Thursday, March 3, 2016

A Little Help for Our Friends at Bell HS

Columbia Heights Education Campus
Our friends over at New Columbia Heights tipped me off to a campaign by some seniors at Bell Multicultural High School. The students at Bell want every one of the seniors at their school to be able to take part in all the cool right-of-passage stuff seniors do: prom, graduation, and of course, the senior trip. 

They are seeking any help they can get to offset the costs of making the senior trip to NYC possible for all of the seniors. I didn't go on my senior trip to Cancun for the same reasons, cost! That, and I was dead-set on our original plan to go to the Summer Olympics (which in hindsight was laughably impossible, but hey, we wanted the world). Anyway, I missed Mexico, but these kids' goal of New York should surely be achievable. If you care able, send them a few $$$ here.

Senior class president Saba Amare writes:

Hello, 

We are the Senior Class Student Government representatives at Bell Multicultural High School, a public school in the Columbia Heights neighborhood of Washington D.C. This year, our graduating class has been working tremendously, in order to raise enough money to decrease the cost of our senior fees of $300/per student.  This total only accounts for the each students Cap and Gown, Graduation Announcements, Yearbook, 1-Prom Ticket, Senior Class T-Shirt, and a Senior lunch. This amount is extremely expensive, considering this total does not include the Senior Trip to New Jersey and New York, currently priced at $350/per person

Although our Senior Class fees have decreased over the years through fundraisers, donations, and etc., we refuse to simply sit around and pout! Although, this looks perfect in our heads, unfortunately we are struggling economically, and thus apprehensive about the possibilities of graduating with this debt. More than 80% of students in the senior class receive free/reduced lunch and receive other public benefits. The economic instability of many of the students’ households further hinder the affordability of these fees. 

As Student Government representatives, our job is to voice the concern of our peers and figure out solutions. That is why we are reaching out to people who are compelled to support us! School Bake sales are just not cutting the costs lower enough and considering we have to pay these fees by May 20th, we do not have much time! 

Hopefully you can support the 211 students graduating this year, by your generous donations! Any amount is of service, as it accumulates, and inevitably makes a vast difference. On behalf of the Bell Multicultural Class of 2016, I would like to say THANK YOU in advance!

Best,

Senior Class President
Saba Amare