Windham Primary School Second Graders Save, Spend, and Donate
Windham Primary School Second Graders - eight classrooms in all - worked hard throughout the holiday season to show their awareness and concern for the rescued animals living at the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals. Their teachers, Mrs. Gurney, Mrs. Whidden, Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Hamilton, Mrs. Hawthorne, Mrs. Reichl, Mrs. Poulin and Mrs. Rich, inspired the students to think about the animals at the Society and discussed the unfortunate reasons the animals have been placed at the farm. They also discussed how best to spend the money they raised to help the animals.
The students and their families saved their pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters and dollars, which multiplied week after week until early December, when they counted a grand total of $1,013.39! During the time they were raising money, each classroom had an opportunity to visit the horses at the Society’s barn on River Road in Windham. Some students had never been so close to horses before, but they were excited to hear the stories about particular animals, and to have a chance to get close to them.
On Tuesday, December 20th, Mrs. Rich’s students went shopping at Blue Seal Feeds in South Windham to purchase much needed supplies to keep the animals healthy and comfortable. The class arrived with a long list of items, and they assembled at the front of the store to discuss their shopping strategy. Mrs. Rich’s classroom demonstrated their math skills by predetermining how much money would be spent on the items on the shopping list and how much money would be allocated to the Society’s grain account. Jess, everyone’s favorite sales clerk at Blue Seal, was on hand to educate the students about some of those necessary items: for example, which brushes are appropriate to use for grooming a horse, why you need to “pick” a horse’s hooves, how to properly use a stall fork. The children raised their hands to vote for their choices of colors for several new halters. In addition to numerous items for the horses at the farm, they also selected new beds for the cats, tasty biscuits for the dogs, grain for the pot-bellied pigs, and seed for the bird feeders. The second graders were smart and efficient shoppers and each child left with a newly purchased item in hand to deliver to the farm.
After a short bus ride from Blue Seal to the farm, the kids eagerly hopped off the bus with their bounty of gifts to the animals. They were greeted by MSSPA President Marilyn Goodreau and Barn Manager Troy DeRoche, who were ready to talk with the children about their varied efforts to raise funds for the Society. “I collected bottles!” several youngsters happily exclaimed. “We sold MSSPA t-shirts!” A couple of other students proudly showed off their stylish, tie-dyed shirts with the Society’s logo. “I did extra chores like dishes and taking out the trash, then donated my allowance!”
Instead of presents for his birthday, Silvi Seneca asked his party-goers to donate money for the Society, and he put a collection jar out for arriving guests to see.
Jack and his dad, Chris Vaughan, owner of Wake-N Bakery and Glass Emporium in Westbrook, served dinner for dozens of less fortunate folks on Thanksgiving Day. Although they required no payment for the wonderful meals, the donated money they did collect was earmarked for the Society.
Although the collaboration between the MSSPA and the Primary School teachers has been evolving for several years, this year’s effort was outstanding! More than 160 students from the eight individual classrooms joined together with numerous ideas about how to raise awareness about animal welfare and how to raise money for the animals at the Society’s River Road farm. The children, their families, school staff, and teachers all worked together and made the project a tremendous success for all involved. Each student could hardly wait their turn to answer Marilyn’s question, “How did it make you feel to work so hard at raising money for the animals?” Many replied “I felt proud!” or “I was excited!” or “It made me happy to help the animals.” One young man said, “I didn’t used to pay a lot of attention to my pets at home, but now I do. When I get home from school, I spend time petting my cat.” In thinking about and working hard for less fortunate animals, he learned that he could also make a big difference for his own pets at home.
The holiday visit progressed to a stall belonging to Bailey, a friendly grade gelding. MSSPA Barn Manager Troy DeRoche spent some time showing the students what a horse hoof looks like and how to properly clean it to help the horse maintain strong, healthy hooves. The students passed around a horse shoe to see and feel the difference between the shoes people wear and the ones worn by horses. Bailey sweetly and patiently entertained his audience as the children lined up to individually greet and pet him.
Everyone working on behalf of the Society and its animals extends thanks to the wonderful community of caring teachers, staff, students and their families. What began as a modest effort by a single class several years ago has become an annual celebration of humane education and generosity. The project stretches over several weeks and requires a significant effort by everyone. Special thanks to Bob Baiguy of Bob the Screenprinter here in Windham for his special work in creating the colorful logo t-shirts the students offer for sale each year. It may take a village to raise a child, but it takes Windham second grade students to lead the way in raising money for once-abused animals.
The Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) public charity and receives no federal, state or local government funding. The Society is entirely funded by membership dues, donations, bequests, grants, and fund-raising activities. The Society does not charge for its services. It provides more than one million dollars in services annually to Maine taxpayers and salvation to abused animals.
Click here to see a photo gallery of the Windham Primary School Project.