Fowler cites benevolence of school communities

MADISON – Before winter break, Dr. Dee Fowler, superintendent of Madison City Schools, recognized the giving, unselfish spirit of students and teachers on Madison campuses.

Dr. Dee Fowler, Superintendent of Madison City Schools (CONTRIBUTED)

“Our schools never cease to amaze me with their generosity. Our employees and students show compassion in so many ways I can’t possibly name them all,” Fowler said.

At West Madison Elementary School, teachers maintained an angel tree with lists of needy families to help. After reading “The Mitten Tree,” students in West Madison’s extended-day program donated to a homeless shelter.

At James Clemens High School, the Interact Club held a clothing drive for children in Honduras. Spanish students at Bob Jones High School sent 256 packages for “Shoeboxes for Guatemala” with toiletries, school supplies and clothing for needy children. Students wrote a letter in Spanish for each box.

Columbia Elementary School collected raised $4,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis and sent Christmas cards to soldiers deployed in Egypt. Columbia PTA and the Watch D.O.G.S (Dads of Great Students) helped with the effort, Fowler said.

Second-graders at Horizon Elementary School conducted “Cans for Cause,” which netted 700 cans of food for the Downtown Rescue Mission.

Kathryn Anderson, a Discovery Middle School seventh-grader, sponsored “Stockings of Hope” to collect small gifts and devotionals for children at Harris Home for Children and Downtown Rescue Mission. Discovery basketball cheerleaders collected for Toys for Tots.

Madison Elementary School’s student council supported Christmas Charities Year-Round with 2,000 cans of food. “Faculty and staff at Madison elementary decided to help needy families instead of having a staff party,” Fowler said.

Heritage Elementary School’s “Harmony Choir” visited nursing homes and assisted-living facilities to sing. Heritage students and teachers mailed cards to overseas U.S. Marines, sent 154 care packages to the rescue mission and gave Christmas gifts to 25-plus families.

“Our Central Office employees donated approximately $800 for clothing, toys and gift cards for several needy families,” Fowler said. “They raised nearly $400 to provide expensive formula for a local child with a rare medical condition.”