I remember my 8th grade trip to Washington DC. I remember it being so exciting leaving my little town in Long Island and exploring another city with my classmates. I remember having so much fun on the bus on the way to places like the Lincoln Memorial and all the girly giggling in the hotel room each night (at that age, staying in a hotel room with your friends was just the coolest thing).

I was reminded of all this when I received the following email from one of my good friends, Mimi. Mimi’s a middle school teacher who loves her job and loves her kids. She teaches at a school in the South Bronx and for the past year or so she’s been telling my friends and I all these fascinating stories about the kids and the challenges they go through with just having much less that what we had growing up. Her stories are always so eye-opening and remind me of what a privileged upbringing I really had.

This email reminded me again of that same feeling. I was so privileged to have not only had an 8th grade trip, but also a 6th and 7th grade trip. I even remember expecting these trips every year!

Take a moment to read Mimi’s email and if you can, help her students take a much-deserved senior class trip to Washington DC!

————————————————————

Date: Thu, Sep 8, 2011 at 2:14 PM

Subject Line:  Help my students go to Washington DC!

Hi everyone -

As most of you know, I just started my second year of teaching middle school at Hyde Leadership Charter school, located in the South Bronx. For the first time, we are trying to give the 8th graders a proper senior trip in June. We plan to take them to Washington DC for three days, so that they can visit our country’s capital and see another side of America. Many of them have never traveled farther than New Jersey, and many of the places that we picture when we think of America are completely foreign to them.

Given the fact that my school is located in the poorest congressional district in the country, the cost of the trip is prohibitive for many students and their families.

If would like to help out by sponsoring a student, please use the link below:
http://bit.ly/qpXjCn

Please make sure to note in the designation section that the money is for the 8TH GRADE SENIOR TRIP. It is $350 per student to attend the trip, and donations of any amount will be accepted. All donations are tax deductible.

Another one of the ways that we are fundraising for the trip is through a Hunts Point community wide raffle. I am collecting items that will be of value and use to the families of Hunts Point. We will sell raffle tickets to all students and families and raffle the items off in school. All money raised will go directly to the trip fund.

We are raffling off any type of item that our families will benefit from such as: diapers, bedding, gift certificates, electronic devices, sports equipment, books, clothing, tools (ex power drills), winter coats, small appliances (toaster, coffee maker) etc. Nicer items such as TVs, cameras, and jewelry will also definitely be prizes, but we are looking for basic items as well. If you cannot help sponsor a student but perhaps know of a store or business that can donate an item to our raffle, please let me know.

Below is a picture of some of my students who hope to go on the trip. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Best,

Mimi