Mt. Zion School Supplies Collection

On Tuesday, August 18, the 2009-10 school year begins for Mt. Zion Elementary School students on Johns Island. This year, more than ever, the teachers and students will face many challenges because of the current state of our economy. Just as they have done in the past, Kiawah and Seabrook Islanders, along with property owners at Cassique and Kiawah River Estates will help them turn challenges into opportunities.

The donations collected last year enabled the “Support Mt. Zion Kids” fund to purchase two more “Smart Boards,” as well as providing school uniforms for students in need, computerized learning programs, support for the Accelerated Reading program (which helps students at or below grade level improve their skills), and those materials and supplies teachers need day-to-day. Many of these supplies were provided by school districts when we were attending and/or working in schools, but ones teachers need to purchase for themselves today.

During the course of this past year, we also distributed many of the school supplies donated two years ago. Even so, we still have pencils, rulers, erasers, and loose leaf paper for the upcoming year. However, a number of the “staples” we provide need to be replenished.

Therefore, this year Pete Trees, my co-chair, and I are asking your generosity to take one of two forms: (1) the supplies listed below or (2) monetary donations. We will use funds we collect to purchase additional supplies and uniforms as needed throughout the school year, and we hope to raise enough to continue purchasing items such as Smart Boards and other
materials not provided by the very-financially strapped Charleston County School District.

Needed supplies include:
Ø Crayons (24 pack)
Ø Glue sticks
Ø Individual pencil sharpeners
Ø Black & White Composition Notebooks
Ø Two-pocket, three-pronged folders
Ø Scissors, both blunt- and pointed-tipped
Ø Construction paper and other art supplies

Please provide your donations as soon as you can, but no later than August 10.

If you have any questions, contact me at home (843.768.7466) or via e-mail (wkulick@bellsouth.net). Please make your checks out to “Support Mt. Zion Kids” and mail them to me at 38 Marsh Edge Lane, Kiawah Island, SC 29455. You may also drop off your supplies on the front porch at my house. Please be sure to leave your name and address with them if no one is at home when you deliver them.

Another way we can help the students at Mt. Zion is through our shopping at Harris Teeter. At the beginning of the school year, ask the cashier at check-out to enter school number 3455 into the register. By doing so, a portion of what you spend is donated to Mt. Zion Elementary each time you shop and purchase “Together in Education” items. If you have an Office Depot credit card, please inform the sales associate at the register to credit Mt. Zion Elementary. Office Depot will also credit Mt. Zion with 5% of any purchases you make – whether or not they are school supplies. The school ID# for Mt. Zion is 70090775, and this program is in effect all year long.

Staples has a rewards program for its purchases, as well as a teacher rewards program for moneys they spend. Finally, if you have a Target credit card, you can register on the Target web site for Mt. Zion Elementary. These businesses donate a portion of sales dollars to local schools.

In addition to the school supplies we provide to Mt. Zion students, Kiawah and Seabrook Islanders have provided more than 1,000 hours per year by serving as volunteers in the classroom. You need not have teaching experience, only a willingness to help the students in our local schools. This assistance may be for an hour a week or an entire day – however much time you can give, it will be appreciated by the Mt. Zion students and their teachers. Just talk to your friends and neighbors who have donated their time and they will tell you how rewarding an experience it is! If you are interested in helping out in the classroom, mentoring a student, tutoring students or reading to classes, please contact Sue Holleman, the Volunteer Coordinator for Mt. Zion. You can reach Sue at holl97@bellsouth.net and she’ll be delighted to hear from you! Donna Moulton is both a volunteer and Sue’s assistant, and you can reach her at donna.moulton@gmail.com.

On behalf of the entire Mt. Zion family, we thank you in advance for your generous support.

Wendy Kulick
38 Marsh Edge Lane

2009 Mt Zion School Supplies Collection