The City of Ember

Amy Darnell – Emmons Elementary School – EM80

My students love The City of Ember and I would like to have the next in the series for next year so I can have next year’s class read both books in the series.

Amount $150.00

Storyworks 2 Magazines

Natalie Whitten – 2nd Grade – Beiger Elementary School – BE37

I want to spark reading excitement with the most engaging ELA magazines. It includes thrilling nonfiction, high-interest debates, short graphic novels, and relatable fiction that meets kids where they’re at.

Amount $200.00

Storyworks 2 Magazines

Lia DelPrete – 2nd Grade – Beiger Elementary School – BE38

I want to spark reading excitement with the most engaging ELA magazines. It includes thrilling nonfiction, high-interest debates, short graphic novels, and relatable fiction that meets kids where they’re at.

Amount $200.00

Holes Class Set

Lindsey Micucci – 5th Grade – Liberty Elementary School – LI22

Using Holes in the classroom will give students the opportunity to strengthen comprehension and critical thinking skills through an engaging and memorable story. Students will practice making inferences, analyzing characters, and understanding how events connect across multiple timelines. The novel also encourages meaningful conversations about perseverance, friendship, and doing what is right. Its high-interest story line appeals to a wide range of learners and helps increase student engagement and enjoyment in reading

Amount $187.00

Out of My Mind

Amanda Hoke – Emmons Elementary School – EM81

We are reading this chapter book in summer school and the students love it. It is about a little girl who has a disability, can’t walk or talk, but she has a photographic memory and is very smart. Through time she learns to communicate with a talking board and that changes her relationships with her family and at school. I would love to use this chapter book in my class as a whole class read a lot with teaching points about how to treat others, how to overcome challenges, how not to judge others, etc. This book lends itself to the SEL curriculum as well. I am looking to purchase to a class set.

Amount $175.00

LCD Writing Tablets

Amanda Hoke – Emmons Elementary School – EM82

I would like to buy a class set of LCD Writing Tablets for my students.  We could use these to practice our spelling words, math problems, phonics, etc.  This is much cleaner and easier to use than dry erase boards.  After some time, dry erase boards don’t erase well and there is a build-up of marker.

Amount $150.00

Pretend Play

Tara Francis – Hums Elementary School – HU41

We are screen free for inside recess and my kids really enjoy this time. The kids LOVE pretend play. I am hoping to purchase some pretend play items to encourage socializing and problem-solving.

Amount $199.00

Pull Up a Stool

Kasey Zartman – 2nd Grade – Beiger Elementary School – BE39

In our classroom, learning is active, collaborative, and hands-on. Modern flexible seating allows students to channel movement productively, leading to better focus and longer attention spans. With these new stools, our classroom will be transformed into a dynamic learning space.

Amount $180.00

Vertical White Boards

Brian Baumer –  High School Math – Mishawaka High School – MH27

In our classroom, learning is active, collaborative, and hands-on. Modern flexible seating allows students to channel movement productively, leading to better focus and longer attention spans. With these new stools, our classroom will be transformed into a dynamic learning space.

Amount $178.00

Behavior Buddies

Jennifer Waite – 3rd Grade – Twin Branch Elementary School – TB21

I would like to implement a Behavior Buddies program in my classroom to promote positive behavior, encourage social-emotional learning, and motivate students to become responsible, respectful, and caring citizens within our school community.

The program will use six stuffed animals, each representing an important character trait and classroom behavior:

🦁 Listening Lion – demonstrates active listening, follows directions, and pays attention when others are speaking.
🦏 Respectful Rhino – treats classmates, teachers, school property, and oneself with respect.
🐨 Kindness Koala – demonstrates kindness, compassion, inclusion, and encouragement toward others.
🦒 Generous Giraffe – shares, helps others, and gives time, materials, or encouragement without expecting something in return.
🐼 Patient Panda – demonstrates patience, self-control, and perseverance when faced with challenges or when waiting for others.
🐻 Brave Bear – shows courage by trying new things, standing up for what is right, admitting mistakes, asking for help, and persevering when something is difficult.

At the end of each day or week, I will recognize a student who has demonstrated one of these character traits through his or her actions. The selected student will receive the corresponding Behavior Buddy stuffed animal to keep on his or her desk for the following school day or week.

Students will not be chosen simply for being the highest-achieving student or for completing the most work. Instead, the focus will be on observable behaviors and positive choices that contribute to a supportive classroom environment.

Through Behavior Buddies, I hope to create a classroom environment where students:

Feel recognized and valued for their positive contributions Understand what positive citizenship looks like Practice social-emotional skills on a daily basis Encourage and support their classmates Develop greater responsibility and self-control Build stronger relationships with peers and adults

Amount $120.00

GoSports Wobbler Chair

Karen Demske – Beiger Elementary School – BE40

It is very hard for some kids to sit still for 6 hours a day. These chairs will allow kids to have a little wiggle room. When doing their work, they will be able to wiggle and work. This helps with the fidgeting and cause to get out of their seats.

Amount $300.00

Robotics Club Snacks

Jennifer Bare – LaSalle Elementary School – LA34

Robotics Club is after a long day of learning and students are hungry. Many of our families don’t have the means to provide an additional snack for students.  We don’t have our club determined yet, however, we average between 10-15 kiddos.  These snacks would also be provided to students during competitions.  Competitions are immediately after school.  We have to be at JYMS around 3:30 to check in and competitions last until around 7:00 or later which doesn’t allow much time for families to go home and eat.

Amount $270.00

A Place to Learn, Grow & Belong

Amanda Gallenberg – LaSalle Elementary School – LA35

To help our first graders learn, connect, and thrive, I am requesting a classroom seating rug to serve as our dedicated space for whole-group learning. Our classroom currently does not have a rug, so I rely on individual carpet spots that are often moved or picked up by students. This colorful rug features clearly defined seating spaces that will help students understand personal boundaries, stay focused, minimize distractions, and make transitions smoother. Used throughout the day for morning meetings, phonics, read-alouds, math, science, social studies, and social-emotional learning, this rug will create a welcoming space where students can come together, build classroom community, and engage in learning. It will become a central part of our classroom where students can learn, grow, and belong all year long!

Amount $250.00

Microbit Wearables

Melissa Johnson – John Young Middle School – JY20

I am requesting $126 to purchase 30 micro:bit wearable kits for my 8th grade computer science students at John Young Middle School. I already use micro:bits with students, and these kits would give them another way to take their coding off the screen and turn it into something they can actually wear, test, and improve. Students could create things like step counters, interactive name badges, games, or simple safety devices while practicing coding, problem solving, and creativity. Having 30 kits means an entire class can participate at the same time, which is especially important with our short class periods. I also hope to use them during computer science outreach with younger students, including 6th graders, so this small purchase could give hundreds of Mishawaka students a chance to experience hands-on computer science.

Amount $126.00

Books Galore!

Allyson Schmidt – LaSalle Elementary School – LA36

During the first week of the school year my class has what’s called a book Tasting. We look through all our classroom library books finding ones that we want to read and are interesting. This also allows me to connect and find more about students’ reading habits and genres they enjoy. I am looking to purchase books requested by students to make sure everyone can find a topic that they enjoy. By meeting them where they are at and building their love for reading, they are eventually more likely to branch out and read different books.

Amount $300.00

Manipulatives

Danielle Borsodi- Emmons Elementary School – EM82

I am wanting a variety of manipulatives for my students to use for morning activities. I am a first-year teacher and I don’t have much for hands on items for my students.

Amount $300.00