ISHPEMING, Mich. (WZMQ) – Heading back to school, some local businesses offer donations, supplies, and other things teachers might need in the classroom. The Fox Marquette Subaru dealership has a yearly program called “Adopt a Classroom”, choosing a UP school to donate to.
The annual program has chosen Birchview Elementary as its recipient, giving 15 teachers 500 dollars totaling 7 thousand 500 for school and classroom supplies. “We usually have to try to plan the year prior the things we’re gonna need for the following year, sometimes things change we get more students or less students or enrollments change up all the time,” commented Birchview Principal Matthew Byce.
This year Birchview Elementary enrollment is at around 250 students and the principal commented that even though there are always going to be supplies they could use, having local businesses lend the extra hand helps to ease the stress around the start of school. “There are always things that are changing that are gonna affect the materials that we need and the fact that money comes in like this on donations or even supplies if other businesses are donating supplies it really helps bridge the gap of what we have to what we need in order to make our students successful,” continued Byce.
Birchview also has a good behavior incentive called a Power Permit, which the school hopes the donation will help promote. The Power Permit, which is in partnership with local businesses in the community, gives students prizes for integrity, positive behavior, and anything else that represents the Hematite Power.
“We’ve got several businesses in the community that partner with us if students show good behavior consistently, eventually they can earn what’s called a power permit they can go out into the community and they might get a free pizza or free game of bowling, it helps knock the four walls of the school down to bust out into the community,” continued Byce.
Birchview Elementary just started its school year last week and notes that with the local partnerships, the students gain a better relationship with the UP community.
Click here to learn more about Subaru’s “Adopt a Classroom” program.
