By Rama K. Ramaswamy
It’s comforting to know that our New England tradition of giving apples to our favorite teachers/ school staff is thriving, despite going digital. Wellesley Education Foundation’s Red Apple Program ensures recognition and the celebration of educators and school staff by raising funds to “pay it forward” by pumping those funds directly back into the schools. Contributions towards Red Apple may be made throughout the year, although as the school year comes to a close, the focus upon teachers and school staff narrows significantly. As one Hardy School parent said, “the last week of the school year really gives us pause to reflect upon how grateful we are to the set of teachers we’ve had - the people who educate and parent our kids for close to seven hours while away from home.”
Julia de Peyster, parent, WMS-HS PTO member and WEF Communications Committee Co-Chair, said “this simple online giving program, [Red Apple] which encompasses all teachers and staff from Pre-K through High School, is a great way to make our Wellesley educators feel embraced and recognized at year end. One simple donation can be allocated to multiple recipients across multiple schools and the WEF volunteers will prepare and acknowledgment as well as a display magnet and deliver these items to those you are recognizing.”
WEF Co-Presidents Linda Chow and Carol Morrow concur. “All funds raised via Red Apple directly enrich learning experiences for Wellesley Public School students through district-wide initiatives and educator grants that are allocated throughout the school year,” they said.
When asked whether she enjoyed her year-end Red Apple acknowledgments, Susan Ridiker, a veteran French Teacher at Wellesley Middle School responded in the affirmative and said, “I feel incredibly grateful to have received WEF red apple donations from some of the families whose children I have taught. The acknowledgment that I have made a difference to someone's child makes everything about my job worthwhile. Each time I look at the magnet that comes with the donation, I am reminded why I teach.” Ms. Ridiker also received grant funding from WEF, and wanted to make sure the community knew that the money raised by Red Apple and other WEF fundraising efforts such as the annual Spelling Bee and WEF Marathon runners made a big difference in her professional life. “WEF awarded me funding to take a professional development course this summer that would not otherwise have been affordable. The generous funding from WEF will allow me to learn new methods to enhance my curriculum and bring my French students to a greater level of proficiency. I am lucky to work in a district with an involved, caring, and generous parent population!”
Ms. Ridiker's sentiments were echoed by another long term Middle School teacher. Jill Callahan, who teaches Art and Photography said, “WEF has provided us with a film drying cabinet to ensure that no student's delicate film is damaged, a print dryer that dries the prints so they can be filed right after they are made instead of hanging on clothes lines and getting lost between classes. We have received professional-grade filters to control the range of value in the darkroom and professional lighting studio set up that allows the students to shoot photos with high quality atmospheric light. Having the right equipment to teach a course with proper materials instead of jury rigged solutions makes all the difference for our student's success.” Wellesley Media TV footage about the successful 2016 Art Exhibit featuring K-12 students can be found here.
Thom Carter, K-12 Department Head for Visual Arts, reiterated his sentiments from last year. “WEF has helped me and my staff create and maintain a state and national award-winning visual art program. The grants that we have received, at least one each grant cycle for the past four years, have allowed us to transform the department's program of studies from being an ordinary art curriculum to a rich, diverse, extraordinary curriculum that is attractive to all students. For example, the last four WEF grants that the metals department has received have let us purchase specific equipment to change our curriculum from one focused on the design and creation of art jewelry to metal-smiting and small scale metal sculpture, thus becoming more attractive to the male student population. Our enrollment of male students, in the arts, has increased 500% in the last three years! This wouldn't be possible without the funding we received from the Wellesley Education Foundation.”
As Mark Ito, WMS Principal and longtime teacher prior to his head administrative role, summarized his experience. “At WMS, we rely on the support of our parents and guardians for the work we do with our students,” he said. We greatly appreciate the time and support given to us both in and out of the classroom. WEF is instrumental in funding the various activities and events we do in support of greater student learning. It is truly a community partnership that benefits us all."
Claire Lee, a long-time English Teacher at the Middle School spoke about the sentiments of recipients of the community's largesse through these donations via WEF. “The WEF Red Apple Donation,” she said, “is a wonderful way to support teachers at Wellesley. When I've received magnets in the past, I've felt recognized and deeply honored as a teacher. These grants make a difference in our ability to try new ideas and grow in our learning in ways that we wouldn't be able to otherwise. I've had opportunities to take professional development classes as well as pilot new curriculum through the WEF grant. This summer through the WEF grant, I have the chance to attend a conference on journalism in order to teach journalistic skills to my 6th grade students in English. I'm excited and eager to learn from this conference, and I know it will shape how I teach my students.”
Wellesley has seven elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. Schofield and Fiske PTO parents said: “WEF support is felt by educators, students and parents alike; a variety of contributions such as Soundfield Systems, new water fountains and technology support have vastly improved learning, communication and even health while at school.”
According to de Peyster, “To those who have given to the Wellesley Public Schools staff and educators through a Red Apple donation, you can see that your gifts are noticed, appreciated. And they fund significant grants, generated by educators, so that those educators can improve their craft and reach more children more creatively in the classroom and beyond.”
WEF invites every family in the district to participate in this wonderful program. The bond between families, students and the teachers and staff distinguishes Wellesley as a district where educators like to work and children love to learn. The WEF partnership helps cement these relationships from Pre-K through 12th grade with simple, tax-deductible, direct giving opportunities like the Red Apple program. Those interested in the program are encouraged to visit here.
