So far our fundraising plans include a beer and burger in Nanaimo on March 10. I am teaching a yoga class by donation in Duncan, also on March 10. We are going to do a bottle drive, and we have some other things in the works, which still need to be sorted out.
If you have any interest in finding out more about the school they are on the web at www.holycrossbelize.org. Also, if you are reading this and would like to donate to the school they have a wishlist on their website. It is amazing the items that they are in need of. We have so many of them in abundance and we take it for granted. It really got me thinking about the way that we live and how we can be so careless with stuff that others create wishlists for. We let things expire before we use them or finish them. We let food go to waste because we overbought in the first place. We misplace pens and pencils like they're going out of style. We write two things on a piece of paper and then throw it out. We let the water run for 15 seconds just to get it to our desired temperature. I am guilty of it too. But, ever since I started travelling my eyes and my heart see things differently. I have a different awareness about me and my 'wants' have definitely changed.
Here is a copy of the wishlist: It's pretty long. Please, if you have anything to donate from their list send me an email at clortie@gmail.com. Our group will be bringing extra bags to Belize with the donations. There are 10 of us so there will be lots of hands and feet to get everything there. Let's do it. Let's make a difference. Let's help. Let's share.
Urgent needs:
Graduation Prizes: Prizes for kids of all ages for academic excellence. Craft kits toys, dolls, fun books, make up, play jewellery, nice back packs, school supplies, non-violent hand held video games, cheap music players....
Graduation Gifts: Especially for 14 and 15 year old boys and girls.
- Clear packing tape up to 50 rolls (we use laminating teaching supplies)
- Valentine's Day Supplies - candy, prizes for games (eg. small toys, craft kits, costume jewellery)
- Jumbo permanent markers (all colors, esp black, red, green & blue. Please no dry erase and NO NARROW SHARPIES.
- Batteries - Especially D, but also AAA, AA and C.
- Loose leaf pre-lined paper to go into 3 ring binders (refill paper, folder paper).
- Shoes for 3 - 15 year olds (closed toe, no cartoons please. Any color ok. Gently used ok.)
- Angle grinder prefer Dewalt with a 4 inch disk.
Supplies for Teachers:
- Class book sets, with DVD of the book.
- Teacher geometry sets (ie. large size compass, protractor, set squares)
- Dustless chalk (or donate at office and we can buy here)
- Posters - math, english, science, values, hygiene, religion - any poster, all ages, gently used is fine! (Anyone know a retiring teacher??)
- Manipulatives - all subjects for hands on learning. Please include instructions and ideas for using if it's not obvious.
- Flip charts
- Coloring books
- Folders - two pocket folders (plain and decorated), 1 inch wide 3 ring folders (legal and letter size)
- Composition books
- Protractors, compasses and 12 inch rulers for students
- Large sheets of card for making posters
- Dry erase and chalkboard erasers
- Play dough
- Elmers school glue (no glue sticks, please)
- Art & craft supplies (water paint, finger paint, brushes, glue gun sticks, popsicle sticks, paper bags, ribbons feather, cotton balls, paper plates, balloons, foam balls, coffee filters, beads, crepe paper, foam pads, glitter)
- Small toys & prizes - small and large (for good behavior, dental visits, academic excellence and graduation)
Medicine:
- Pain reliever for 3 years to adult
- Pepto bismol chewable (children & adult)
- Chewable children's multivitamins
- Chewable vitamin C for adults
Sports:
- We need all supplies for the following sports (SHOES, uniforms, balls...) Any extras are given to other schools on the mainland.
- A few ball pumps with extra needles (they break before the rest of the pump). Ideally bring pumps that have a flexible hose between the pump and the needle to reduce breakage.
- Volleyballs
- Track & Field shoes size 5 - 9
- General class games - jump ropes, t-balls to throw and kick around
Construction Needs:
- Grinder - 4 inch with spare disks
- Welding machine
- Skillsaw blades - 7 1/4 inch
- Sawzall blades - metal and wood, any size
- Drill bits
General Needs:
- Hand sanitizer
- Envelopes - large manilla (10 x 13 inch)
- Post-it notes (square & large rectangle)
- Pens - red and blue
- Photo paper - letter size
- Laminating pouches - letter size, heat activated
- Card stock - white and cream, letter size
- White out
- Binder clips
- Backpacks
- Gift bags - small, medium and large (just go to the dollar store)
- Bulletin board supplies (seasonal decoration, borders, disposable tablecloths for backgrounds, pictures for seasonal themes (lent, valentines, Christmas...)
- Staples for staple gun: 6.3mm 1/4 inch ET21-1/4
- Staple guns that fit the above staples
- Desktop staplers and staples
- Marching band instruments: so our school can have music and pride in our parades. Drums especially needed.
Seasonal Celebrations:
Valentines Day: decorations, candy, posters, books, crafts
Easter: candy, plastic eggs, decorations, books, crafts
Library Books:
- We have enough fiction, encyclopedia and dictionaries but need the following: books on topics studied in class, eg. plants, insects, reptiles, weather. All primary age levels required. (We have enough books on dinosaurs and rain forests - thank you!)
- Craft books, especially jewellery and simple craft projects that can be done in class
- Seasonal celebrations: books to teach young children about Easter, Christmas, Valentine's Day and Halloween. Ideally should be short with plenty of pictures. For Valentine's Day it is useful to have books suitable for older ages (for example how to make fancy cards).
All books should be in good condition and less than 20 years old. (Check they have an ISBN number).
** Please Note - We currently have plenty of the following: crayons, glue sticks, lead pencils, writing paper, stickers, narrow sharpies.
