Currently at DHS, a few of the foreign language teachers are selling pencils and suckers shaped like skulls, or skull pops, as a fundraiser.
Through collaboration with the Spanish teachers, Ms. Cheryl Weeks-Rosten, previous teacher who taught English at DHS for over 30 years, helped to create this fundraiser. Weeks-Rosten has a list of students who need sponsors and there are about 25 per grade.
Although in the United States, students always go to secondary school, in Guatemala it is very uncommon for the students to reach the secondary school. Over the past several years, Weeks-Rosten, with the help of the Spanish classes here at DHS, has sponsored students attending a school in Guatemala. Just recently, the school had its first college graduate.
This year, the program is sponsoring a young girl named Teresa. The way they decided to fund her education was by selling skull pops that would be sold during Spanish classes and also occasionally at lunch. They also had students donate pencils that could be sold to the student body to raise money for Guatemala. Secondary school and college require larger donations from fundraisers like the skull pops, as the students have to live away from home.
“I am thankful anytime my unhealthy dietary habits can help children in need and I think the opportunity to help those children who need our help the most is precious,” junior Ben Morgan said.
The fundraisers, which have been going on for ten years now, benefit Teresa, paying for her education. Most families cannot afford to send their children to school in Guatemala. Fortunately, the fundraiser is able to almost completely fund Teresa’s education.
“The sucker sales start to dwindle by the end,” Spanish teacher Mary Wazny said. “The first several bags go by fast.”
Students are able to enjoy a sugary treat for only $1.00 while helping fund Teresa’s education.
“I think it was wonderful opportunity for us students at Dow High to give something that is relatively small [the pencils] here yet can still make a significant positive impact on the children of Guatemala who are yearning for the opportunity to learn,” Morgan said.
