Date: January 2025

School: Ponderosa Elementary

Wish Delivered: New Books

Teacher Jennifer Olugin says "I am seeking funding for chapter books and sets that cater to both girls and boys. These resources are vital for promoting vocabulary development, improving comprehension skills, and nurturing a lifelong passion for reading among my 2nd graders. These resources will include a diverse mix of fiction and biographies, providing students with engaging narratives and inspiring real-life stories. By sharing these materials with my 2nd grade team, I aim to create a rich literary environment that encourages all students to explore new ideas and perspectives, ultimately supporting their academic development and passion for literature. "

Wish Amount: $798.75

Date: January 2025

School: Nampa High School

Wish Delivered: Classroom Supplies

Teacher Jennifer Randolph says " My special education students have a number of physical and/or intellectual disabilities that prevented them from learning life skills readily. These life skills are necessary for supporting a family, running a household and being independent later in life. Without a doubt, functional life skills are skills that my students must acquire in order to live a better, more fulfilling life. Teaching life skills involves not only classroom teaching, but working with students in the “real world,” giving these students the skills they need to function. Our community partners and school district recently renovate a large classroom to replicate an apartment where students can learn and practice life skills in a real-life setting."

Wish Amount: $719.17

Date: January 2025

School: Victory Middle

Wish Delivered: Library Software

Teacher Melissa Bollinger says "I am the librarian at VMS and would like to “up my game” when it comes to the multiple reading challenges we facilitate each year by purchasing a software program called Beanstack (www.beanstack.com). Beanstack motivates readers with fun, diverse, and engaging reading challenges while strengthening the intrinsic motivation to read with proven gamification features. This software allows the librarian (or teachers) to create digital quizzes/forms/projects connected to reading and then reward individual students when they hit predetermined milestones (either # of pages read or possibly # of minutes read/day) with badges. You can also organize a building-wide goal to work toward, or even set up classroom competitions through Advisory classes or homerooms. There are truly SO MANY possibilities with this software to create a digital way to track reading and reward student efforts!"

Wish Amount: $2287

Date: January 2025

School: Peregrine Elementary

Wish Delivered: Classroom Transformation

Teacher Lisa Osler says "Keeping learning fun by surprising kids with classroom transformations. A couple days a year, they will arrive at school... or so they thought! Their classroom will be transformed into a construction zone, donut shop, restaurant, or glow room! As they read about their projects and use their tools to solve challenges throughout the day, they will have the full, immersive experience They will have a chance to be an electrician, a framer, and a flooring installer as they use their area, perimeter, measurement and data skills. In another transformation, students will GLOW with the skills they have acquired over the year. The classroom will be decked out in neon with black lights to guide the way. Fifth graders are learning to love reading. Another day, they will find a restaurant with a book tasting to learn which genres please their palates. They will use their knowledge of decimals to create menus and calculate prices. Classroom makeover days renew the love of learning through project based learning."

Wish Amount: $1,784