WISH (Washington is Seriously Helping)  is a service learning group at George 
  Washington Middle School  for 6th , 7th , and 8th grade students sponsored by 
  Helping Services for NE Iowa, with Geri Buelow as Student Advisor.  WISH is
  a student run group which meets every Wednesday though out the school year 
  from, (2:30-4:00 p.m. on regular days and 12:30-2:00 p.m. on  early out days).  
  We meet in the Foods room.  We are always wanting more students to join us 
  and learn the joy of giving back to the community.Come join us, make new 
  friends and have fun too!

For Earth Day W.I.S.H. students, with the help of Loras college volunteers,
pulled weeds, mulched the rain garden, and picked up trash around Washington
School. Brannon monument has donated and engraved a beautiful stone which
has been placed in the Rain Garden to thank all those who have donated time
and materials. A big thank you for this beautiful addition. Check out the link below.
See Pictures Here

SUPPLIES SENT TO IRAQI CHILDREN

W.I.S.H.,joined Hempstead High School World History classes, with the help of the
Student Council and students at Washington and Hempstead were able to send 16 boxes
of school supplies to the IRAQI children. Thanks so much to all who contributed to
this causeto help encourage peace around the world.

   APRIL NEWSLETTER

W.I.S.H. (Washington is Seriously Helping) sponsored by Helping Services for NE Iowa visited the Family Multicultural Center on March 18^th for a Read and Feed.  17 Students participated with reading to the children, playing board games, working on the computer, making crafts including book marks, door hangers, and bracelets, and tutoring students.  Homemade cookies, fruit, and juice were enjoyed by all.

A special thank you to all for their generous donation of books, puzzles, games for the center and for the treats too.  Thank you to our volunteer drivers as well.

The Ronald McDonald House pop tab collection continues.  Many houses are competing against each other to raise the most tabs.  Ms. Ensler’s 6^th grade house continues to be in the lead.  The pop tabs benefit families of children who are being treated at the University of Iowa Hospital for extended periods of time.  Please help this worthy cause by collecting pop tabs at home and bringing them to your home base.  This drive will continue through April.  Thank you for your support.

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Donate School Supplies to Iraqi Children
March 30-April 15

   WISH students will be collecting left over school supplies. They will be
   sent to a U.S. soldier who has been corresponding with Hempstead's World
   History classes. His unit will hand out the school supplies. This is a
   great way to build positive relationships with a country that has been
   besieged by war. This will help build goodwill between U.S. children and
   Iraqi children and will also help our soldiers who are working over there.

   School supplies needed are blunt scissors, 12-inch ruler with metric
   markings, 12 pencils with erasers, small pencil sharpener, large erasers,
   box of colored pencils (crayons melt in heat) packages of notebook filler
   paper, compositions books, folders with inside pockets, zippered pencil
   bags.

   Please avoid any supplies that are gender or age specific, or items that
   depict war, conflict, or religious in nature. Please remember this is a
   culture that is less exposed to TV or video games and under emotional
   strain.

  Check out this news story about the project:  
  http://www.kwwl.com/global/story.asp?s=10064528

  Check out the Telegraph Herald's video coverage of the project:
  http://www.thonline.com/multimedia/?id=2385

W.I.S.H. and Pop Tab Collection for Ronald McDonald House

  WISH’s next project will be helping to collect pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald House. 
It’s so   easy but such a great benefit for families of cancer patients.  The money from the
collected pop tabs helps families of patients stay free at the Ronald McDonald House
while their children are being treated for cancer for extended periods of time.  How can you
help?  Start a collection can   at home and bring the pop tabs in weekly to your home base. 
There will be a collection container   in each home base.  Let’s see whose home base can
collect the most!!

W.I.S.H. (Washington is Seriously Helping)

  February 11, 2009 WISH students visited Manor Care to hold a Valentines Bingo Party
for 39 residents.  Cowboy, the therapy dog, visited with the residents in his Valentine
Costume.  Homemade treats donated by the students were enjoyed by all.  The students
helped the residents with their BINGO cards, serving refreshments, visiting with them, and
helping them choose prizes that were donated and made by the WISH students and their
families.  Evelyn Rose Tolstedt and her family made and donated adorable snowmen for all
the participating residents.  The WISH students made door hangers, book marks and
Valentines for all the residents participating as well.  It was a great experience for all of us. 
A Big Thank you to all our parents who donated their time, refreshments, prizes and for
being drivers too!  Way to go WISH students and families.

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Yummies for Tummies Food Drive a Success

Washington Middle School students and staff.  WISH, the Student Council and Helping Services for NE Iowa would like to say thank you for all your help. WISH students delivered over 1000 pounds of food to the Dubuque Food Pantry with your help.  Because of how much you care people in Dubuque will have a better holiday season.  Now for the news you have all been waiting for:   In FIRST Place with over 424 lbs. of food and over 500 items was MS.DALY's 7th grade class-WOW you sure are AWESOME.  In 2nd place was  Billie Friedman's 7TH class with over 100 lbs. of food. In 3rd place was Ms. Drapeau -6th grade class with over 75 lbs. of food.   Thank you again for helping with the Food drive for the Dubuque Food Pantry. This holiday season they have fed over 500 families already. Thank you.

Check out how WISH is making a difference in our community!!!
http://www.thonline.com/altonline/

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Check out our visit to the Humane Society!

EMERGENCY PLANNING FOR YOUR PETS
BY ALAZAE SCHUMACHER

If there is an emergency or a disaster, like there was this summer in other parts of Iowa with all the flooding and tornadoes, you need to have a plan to be able to get out fast.  But don’t forget your pets, too!  We need to plan for what to do with our pets in case of an emergency.  If we make this plan ahead of time, we will be better prepared for the unexpected. 
           This summer many people lost their homes and their pets.  Please don’t leave your pet behind in an emergency.  You might not be able to get back to your home to rescue them later.  Here are some things you can do to prepare for that unexpected emergency:

1.        Give a trusted neighbor, friend, or family member a key to your home or barn.

2.       Tell them where to find your pets.

3.       Create an emergency disaster kit and place it in an easy to find place in your home.

4.       Pack enough food and water for 3 to 5 days.

5.       Pack you pet’s medicine and your veterinarian’s phone number.

6.       Make a copy of your medical records along with a current photo of your pet.

7.       Make sure your pet is transported with a leash, identification tags, and in a carrier with their favorite toys and blankets.

8.       Have a first aid book.

9.       Make sure you have checked with a relative, friend, or motel ahead of time to be sure they can take you and your pets.  Have their phone numbers readily available.

10.    Make sure to pack your litter box and litter.

11.   If you have large animals, like horses, make sure you have a way to transport them.