Giving the Gift of Hope

3rd-Graders Gifted College & Business Sweatshirts for the Holidays

At Washington Community Schools, we believe that ALL children are capable of success, NO exceptions. As a Kids at Hope district, we encourage our students to “time travel” to four key life destinations, to envision a future filled with possibility and purpose.

One of these destinations is College & Career, where students are supported in exploring their potential and setting goals for the future. Our staff plays a vital role in helping them believe in themselves and plan their journeys, whatever paths they choose.

Several years ago, the third-grade teachers at Lena Dunn Elementary were discussing with their students about careers they may be interested in and what colleges they may attend to achieve their goals. As a surprise, they raised money to gift a college sweatshirt to each of their students. It was a huge success, sparking excitement and hope among the students, and they hoped to continue it every year.

The following year brought new challenges. With the district’s transition to grade-level centers, Lena Dunn Elementary became Washington Intermediate, and instead of around 50 students, they had over 160! Undeterred, the staff rallied to ensure every third grader in the district received a sweatshirt. The community stepped up generously, contributing funds and sweatshirts to keep the tradition alive.

“The support we receive from the community for this project and even from others outside of Indiana... has truly been inspiring,” said 3rd Grade Teacher Jordan Bennington. “We want our students to know that we not only believe in them… but people all over, who don’t even know them, believe in them and want them to succeed in life!”

This year, we have 225 students, and instead of just colleges, they also asked businesses to donate a sweatshirt with their business name or logo. This will open up so many conversations with students and their families about not only different colleges but also businesses around Washington, and perhaps all over the country.

“This is such an inspiring project. The community coming together and supporting our third-grade students brings so much joy to our classrooms. The kindness and willingness from the community makes a significant impact on our students and staff, we are incredibly grateful for that,” said Third Grade Teacher Kristen Lafollette.

"This sweatshirt project has quickly become one of my favorite projects we do with the 3rd graders!” said Third Grade teacher Chelsea Travelstead. “The support we get from the community is truly amazing! The kids experience so much joy opening their sweatshirts, and I love hearing the convos they have with one another about the different colleges (and now businesses) that are on their sweatshirts. This project embodies perfectly what it means to be a Kids at Hope school!”

By gifting these sweatshirts, we’re not only encouraging young minds to dream big but also providing a tangible reminder that their future is bright and full of possibilities.