Recently, the first grade classes at Hemingway Elementary collected pajamas as part of the Scholastic Great Bedtime Story Pajama Drive. Brand new pajamas are collected and donated to children living in homeless shelters, foster care and orphanages. For every pair of new pajamas collected, Scholastic donates a free book to go with them. Click here for more information.

Two groups of students have raised funds for the Hunger Coalition recently through bowl-making. Students at Hailey Elementary raised over $1,900 selling hand-sculpted and glazed bowls with scoops of ice cream. Hundreds of people packed the cafeteria at the school to celebrate the grand finale of the project. Teachers scooped ice cream, the PTA collected the funds, and parents and students enjoyed a slide show depicting every student in the school creating their bowls.

Wood River Middle School Students are also raising funds for the Hunger Coalition, Friday, December 16 from 8:15-10:15 A.M. in the Middle School library. Students are asking for a $15 minimum donation for the bowls. Community members are also invited to rooms 740 & 742 during the Bowls of Hope sale for student presentations reflecting on the process of the project. The WRMS project is part of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme. Click here for more information.

Wood River Middle School 6th grade teachers Claudia Gaeddert and Ginger Rierden taught an integrated International Baccalareate unit in which the driving question was "How do human actions affect earth's sustainability?" Students studied persuasive writing in language arts, economic systems in social studies, and sustainability in science. The unit kick-off activity was a field trip to the Beck family farm, a working farm that implements sustainable practices, and to the Silver Creek Preserve, where students investigated the environmental and economic factors that affect conservation. As part of the project, students designed and sold buttons, an effort that was supplemented by a generous donation. Over $3,000 was donated for "Beneficial Insects and Butterfly Garden" to be installed at the Nature Conservancy's Silver Creek Preserve. The project was highlighted on the Nature Conservancy's blog, "Idaho Nature Notes," http://idahonaturenotes.blogspot.com/2011/12/middle-school-students-make-difference.html

Adored Bellevue Elementary School librarian, Norma Yager, facilitates the Bear Hugs Project during the holidays. What is the Bear Hugs Project? Each December, the Bellevue Bears donate stuffed bears that can be hugged by emergency victims and their families. Students name the bears, tag them with a caring message, and then donate them to emergency personnel during a Bear Hugs assembly each December. Click here for more information.