Templeton Middle School (TMS) Student Council members visit 4K students at Rogers Street Academy in Milwaukee to deliver new winter clothes, books and toys. The December 13 visit was the culmination of a classroom adoption project which involved collecting donations, wrapping gifts and spending time with the 4K students.
“This is the third year that we have worked with Rogers Street Academy,” explains Templeton Middle School Science Teacher and Student Council Advisor Mary Caucutt. “Our students at Templeton are always excited to share what they have been working on. However, I don’t think they understand until they get there, first of all how little the 4K students are. But also just how excited they are! Here are these big middle schoolers coming in with these giant boxes of toys. The young kids are just so excited. They are so grateful. They usually can’t even believe they have what they have (been given), which is really heartwarming to see,” adds Caucutt.
A total of thirty-two 4K students received individual gift boxes complete with boots, coats, snow pants, hats, gloves and toys. In addition, each child also received a book thanks to Templeton Middle School Library and Technology Literacy Coach Anita Paque, who helped to select age-appropriate reading materials. Rogers Street Academy teachers also received classroom supplies.
“The young students were a bit confused at first, because I don’t think they knew that they were able to take the items home,” explains Templeton Middle School eighth grade student Grace Wetzel. “Then you would tell them ‘this is yours! Do you want to play with this?’ and it was really cool!”
Templeton Middle School eighth grade student Alondra Scicero said she was very happy to be able to do this. “Many people think it’s a normal thing to get presents. But these children aren’t as fortunate as others,” she said. “The young students were really thankful, so it makes the experience ten times better.”
Caucutt points out that support from TMS families makes this possible. “It is really heartwarming to see, through the generosity of our parents, how they help to make these little dreams come true for so many 4K students,” she says. This is also the second year that Dairyland Bus Company has provided a ride free of charge to take TMS students to Rogers Street Academy to distribute gifts.