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Emergent readers need to read each night at home with an adult to reinforce the language and literacy skills they are learning at school. It is important that the books they are reading at home are “good fit” books that are similar to the books that we are using in our classroom. It can be challenging for families to access high-quality decodable books, and the ones we have in our classroom libraries need to stay at school. Jacob Wismer would like to start a lending library of engaging, high-quality decodable books that I can send home with students to read at home. When finished with the books, they would be returned to school, allowing many students to benefit from the use of these books.
Imagine a kindergartener’s excitement as they bring home their very first book to read aloud with their family only to discover there are very few Spanish books available that match their reading level. For many of our K–2 dual language learners, this is a daily reality. Spanish texts are difficult to find, and when they are available, they often cost twice as much as English books. This lack of access creates an inequitable start for our bilingual students who are working hard to build skills in both English and Spanish.
With your support, we will provide our teachers and students with a one-year Raz-Plus Español subscription, a digital library that allows teachers to download, print, and assign leveled Spanish books. These books will fill our classroom book boxes, support small group instruction, and go home with students so families can read together in their native language. Each story is thoughtfully written by Spanish-language authors or authentically transadapted to preserve cultural and linguistic integrity.
This project will help our young learners grow as confident readers in both languages, strengthening their literacy, honoring their heritage, and promoting family engagement. Your contribution will help us make reading in Spanish as accessible and joyful as reading in English. Together, we can give every child the tools to become a proud, lifelong bilingual reader.
The ChompSaw is an amazing tool that allows students to turn their creative imaginations into a reality! ChompSaw is a child-safe, oscillating cutting tool that helps students cut cardboard and other materials safely and easily. Oak Hills students, from kindergarten to 5th grade, had the opportunity to test out these devices, and they absolutely loved using them! ChompSaws make it easy to cut not just straight lines, but fun, curvy shapes too. Teachers are also able to use these tools to develop instructional materials that are unique to the needs of students. ChompSaw is a HIT!
Experimenting with the ChompSaw made it clear how ENGAGING the tool is for all students—especially those with social-emotional or special needs. Many students who usually have a hard time staying focused were completely absorbed in the activity. Some who often leave class chose to stay and work. It was incredible to see every child so deeply involved in hands-on learning.
Oak Hills Elementary School would love to continue using these amazing tools and expand the program so more classes can participate—but they need your help to make it happen!
If you’re able, please consider making a donation to support more ChompSaws and materials for our students. Your generosity helps bring creativity, problem-solving, and joy into classrooms every day.
Kindergarten students learn in a variety of ways, and much of that learning happens through the use of their senses. Sensory play supports the development of fine motor skills, early literacy and math concepts, social-emotional growth, and language development. With tools like scoops, tweezers, and small manipulatives, students will strengthen coordination and communication while learning new vocabulary. Sensory play also helps students regulate emotions, focus during lessons, and participate more successfully in group activities. We are excited to help these young learners explore weather, seasons, pet care, gardens, construction and other interesting topics through their senses. These materials will allow each child to explore textures, practice sharing, and engage in joyful, purposeful play. Your support will make learning more meaningful, accessible, and fun for all students!
They’re back at it again this school year! The Health Careers students are excited to bring the Teddy Bear Clinic program to BSD kindergarten and first-graders once more. The Teddy Bear Clinic is a fun and educational opportunity where young students learn about health care and wellness through hands-on activities—using their own stuffed animals as “patients.”
This is a great opportunity for Health Careers students to use some of their basic patient assessment and first aid skills, encouraging teamwork and boosting confidence as they interact with younger students in a nurturing role. On the flip side, elementary students learn about basic healthcare practices and first aid in a fun and engaging way to reduce anxiety about visiting doctors or clinics. This is also a great way for young students to create stories and situations/injuries for their teddy bears, promoting creativity and storytelling.
The goal is to provide a teddy bear to each student to be used in the clinic, and then this bear may be taken to a doctor’s office to provide comfort and mitigate fear. A $10 donation supports one student with one bear. How many students will you be able to support?
Thank you for continuing to support this meaningful and memorable program!
In Merlo’s bicycle maintenance class, students don’t just learn about gears, chains, and brakes — they learn how to solve problems, work as a team, and take pride in building something with their own hands. The class has quickly become one of Merlo’s most engaging and popular electives, giving students a chance to connect practical STEM skills with everyday life. BEF and donors supported Merlo last year by providing two professional tool kits, but students must wait their turn to use the tools. This slows down learning and limits the hands-on experience that makes the class so powerful.
The solution is simple and impactful: we hope to support Merlo by helping to purchase two additional Park Tool PK-5 Professional Bicycle Tool Kits — the same durable, industry-standard kits already in use. With these additional sets, we can double the number of students working simultaneously, giving everyone more time to learn, practice, and grow their skills safely and confidently. Our donors put real tools into the hands of students, empowering them to think critically, problem-solve, and gain practical mechanical experience that can open doors to future careers.
In return, supporters can take pride in knowing their contribution builds something lasting — not just a class, but a legacy of hands-on learning. These tools will serve countless students for years to come, turning curiosity into confidence and helping young people discover the joy of learning by doing. Together, we can keep Merlo’s program — and students — rolling forward.
