-2008, 09:56 PM

Girl you just rock! I would get the school a gift card to a school supply store. Then they could choose how to spend the $$..

Since it's after Christmas, and I'm sure the kids are VERY self concious about not receivng gifts, my suggestion would be to have a "birthday" party. Get a sheet cake with all of their names on it.

Or even you be the birthday girl, but you give presents to them.

The dollar store has books of all reading levels. Crayons, little games, puzzles, cars, barbie dolls etc. Slippers, socks.

Maybe you could let the kids come to your farm for a field trip? Take a bird or hen for show and tell.

**madhen** · 12-29-2008, 09:59 PM

Great idea about the gift card! I was thinking along those lines for the kids, but hadn't thought about getting one for the teacher, maybe to an office supply store.

I'll have to start haunting the dollar and thrift stores!

**ri*smom** · 12-29-2008, 10:00 PM

Paper, pencils, crayons, paperback books, bookbags, hygiene supplies, stickers, magazines . . . goodness, I'm trying to think what my students didn't like or appreciate. Can't think of anything they wouldn't love; I taught at a rather impoverished district . . . some of those students didn't have running water, winter coats, etc. too.

**ri*smom** · 12-29-2008, 10:01 PM

That is a great idea, Misti! What about a class pet? (if it is allowable, I know in some places it is not with allergies)

**ri*smom** · 12-29-2008, 10:04 PM

Ohhhh . . . another thought too . . .could you do something like teaching THEM some of your homesteading skills? Like growing a tomato plant? The cost of the supplies would be minimal, but, you know, teach a man to fish . . .

**homesteadmamma** · 12-29-2008, 10:07 PM

What a wonderful idea. For the school, pens, pencils, notebooks, crayons, markers, rulers, erasers all of which can be bought at the dollar store. Books are always welcome.

For the kids, you can get so many things at dollar stores. Barrets, hairbrushes, combs, small toys. Lego blocks are always a big hit. Walmart has toys and such marked down at this time of the year. Balls, skipping ropes, puzzles and again books.

**khjmom** · 12-29-2008, 10:08 PM

Wow...you just managed to bring tears to my eyes. Thank you first of all for doing this. What a blessing to that class.
I also work at a really poor school. The majority is either on free or reduced lunch (I think it is now around 90% of the school).My class was adopted just after Thanksgiving and it has been wonderful. I would start with the teacher. Does she has basic school supplies in her class? Those can be picked up fairly cheaply (we keep a closet of supplies so everyone has what they need) Another idea would be books. My class loves new books. I have a lady that shops yard sales for new books for the kids. I of course let them borrow them for reading each night and I am not as concerned if they come back....but the usually do. I also have some that come in just to visit with them. They usually come on a Friday and eat lunch with the kids...who in turn have a thousand things to share with them. class craft projects are fun...or even a science lesson. I think one of the best we had last year was a farmer who came in to talk to the class about chickens. She then brought everything in so that they could see how to hatch chickens. So we had an ongoing science lesson for a month. We got "mail" from the chicks along with pictures until the end of school. I have learned that these kids don't expect alot, but appreciate almost anything. I would start with a talk with the teacher just to see what the needs are and how you can best help the class.

QM · 12-29-2008, 10:09 PM

That's awesome, madhen!!! Everyone has great ideas. Let us know what happens when you drop off the supplies, etc.

**madhen** · 12-29-2008, 10:16 PM

Originally Posted by ri*smom

Ohhhh . . . another thought too . . .could you do something like teaching THEM some of your homesteading skills? Like growing a tomato plant? The cost of the supplies would be minimal, but, you know, teach a man to fish . . .

I *have* already offered to supply them with fresh eggs and any extra fresh veggies and fruits I grow this year. I am waiting to hear back from the teacher. We just "met" today, so I don't want her to think I'm some crazy woman who is going to start stalking her.

Right now, because she lives close to me, I'm leaving the supplies for her at my front gate. I may swing by the school to take a look at it, but I'm more the "sneak the stuff in at night" kind of person. I don't like a lot of attention, and it is more fun for kids if it just magically shows up and there is no one that they have to write thank you notes to!

**madhen** · 12-29-2008, 10:20 PM

Wonderful ideas! I will find out how involved she wants me to be. I don't want to be pushy, and it might be hard for me to actively participate, since I work full-time. I know she spends a lot of her own money already, which I think sucks.

I'm very excited about this! Thank you to all for your great ideas, and keep them coming! I would never have thought about hair barrettes!!

**ri*smom** · 12-29-2008, 10:22 PM

Originally Posted by madhen

I *have* already offered to supply them with fresh eggs and any extra fresh veggies and fruits I grow this year. I am waiting to hear back from the teacher. We just "met" today, so I don't want her to think I'm some crazy woman who is going to start stalking her.

Right now, because she lives close to me, I'm leaving the supplies for her at my front gate. I may swing by the school to take a look at it, but I'm more the "sneak the stuff in at night" kind of person. I don't like a lot of attention, and it is more fun for kids if it just magically shows up and there is no one that they have to write thank you notes to!

I hope she takes you up on this . . . I don't know if you have ever seen the studies on alternative schools and diet change. I'll have to see if I can find a link on that.

Anyway, your karma points are so far ahead . . . many of us will have trouble catching up to you in 2009.

ETA:

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/AmericanFa...=125404&page=1

http://www.naturalovens.com/lib/cont...90/Schools.pdf

**madhen** · 12-29-2008, 10:22 PM

Originally Posted by khjmom

Another idea would be books. .

Someone just gave me some beautiful hardcover Time-Life books through Freecycle. I was going to use them as Christmas presents, but only ended up giving a few of them away. It would be kind of awesome to be able to give them to the school. They are just about the perfect reading level for a young teen, lots of pics, and just really nicely put together.

So cool...I hope I don't overwhelm this poor lady.

**madhen** · 12-29-2008, 10:33 PM

http://www.edcoe.k12.ca.us/districts/documents/08sf.pdf

Here is "my" school's annual report.

(Couldn't find a pic.)

**ri*smom** · 12-29-2008, 10:37 PM

There's only 20 students and 3 staff members?? Wow, now that's a small school! I think it is fate (and freecyle) that brought the two of you together.