2nd Weekof Sept - 50+% !!

With the donation requests hitting both Front Porch Forum and the Richmond Elementary School blog we had a big week and we've broken 50%!!  We have roughly $520 left to raise to purchase the budgeted equipment for so the kids (and the FISH) can embark on this fun educational journey this fall.

For some inspiration, check out this You Tube video on TIC in Virginia and scroll down to one of the earlier posts to donate with the PayPal button!  THANKS!!

Labor Day Update

Well, here we are at the start of school!  The boys' 1st day was Wednesday and everything seems to have gone really well - for them, for the teachers & staff and for the playground which is finally being rebuilt (Yay!)

Fund raising has tapered off somewhat but we have limited the exposure of the blog thus far to mostly my family and friends.  While we are doing well...

We have reached 33% of our goal!!!

 We still have a ways to go before we can order our equipment and we are planning on getting started in October, so that leaves roughly ONE MONTH to raise about $780.

Now that the PayPal link seems to work fine and people can access and view (and comment on, if you like) the blog, we're ready to go prime-time.  Mrs. Ayer is posting the link to the blog on the school website and describing all the great ways the trout in the classroom will help the children absorb the lessons. Meanwhile, I'll be posting it on the Trout Unlimited facebook page in hopes of "hooking" a few interested donors.

So please give what you can to help bring this comprehensive teaching tool to Marie Ayer's and Portia Senning's team-taught 3rd-4th grade classrooms!  As I've said before, we greatly appreciate any donation of any size!  And PLEASE send the link to ANYONE you might think would be interested either donating or in just hearing about TIC and what a COOL  hands-on learning experience this can be!!  Use the PayPal link below or you can mail checks (made out to Richmond Elementary School) to me at : Richmond TIC, c/o Tom Leamon, 172 Robbins Mtn Ext, Richmond VT 05477.

 

THANKS FOR ALL THE SUPPORT!!

Week #1 Progress

Last week was a tentative "launch" of the blog mostly via my Facebook page (so to family & friends) to check the functionality and work out any bugs.  I also managed to "fancy up" the layout a little bit and included a background image from Fish Eye Guy Photography (http://www.fisheyeguyphotography.com).  Check out his web page - some BEAUTIFUL photographs!

We're approaching $200 raised thus far (maybe I can figure out how to include a progress bar somehow) which is GREAT.  A few more details of the program:
The FANTASTICALLY willing teacher at RES (Richmond Elementary School) who is going to be the test subject in Richmond for the program is Marie Ayer - 4th grade teacher!  A huge

THANK YOU

to her and a big kudos for her willingness to incorporate a new program and approach into her (and Portia Senning's 3rd grade) classroom.

So PLEASE donate whatever you can - $5, $10...anything.  I'm going for the small amounts from lots of places approach.  I really believe that the kids will identify with this teaching tactic and develop more than just classroom skills but also an appreciation for the natural world around us.

I had one person mention they had trouble using a credit card for donations so I recreated the PayPal button.  Hopefully it works smoothly. Again, if you'd prefer, you may mail donations to:
                             Tom Leamon, 172 Robbins Mtn Ext, Richmond VT 05477
                             Checks can be made out to: Richmond Elementary School.

Intro

My name is Tom Leamon.  I currently have two children enrolled in Richmond Elementary School in Richmond Vermont.  Both boys enjoy the outdoors and fishing and I have always tried to use their interest in nature as a vehicle to teach them things without them even being aware of it.
 

Jacob

Alex

 Both trout were released!

 
Recently I became aware of a program through Trout Unlimited called Trout in the Classroom (TIC).  Basically a class receives fish eggs in the fall, hatches them and rears the fish until the spring when the class releases them into a river or stream in the area.  The teacher uses the fish as a teaching tool for hands-on learning of biology, chemistry, mathematics, literature and conservation.  I have found two teachers interested in threading this program into their classrooms (on alternating years) but we need to raise roughly $1200 to cover the start up costs.

This BLOG is my first foray into internet fundraising.
Please donate using the button below or, if you'd prefer, send donations to:
 Tom Leamon, 172 Robbins Mtn Ext, Richmond VT 05477
Checks can be made out to: Richmond Elementary School.

Many thanks for reading and for any support you can give!!