Students sell cookie dough, raise more than $32,000

Students and staff at Truman Elementary School will soon benefit from the purchase of new, cutting-edge technology for classrooms.

The money to buy new iPads and document cameras for about 25 teachers to use in classrooms throughout the school was raised from cookie dough sales and donations made Oct. 3-19.

Truman Elementary School principal’s Secretary Jan Richardson said the students had done an “amazing” job and the community was very supportive during the technology fundraiser.

She said much of the credit should also go to Principal Tyler Howe, who motivated the students with fun activities and even committed to spend a day on the roof if they could raise more than $20,000.

“He’s an amazing principal,” Richardson said.

This is Howe’s second year as principal at the school. Last year, Howe let students duct tape him to a wall after they raised enough money to purchase smart board technology used to project lessons in each of the classrooms.

Each of the smart boards cost about $1,200 and can be used to project interactive lessons as the teacher works from a computer at his or her desk.

The iPads purchased with money raised during October could take the interactive lessons one step further by allowing students to work problems from the slate-like device that would also be projected to the smart boards for the entire class to see.

Richardson said the new technology would make a difference in the classrooms by allowing teachers to make lessons more interactive. She said the fundraiser was also teaching the students a valuable lesson about taking initiative to earn things during a time of economic difficulty when cutbacks have been made at schools throughout the Granite District.

“It’s amazing technology for the school,” Richardson said.

This year, students at each grade level were asked to sell the cookie dough and report the amounts regularly. The sales were posted on a thermometer display so students could watch the amounts rise and be inspired to keep going.

In addition, information was posted on the school website to enlist community support from parents.

After all of the money was collected, the tally for dough sales was more than $20,000 and more than $10,000 in cash donations.

To celebrate the success of the students, Howe spent the entire school day on Oct. 31 sitting on the roof.

Then on Nov. 4, students from each class who raised the most money were invited to throw pies at the principal during their lunch hour.

Richardson said most of the money had come through sales, but some anonymous donations were made. She said parents had been very supportive and the school had really come together as a community.

“We have a very happy school here,” Richardson said.