December 20, 2009
Dear Chris and FoPRR,
We at Little Wound School Roots & Shoots are incredibly grateful for the generosity and kindness extended to us over the past two months. Our coat drive on December 1st was a huge success. We were able to help so many students in need within our school and also extend the generosity to the community. The toy drive was just simply amazing. We are still amazed that we had enough gifts to share with every student in our school. All the hard work was really worth it as the school community had so many positive comments. We were the Santa Claus of Kyle, SD. Some students were so excited they held their wrapped gifts and said, “It just feels like its something good!”
We are learning a lot this first year in service to our community. Although much of these past two months has been incredibly hectic, we know that with advanced planning we can be even more successful and with less stress! We continue to find homes for all items sent. Some of the coats and warm weather gear that arrived after the coat drive have either been given to a person in need or are waiting to be distributed to the Bigfoot riders when they stop at Little Wound School for the night. Every donation is truly appreciated. In fact, I have students say when they look at the abundance of donations, “I can’t believe that people care so much and can be so generous.” Truly this is directed at all the FoPRR and you Chris – you are amazing!
All of your donations and kindness have been shared with students and families of Little Wound School, the Senior Citizens Center, the Head Start in Kyle and the Kyle community in general. One quick mention – I apologize for not sending the thank you notes early on. As these are our first major projects we were a bit overwhelmed. Our beautiful thank you cards will be on the way this coming week! Thank you everyone for your kindness and generosity!
Sincerely,
Laura (High School Roots & Shoots Advisor)
Little Wound School
12/6/09
“In winter time there’s broken hearts and sing-less melodies playing in the wind of symphony. Every thank you that has ever been made is granted to you for helping us get this program through. While smiles smear across your name we slipped our hearts on your front steps to remain… and remind you that you are important to us because you made a change.” – Gabby (member of Roots & Shoots)
December 6, 2009
For all of you that helped make our coat drive a huge success, we thank you from the tip of our toe nails to the top of our pointy hair. It was a marvelous afternoon that eased the coldness tumbling through. We greatly appreciated the donations; you helped a lot of people who couldn’t afford to get such nice things. Thanks!
– LWHS Roots & Shoots
September 22, 2009
Dear Friends of Pine Ridge,
Thank you for your generosity in donating so very many copies of The Great Gatsby to our 10th grade English class at Little Wound High School.
As copy after copy of the book appeared in my mailbox at school, I became more and more excited to teach my class this classic in the upcoming semester. Having enough copies to send home with kids is really a blessing; so many of our students have never been given a book and told, “Take it home, it’s for you.”
More than anything, our kids need to be encouraged to take ownership of their own education and this donation will allow me to organize independent work and show our students that they are more than capable of the responsibility.
Thank you again for your generous gift,
Kate Stasik
10th Grade English Teacher
Little Wound High School
Kyle, SD
September 2, 2009
Dear Friends of Pine Ridge Reservation,
I would like to thank you both on behalf of the ninth graders of Little Wound High School and myself, their English teacher. Because of your generous donation of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian, my English classes will be able to read this fantastic book by a contemporary Native American author.
Being exposed to literature which engages my students’ interest and also challenges their growing literacy skills helps them to become both more eager and more proficient readers. I am already looking forward to the day when we start discussing The Absolutely True Diary.
Again, many thanks!!
Sincerely,
Mary Bowden
Little Wound High School
August 12, 2009
Dear Friends of Pine Ridge Reservation,
Kids will be kids. Last year, the two topics our kids wanted to read about more than anything were ghosts and aliens. They also loved DK Eyewitness books. Sadly, our library had little to offer that matched these interests. It broke my teacher heart to continually have to answer, “I’m sorry, we don’t have any books about that,” over and over to the hopeful faces of children who are so eager to learn.
Enter you, the Friends of Pine Ridge. As soon as our students’ wish list was posted late this spring, we started receiving donations. The steady stream of kindness kept up all summer. It seemed that every time I went to the business office, a new package from a generous donor awaited. Now it is August, and students return to class in just a few days. I am thrilled to report that featured prominently in the library will be three large bins of (mostly) hardcover, (mostly) new, (all) beautiful books, just waiting for a reader. And I am confident the readers will come, since they have been hoping and waiting for these books specifically.
Thank you, Friends, for making this possible. Thank you for your dedication to our children and their future. Your impact truly is felt in our school and community.
With Gratitude,
Shannon Brady
Literacy Coach
Little Wound Elementary School
If you've received a phone call soliciting donations for "Pine Ridge Reservation" please consider it a scam and do not provide any credit card information.