Author: Tech UUCP

After a week of professional development and preparation, staff at Maryland School will welcome students back to school on Monday, August 9^th. Thanks to the generosity of our community partnership, including UUCP, supplies will be ready for the beginning of instruction. We treated staff to a special luncheon, in appreciation for their dedication to the year ahead, and there was an outpouring of gratitude for our partnership.

Although staff and students will be back in person, visitors (such as volunteers like us) will not be able to come on campus for at least the first quarter through mid-October. This is so disappointing for everyone, but understandable because of the continued threat of COVID infection. Students and families will need extra support this year, the garden continues to thrive, and we want to be able to share that with students—but it will have to wait until the virus is better under control.

When visitors are again allowed, we will need more volunteers to tutor students in classrooms, help in the garden, and engage in family events after school.  Consider the possibility of helping out in this special school community, and we’ll let you know when we are able to start up again. For more information, contact Cathy Kim at maryland@phoenixuu.org.

So What Happened During 2020-21?

With school mostly not in session, and virtual interactions with students not possible, most of our UUCP Maryland School Partnership volunteers were out of a job! A few volunteers were able to interact with refugee families when they came to a distribution point for breakfast and lunch materials and respond to needs for hygiene and clothing, as well as laptops for several families so parents could enroll in English language programs. In addition, a group of families were provided with gifts and food at the winter holiday season.

The garden continued to prosper; the raised boxes and entire irrigation system were replaced in October; students planted when they were in person briefly during November and did a small amount of harvesting when they returned in March. They were not able to do the usual cooking of what they harvested, but took vegetables home, and during the year produce was distributed to refugee families. Through the Blue Watermelon Project, which connects local chefs to school gardens, three different grade levels received garden activity boxes to pick up during the year, with video instructions and materials for cooking and growing a particular vegetable. Plans are currently in the works for expanding the school outdoor education program next year, including staff development, with two grants in place.

Beatitudes Campus residents again wrote notes of appreciation to teachers, the art department at Maryland prepared an exhibit of art to be displayed at the campus (quite a feat to collect pieces from students who did them at home), and the campus catered a Teacher Appreciation luncheon in early May of 2021.

Looking Toward 2021-22

We are looking forward with hope to being able to be back at Maryland School in person this fall, and are once again looking for volunteers and other support from UUCP members, including help with our annual collection of school supplies to help out the many low-income and refugees families that attend Maryland school. We hope you will be able to support our efforts. If you have any questions, please contact Cathy Kim at maryland@phoenixuu.org.

There is hope—and we have faith—that Maryland School is going to be up and running in August with a school full of students, ready for in-person learning and interacting with friends.  Budgets continue to be stretched—technology and air filtration systems have been expensive—so our support is needed, as a community partner (along with Beatitudes Campus and Church of the Beatitudes).  The beginning of the school year is a time for us to help with stocking up supplies to outfit classrooms, and we are giving you the opportunity to participate by donating needed materials.

Supplies

• Spiral notebooks – wide rule and college rule
• Scissors
• Crayons – 24-count boxes
• Glue – glue sticks and liquid washable school glue
• Markers – fine line and broad line
• Boxes of tissue

Art Materials

• Fabric – whatever you have that is unneeded
• Yarn – whatever you have that is unneeded
• Acrylic paint
• Used or new canvas for painting
• Used or new paint brushes, all sizes
• Cardboard egg cartons
• Magazines and calendars with colored pictures

NOT Needed

• Backpacks
• 3-ring binders
• Pencils
• Notebook paper

Donation Options

1. Purchase/donate items from the list and deliver to one of the following people – please call to get the address and arrange a time:
   Major cross streets
   Cathy Kim – 7th St. & Glendale – 602-708-6423
   Jane Ramsberger – Hayden & McDonald – 480-516-5799
   Joan Gale – 32nd ST. & Shea – 602-796-3511
2. Purchase items online and have them delivered to Cathy Kim – call for the address
3. Make a donation online through Realm – select “Minister’s Fund” in the fund dropdown and enter “Maryland School” in the memo field. Your donation will then be allocated appropriately.
4. Mail a check payable to UUCP, with “Maryland School” in the memo line, to:
   UUCP
   4027 E. Lincoln Drive
   Paradise Valley, AZ 85253

Note: Some of the cash donations received will be used for teacher support – there is no PTO

• Refreshments at professional development sessions
• Gift cards for teacher appreciation