Earlier this month, we helped to spread autism awareness by sharing our blog post "World Autism Awareness Day" with different teachers in our building who, in turn, shared it with their students. Two students in particular were so moved by Drew Elliot's story, they wanted to know how they could help make a difference in our school. Make a difference? In fifth grade? The response from these two girls I had never met before caught me completely off guard. After connecting with their classroom teacher and getting more background information about these two, amazing 11 year-old girls, I was was no longer surprised with their request but in awe. These were the same two students who managed to put together a fund-raiser in a matter of days for Briarwood and Plaza Towers Elementary Schools, which were devastated by the tornado that ripped through Moore, Oklahoma in May 2013. Two young girls with such beautiful hearts.
With the support of my colleague, classroom teachers, and our building principal, the girls set out to make rainbow loom bracelets to sell in the mornings before the start of the school day. Word caught quickly, and soon, dozens of students were bringing in bracelets they made at home to include in the sale. The girls' classroom teacher allowed the students to bring in their rainbow looms to make bracelets during snack time and class read aloud time. Teachers were asking for us to give autism presentations. Wow. We were blown away.
My only request with the entire project was that we communicated to other students that not only is it important to be a friend to someone with autism, but it is equally important to be a friend to everyone. So, the two girls and I created a pledge using what the school already had in place and then expanding on it. Here is what we came up with!
Teachers gave students the opportunity to sign the pledges in their classroom, and they were also available at the bracelet sale. We currently have one more week of bracelet selling, and we continue to hang up the pledges around our school. In fact, the girls have now asked to sell the bracelets the end-of-the-year school carnival, which was immediately approved by our principal. (Have I mentioned how awesome it is to be so supported?) It looks like the girls will continue to raise money beyond the month of April!
So you might be wondering where the money will be going. Me too! The girls want to donate it to an organization that supports children who have autism. I have found five local organizations from which the girls will make their decision. I can't wait to see where they choose to donate all of their proceeds! More to come with their decision and the total amount of money raised at the end of May!
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