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CCSD Participates in Jean-wearing Fundraiser
A hashtag, or what non-Twitter users may call a slogan, Cambridge City School District started using this school year is #CambridgeCares.
The hashtag was originally intended to let our students and families dealing with the pandemic know that the district cares about the health and well-being of each student. But its use is expanding to include all the acts of kindness that our students, teachers and staff engage in each and every day. 

This week (Jan. 25-29) has been designated as “Jeans Week” where teachers and staff will be permitted to wear blue jeans each day if they contribute to Feed My People, a food bank in town that is struggling to stay in business. 
Intermediate School teachers Jen Coulter, Jess Strasser and Gregg Strasser wear jeans to support Feed My People.

 


The idea came from Primary School teacher Maggie Starr and was blessed by the administration. 

“I recently read that Feed My People is in desperate need of funds to keep the program up and running,” Starr said. “I know many of our students utilize this food program. I thought it would be a good way to raise money for a good cause and be able to wear more comfortable clothes to work.” 

Starr, a product of the Cambridge School District, understands the relationship between the district and the community. So does Superintendent Dan Coffman. 

“The School District is part of the Cambridge community and it is important that we give back to the community that supports us,” Coffman said. “We have a community service requirement for graduation and our athletic department stresses community service for each team and athlete that participates. 

“I am proud of our teachers and staff members for setting a good example and teaching our students that it is important to give back to the community,” Coffman continued. “Thanks to Maggie Starr for organizing Jeans Week and to all of our teaches and staff who support an organization like Feed My People that addresses a need in our community.”

Other examples of how Cambridge Cares include the Penny Wars fundraiser for Secret Santa at Cambridge Intermediate School where students voted via pennies in a jar for the teacher with the best outfit each day during the “12 Days of Christmas.” 

Teachers and staff at the Cambridge Middle School recently rallied around two school families when tragedy struck at home. The staff prepared a full Thanksgiving dinner for one family and collected and donated gift cards to another family to help them through a tough time.
 
Teacher Jennifer Carpenter’s English Language Arts classes at the Middle School raised money to support St. Jude's lifesaving mission of finding cures for children battling cancer and other life-threatening diseases. 

Athletic teams at Cambridge High School have helped Habitat for Humanity construct a new home in town and helped set up and tear down the Dickens Christmas characters seen in downtown Cambridge during the holiday season. 

Members of the High School Key Club, working with a local business, are raising funds and collecting groceries to provide to the family of classmate who was recently in an accident. 

And not to be outdone, members of the Cambridge Board of Education and several administrators in the district drew several names off a local Angel Tree and purchased Christmas gifts and needed items for those children and their families.
 
“We definitely make it a priority to take care our students and families,” Coffman said. “We care about them and about the people in our district. This community supports our schools and our children, and we want to do what we can to support them.”