Santa Fe, New Mexico

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It Takes a Community to Change Our Schools

Sweeney Elementary

Sweeney Elementary is a large K-5 elementary school on the south side of Santa Fe, New Mexico.

We celebrate in the diversity of our students and we stress equality and access to all programs for all students. Our school started out as a small elementary in 1980. Since then, the incredible growth has caused it to evolve into a large school.

Valerie Gonzales

We are requesting a total of $1500.00 for an educational field trip for our students. Our field trip will be to Explora, and will benefit 4 classrooms, that include two kindergartens, and two fifth grades(100 kids). The cost will cover admission for each student and the busses to get to Albuquerque. We know as educators this is beneficial because it is a site where it is interactive learning. The children will be able to explore different activities, with their different senses. Some of our students have never been outside Santa Fe, and some have not gone out of their neighborhoods. We know that children learn different professions, ideas and opportunities when they travel outside their own neighborhoods. A field trip can awaken the desire in a child to try new things and pursue previously unconsidered dreams. We are hoping to go in May. We feel that working together with the 5th graders will give our fifth graders a chance to leaders and ro le models for our kindergarten students. Our kindergarten students will be able to actively explore with their 5th grade buddy. We feel this opportunity will help our children to see that we are a school community that cares for one another. 

Progress: 0% Goal: $500
Samantha Rivera

Trish Gharrity and Samantha Rivera co-teach in 2nd grade at Sweeney Elementary School. We are looking for a sponsor to help us increase our classroom library. We will use the books for different activities including Writier's Workshop which exposes children to different types of writing styles as well as Author Studies. We begin an author study by introducing an author with a short biography and discussing writing styles. We compare and contrast a variety of books within the author as well as between authors. While we study the writing styles, the children then begin to transfer the style to their own writing. With a wide selection of authors, we will be able to expand learning from different styles. A wide variety of books in the classroom will allow students easy access to literacy in order to broaden their vocabulary and build background knowledge. Our hope is to develop a system where children have easier access to check out boo ks as needed. 

Progress: 100% Goal: $500
Kindle D’Arco

It has been said that the family that eats together stays together. Sweeney is a family oriented school that needs your help to make this happen. C.W.K.'s "Family Night" is designed to bring a select group of families after school to learn how to cook healthy, inexpensive, delicious meals. The idea is to provide families with enthusiasm and motivation to cook together while teaching practical skills to shop for healthful foods, prepare recipes, and make meal time quality time. 
Everyone knows that parental involvement is key to success. The most effective forms of parental involvement are those which engage parents in working directly with their children on learning activities at home and in school. "Family Night" provides a great opportunity for positive one on one involvement. School initiated activities like this help parents change their home environment and can have a strong influence on a child's attitude and choices that they make in life. 
Unfortunately due to construction setbacks and issues at Sweeney our Cooking with Kids program this year has been temporarily canceled. We miss it dearly. However C.W.K. has offered to organize two "Family Nights" this school year.  


It should be fun and festive. Please support your community by donating to this event. Help us learn to cook and share with one another. Thank you for your time, consideration, and donation.

Progress: 0% Goal: $500

Donors:

Hutton Broadcasting

www.huttonbroadcasting.com

Donors:

Century Bank

www.centurynetbank.com

Donors:

La Fonda on the Plaza

www.lafondasantafe.com

Donors:

Hotel Santa Fe

www.hotelsantafe.com

Sponsors:

Santa Fe 400th

www.santafe400th.com

Sponsors:

Santa Fe Public Schools

www.sfps.info

Sponsors:

The Frost Foundation

www.frostfound.org

Sponsors:

Santa Fe Community Foundation

www.santafecf.org

Partners:

Santa Fe Opera

Partners:

The Alliance for Literacy

Partners:

Food Depot

Partners:

National Dance Institute

Partners:

Adaptive Ski Program

Partners:

Cooking with Kids

Partners:

Adelante Program

Testimonials:

"Thank you for supporting our school garden. It has become a gathering spot for our students and their families."

Sue McDonald,
Acequia Madre