Letter: Please Help Send My 5th Graders to Mars!

Letter to the Editor:

Please help me send my Fairmont 5th Graders to Mars!

My students have qualified to participate in an awesome simulated astronaut Mission to Mars at Chabot Space and Science Center this October.  This is the perfect type of field trip where the students are there learning specific grade level standards but get to do it in a really fun way! The grant that Chabot found for us will get us from Chabot to (simulated) Mars, but first we need to get from Fairmont to Chabot! The estimate for the bus is $480! This is a school where the majority of the students qualify for free/reduced lunch.  I really want my students to be able to have this unique learning opportunity, but I need some help from the community.  We are seeking community donations (in any amount) to help make this field trip a reality. 

Our wonderful neighborhood coffee shop, Well Grounded (located at 6925 Stockton Avenue) is also trying to help us raise money for this trip.  They have generously placed a donation jar in their shop to help my class raise the needed money to pay for a bus.  Stop by and have some of their amazing coffee or delicious bagels and while you're there, please contribute to our donation jar.  Of course, you can also mail or drop off donations at Fairmont Elementary (724 Kearney Street, El Cerrito, CA 94530) c/o Christi Thomas.  I am so thankful for our Well Grounded and Jenny K neighbors helping us out with this effort and I hope that other members in the community will be able to help inspire scientific curiosity in my students by giving to this worthwhile trip.

– Christi Thomas
   5th Grade Teacher, Fairmont Elementary
   CThomas@wccusd.net