Trees show teacher wish lists
By Kathy Thomson
Members of the AJSH Academic Booster Club have formed a “Rise and Shine” committee to bless, encourage, and uplift the faculty and staff of the Albany Independent School District, and this holiday season they are inviting everyone to assist them in their efforts by “adopting” a local teacher.
“The committee has created a teacher/staff Christmas wish list event,” said co-chair Heather Brown. “This is a great opportunity to encourage the teachers/staff who love, care for, and educate our students each and every day.”
A Christmas tree has been set up in the office of each campus and has been decorated with ornaments that have wish lists from the teachers and staff members.
“The items selected by the teachers are school-related,” said Brown. “Please go by and ‘adopt’ a teacher or staff member and return your wrapped gift to the tree by Dec. 18. If you can’t make it up to the school to grab an ornament, you can contact the school office to let them know who you will be buying for.”
If the teacher is already “taken,” Brown suggested that you select another teacher.
“If you would like to adopt more than one teacher or staff, you are free to do so,” she added.
A maximum of $50 per gift has been recommended.
Brown said that this is the first time that the Rise and Shine committee has sponsored a teacher tree, but she thinks that the PTO used to do something similar.
“To my knowledge, it hasn’t been done by anyone for several years,” she said. “I remembered it from years past and suggested it to the committee. Everyone was on board with the idea because it matched the values of our mission.”
The committee members also try to help teachers and staff throughout the year by sending motivational emails, doing random acts of kindness, volunteering to help out the teachers and/or students, and giving personalized gifts of blessing.
“If you would like to volunteer on either campus and/or provide a personalized monthly gift of blessing, please contact one of the Rise and Shine committee members,” said Brown.
Committee members include AISD coordinator Audrey Peterson (audreypeterson@icloud.com), secondary campus co-chairs Brown (brown7915@att.net) and Aimee Hale (aimeehale@windstream.net), and NSES co-chairs Michelle Bellah (tmbellah@gmail.com) and Alicia Burton (aliciahoward03@yahoo.com).
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