It’s that time again, and in it’s 5th year, Communities In Schools of Seattle’s Stuff the Bus campaign is at full throttle. Stuff the Bus is a school supply campaign that gives any and all items donated through collection drives to schools serving the lowest income students in Seattle.

Communities In Schools of Seattle kicked off 2010‘s Stuff the Bus campaign at this year’s Pride Parade on June 27th. Backed by the beats of “High School Musical,” 18 volunteers danced the highly decorated–and yet still very stuff-able–school bus down the parade streets. The energy was high, colors were flying, and the voices were loud, all with the intent of drilling up excitement about this year’s Stuff the Bus campaign.

Staff and volunteers pose by the bus before the Pride Parade

Want to help Stuff the Bus? You can become a Community Partner and hold a school supply drive at your business, organization, sports club, church, etc. You can also become a volunteer at any of Stuff the Bus’s functions. Visit the Stuff the Bus site to check the campaign’s schedule, or contact Communities In Schools of Seattle directly at volunteer@cisseattle.org.

“My goal is to have 3 A’s in math, reading and science. I pass my goal.” Axsaulis, McCarver Elementary

“My goal is to do all my homework. I did pretty good. I’ve been turning in every single piece of my homework.” Callie, Fern Hill Elementary

For many students, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. “Oh, just to see these kids’ face when they walk through the door here, you wouldn’t believe. Most of them say ‘Wow!’ you know, they’re just floored. They’ve never been to Quest Field before and to work so hard on a goal and to reach it and come and celebrate with us is just a joy,” says Teresa Maxwell, Executive Director of Communities In Schools of Tacoma

The day of celebration began with school buses of eager students lining up outside Quest Field. As each group of students arrived, they were allowed out onto the field where they had their pictures taken right on the 40 yard line. Inside, students practiced their football skills with blow-up football games, met and got autographs from a couple of Seagals, and got the chance to run around with Blitz, the Seahawks very own mascot.

The festivities really kicked off with the Subway Sandwich Build competition and the introduction of seven Seahawk players: Howard Green, Ray Willis, Sean Locklear, Michael Bumpus, TJ Duckett, DeMichael Dizer, and Ben Obomanu. The seven players were split into two teams with each team matched with six lucky students who would compete to build a six foot long Subway Sandwich as quickly as possible. After a few short minutes of flying turkey and lettuce, team two won the challenge!

Students then listened to Seahawk player #87, Ben Obomanu, tell his own story about facing and overcoming challenges to reach success, and congratulated the students on their achievements. Ben Obomanu understood not only the importance of setting and reaching goals, but also the importance of community support and programs like First & Goal. “Not only do they have the parents, the teachers, and the instructors in schools as support. But to also know that they have the support of the Seahawks and the people in their communities who care about their well-being and care about them going off and being successful in life is important. So I think that the just extra motivation to help them to come back, to want to come back to an event like this next year, to encourage other students and classmates to be successful and accomplish their goals, I think the extra motivation is going to go a long way for a lot of kids,” said Ben Obomanu.

Students also enjoyed a free lunch and watched as seven students were individually recognized for reaching their goals with the prize of a mini Seahawks helmet. After lunch, the event closed with every student receiving a goody bag full of donated gifts from Costco and a coupon for a free Subway sandwich. As the students lined up to leave, they each got the opportunity to meet a Seahawk player and receive an autograph on a Seahawk program.

Autographs and pictures with Seahawk players

The day was a complete success as evidenced by the smiles and cheers of the students as they climbed into the buses that would take them home. The event not only celebrated each student’s success, but also reaffirmed the importance of goal setting and community support. “We want to share the importance of goal setting with the students,” said Mike Flood, Seahawks Vice President. “The First and Goal program provides a structure where the students develop, track, attain and receive positive recognition for their goals.” It is through the continuation of programs like First & Goal, and exciting days like the First & Goal Luncheon, that will help children be successful in school and in life.

Three years into the five-year study, ICF International, an independent research firm conducting the study, has reported several key outcomes that demonstrate the strength and success of our work, particularly as a result of our coordinated-service approach. Two key conclusions found were:

• Communities In Schools has a greater effect on student attendance and graduation rates as compared to other youth-serving organizations.
• By matching local need with local innovation, the Communities In Schools model results in higher graduation rates, attendance rates, and academic achievement.

The results of the national study confirm what Communities In Schools has always believed – Schools can’t do it alone. “To succeed in school, kids need support – help with homework, positive role models, and the expectation for success. If they’re not getting this at home then it’s up to the larger community to step up to make sure that child succeeds and that’s what Communities In Schools does” says Petrina Fisher, Executive Director of Communities In Schools of Seattle. Winning the federal award reinforces what we already knew – that the power of individual community members, like you, makes a difference and helps kids succeed in school and in life.