Update, April 29: OK, folks. It's 10:45 as I write this, with just one day remaining in the competition. Mitchell Middle School is in 4th place -- well within sight of winning $50,000 to remodel the school's science classrooms. This is no time to slack off; we've seen the school's position go up and down day by day. Vote now!
Original post:
Kim Wendt, 8th grade science teacher at Mitchell Middle School, passed along the news this morning that the school is currently in 12th place in a Pepsi challenge that could provide $50,000 to revamp the school's science classrooms, built in 1974.
Actually, we just checked the competition website: Mitchell's project is now in 11th place -- and the top ten finishers each win $50,000!
All it will take to win is free, no-strings-attached votes, cast over the internet.
C'mon, everybody, log on and vote! You can -- and should! -- vote daily until the contest ends on April 30. Go here to vote. The site also details how the money would be spent, on a chemistry science kitchen, a computer lab/digital media center, a writing cafe, smartboards, a science library and more.
Just one of the many, many good things happening inside Unified. Our public schools take all students and really make a supreme effort with all kids. The tons of good happenings certainly out weigh the few negatives - that get too much publicity. :et's get behind this wonderful project. Kudos to the wonderful teachers and kids that work so hard.
ReplyDelete2:09 - You are kidding - right? This is great, but the majority that goes on in Unified is dismal. Just look at the scores that were released - these are a ton of bad things going on, not to mention, gangs, guns, knives, drop outs, police in the hallways etc.
ReplyDeleteAlright 2:23...
ReplyDeleteUnified has its problems, but instead of complaining, how about you help out?
-Mentor a kid who needs a role model.
-Help fundraise.
-Coach a team.
-Adopt a classroom for a year.
Stop complaining and actually do something. The apathy toward the children in our community is horribly depressing.
3:34 - I'm am doing something - I support private education. You know where 99% of the students graduate, there are no gangs, guns, knives, police in the hallways, better than 95% go on to higher education, where you know your kids will learn and be safe, where you don't have to have two exits at sporting events. RUSD sucks and always will. And far as volunteering - I do many hours a month along with being on a number of not for profit boards!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great idea! I love it. I've posted a link on my FaceBook and have asked all of my friends to vote. I hope they make it!
ReplyDelete3:40
ReplyDeleteSo the children whose parents can't, for whatever reason, afford private education are just doomed to fail?
I think not. We've come a long way from the "it takes a village" mentality of generations past. Perhaps it's time to stop thinking of only ourselves and start thinking about the greater good.
Thank you so much everyone for your support!!! I am the teacher who decided to step up and make a difference and I can't do this alone. As I tell my students everyday, "Be the change you want to see in the world." -Ghandi THANK YOU!!
ReplyDeleteI salute Kim Wendt and her students at Mitchell for their positive efforts to enhance the quality of their school. Public education has been, and continues to be, the backbone of our society. Those who ridicule public education do so at their own peril as well as the peril of the future of our country. Even conservative Republican Joe Scarborough recently decried the disinvestment in our public schools. The decline of our country will come from those individuals and groups who consistently attack those institutions that propel our country in a positive future. I submit that teacher Kim Wendt and others like her, as well as students in our public schools, have a more positive outlook than the naysayers.
ReplyDeleteI think what is being done is awesome. Someone outside all the politics has taken something into her hands. Unified and it's higher ups will not have anything to do with this money. Kim Wendt will make sure the money goes where it is supposed to go. Seriously, stop being the bad talker and start doing something to help out. Thank you Mrs. Wendt for doing something so positive for our students.
ReplyDeleteI think that what Mrs. Wendt is trying to do for Mitchell is pretty amazing. It is sad to read that people are not giving these kids a chance just because they attend RUSD. If you want the kids to achieve, believe in themselves, and raise above their situation; yet people will bash ideas and the people that are trying to help. How will that help? I will continue to vote everyday for this idea even though I do not live in Racine anymore. What Mrs. Wendt is giving these kids will be measured for years to come and just think what these kids have been inspired to do with their lives.
ReplyDeleteJosephus - you said "The decline of our country will come from those individuals and groups who consistently attack those institutions that propel our country in a positive future." When is RUSD going to propel the country in a positive future. I'll tell you when - NEVER!
ReplyDeleteI just voted, and they're in 6th place now!
ReplyDeleteIf you like RUSD or not this shows what can be done when a community works together. Mrs. Wendt has done an amazing thing in bringing together the community.
ReplyDeleteWay to go!!!
3:03 - Why can't the community pull together and do something for RUSD to eliminate gangs, guns knives, drugs, police in the hallways, fights, stabbings, eliminate dropouts, get more kids into college? This effort is fine, but $50,000 is not going to do anything to eliminate these issues.
ReplyDeleteIt is a fantastic idea to have the community work together to do even more to help out our students. However, it is a difficult endeavor when there are so many negative mindsets when it involves RUSD. If anyone has suggests I am all ears and will do what I can to help. I believe in my students that much. Although $50K is small, it is amazing how it has changed my students perception of themselves and their community. They read the comments you post. I encourage them to each day when they vote. They are shocked so many people from the community care and are supporting them. This is something many have never experienced and often end up finding in a gang. They are equally shocked that so many people view their school district as unsuccessful. This is something they hear too much of already and this only feeds those negative thoughts within them. Thankfully this contest has changed them. I am seeing them start to believe in themselves and realize they can make a difference, which is incredible. They are learning lessons that go beyond anything I can teach them. I truly wish you could see that this $50K contest is doing more for them than you realize. Unfortunately as teachers and a district we can only do so much, we equally need parents and the community to instill strong values in our youth to keep them on the path to success. If this contest is any indication, yes it can be done. Thank you to everyone who continues to vote and support us, my students and I can't thank you enough.
ReplyDeleteKim, I don't know you or any of your students but I have this posted on my facebook, I sent an email out, and I vote every single day. Take the negative comments for what they're worth: nothing.
ReplyDeleteThank you for doing what you do for our kids in this city - and let's hold on to third place! Maybe even take the top spot!!!! At least, let's get that $50K into OUR schools!
GO MITCHELL!
Thank you so much! Your comment just made my day!! Keep voting and promoting! Without wonderful people like yourself this never would have been possible. AGAIN THANK YOU!!!!
ReplyDeleteOh, no! They're only in 7th place now! Please be sure to vote!
ReplyDeleteEducation is the great equalizer in our society. VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!
ReplyDeleteRacineGirl - how about teach, teach, teach - something that seems to be lacking in RUSD.
ReplyDeleteAnon 3:23 - you have a say once YOU teach, teach, teach in a public school, and then you actually find a way to make it better... without costing the taxpayers a dime!
ReplyDeleteKickin butt for Mitchell....great job kids! Just a few more days to go - good luck!
ReplyDeleteMitchell PWNED Pepsi Challenge
RacineGirl - your comment makes no sense.
ReplyDelete6th place as of a couple minutes ago. Let's keep them in the top 10!
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU KEEP IT UP!! FROM MITCHELL MIDDLE SCIENCE STAFF AND STUDENTS!!
ReplyDeleteONE DAY LEFT IT'S TIME WE WIN!! ALL OUR HARDWORK WILL FINALLY PAY OFF!! THANK YOU!! AND REMEMBER TO CAST YOU LAST VOTE FOR MITCHELL!!
ReplyDeleteI just voted! It says you are ranked 4th right now! Good luck.
ReplyDeleteYes, they're in 4th at 6:54 AM. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteGood maybe now you can get back to teaching!
ReplyDelete