SPARROW CLUB NEWS:PTSA and Sparrow Club are hosting a Beautification Event on Sunday, April 29th from 1-3 pm at Dickinson/Explorer. For every student who participates in making our campus a more beautiful place, $20.00 will be donated to our Sparrow, Kaylie . Please contact Katie Stone (cstone@lwsd.org) if you can attend this event. We hope to see you there!
We are accepting donations of annuals and perennials to help make our school grounds beautiful. Additionally, if someone wants to go out to their flowerbeds at home and split off an existing perennial (that is getting too big for your flowerbed) we will gladly take that too! Please contact Marcia Stann at mstann@dickinsonptsa.org via email to coordinate drop off of plant material.
Any questions? Please contact Katie Stone at cstone@lwsd.org
Sparrow Club Story:
Way back in 1992 Komo 4 news in Seattle and Kathy Gertson ran a story about a miracle that happened over a Kamaikin Junior high in Kirkland, Washington. Jeff Leeland was a junior high PE teacher with a baby boy that needed a bone marrow transplant or he would die within 4 months. The insurance company denied his claims because Jeff was a new teacher and hadn't been with the district and insurance company for a year. Word got around that the beloved teacher Mr. Leeland had a sick son that needed a bone marrow transplant. That's when Dameon, probably the most picked-on kid in my junior high, emptied his bank account, came to school and handed Mr. Leeland twelve, five dollar-bills to help save Michael's life. This is what started the really miracle. After kids heard about Dameon's kindness they started asking, “What can we do?”
The community of KIDS in Kirkland rallied to raise 227,000 in only 5 weeks through a dance, walk, donations and many other events. The bone marrow transplant was successful and Michael lived, plus there was about 60,000 dollars in excess. (Michael by the way also goes to University of Oregon now.) So, that's how sparrow clubs got started. Now over 500 schools in Oregon and Washington have adopted sparrows, kids who are in medical crisis.
Through community service projects kids get involved in helping the community and corporate sponsors pledge money (10$) for every hour given back to the community. Since Jeff the founder of the non-profit is now located in Oregon a lot of the sparrow clubs in the last 5 years have really blossomed in that area. Now with a new insurgence of a retired principal, a current principal and some gung-ho teachers the quest in on to start more Sparrow Clubs in the district that started it all.
About 10 schools in the Lake Washington School Distinct near Seattle are starting sparrow clubs this year with the hopes that all 50 schools in the district will adopt Sparrows over the next year as well. Almost all of the sparrows right now are being treated at Children's hospital for stomach sarcoma, leukemia, bone marrow transplant and/or other life threatening illnesses.
Dickinson/Explorer Sparrow Club:
This year we are putting together community service options for students. Students, parents and teachers can sign up for these community service events. The students at Dickinson/Explorer can earn Sparrow Club “Money” which is ten dollars for every hour of service. We do want other family members and friends to participate as well; however, it is only the students at Dickinson/Explorer that earn the hours. It is a non-profit organization that is based on “kids helping kids”, but need parents and teachers support! Students will submit a voucher after they complete the community service. Vouchers will be given our specified events. Only these events will earn Sparrow Club money to give to our Sparrow Shawn.
We are also looking for more corporate sponsors. If you are unable to attend the events, you may still get involved by passing along companies interested in sponsoring Sparrow Club at Dickinson/Explorer. Sparrow Club is searching for corporate sponsorship for this incredible program. Please contact Katie Stone at cstone@lwsd.org if you know of any connections that could help our students support our Sparrow.