**the giveaway is now closed. congrats to our winner, amy! hope this makes your back to school a bit easier!**
We're in the first week of school over here. Last year, this was one of the hardest weeks I've experienced as a parent.
On the first week of school last year, my daughter Ellie was targeted by a bully. I've never felt so helpless. Sitting there, holding my sobbing six year old daughter, as she tells me of how it hurt when this girl pulled her hair and threatened her, but it really hurt when she said mean things about her. Wiping away her tears as I wiped away my own. I was so upset and so very angry that some kid was purposely harrassing and hurting my child. I had no idea what to do, so I called the principal and her teacher.
And I was stunned.
Within 24 hours of the bullying was reported, the bus drivers had been informed, as well as the school counselor. The bully was reprimanded and made to apologize to Ellie. All of this was done with tremendous discretion on the part of the teacher and the principal which I greatly appreciated (I worried about Ellie being called a tattle-tale). That next day, Ellie came off the bus with a big smile on her face again. I can't even tell you what it meant to have the principal call me and immediately say "I will handle this. If I have to ride the bus every day myself, I will take care of Ellie."
Then there's the most amazing thing: Because of how wonderfully this was handled, my sweet, kind girl was brave enough to give a bully a second chance. After all that girl put her through, she took a chance and risked getting bullied again to reach out – to an older girl – and try to be her friend. Now they even sit together on the bus sometimes.
It still brings tears to my eyes.
As a parent, one of the most difficult things we have to do is to put our children into other people's hands. But, as painful as this experience was, it showed me how much the school cares about my child, how they really are watching out for her and want to take the best care of her they can. I am tremendously grateful to my children's school for all that they do, and I'm sure you feel the same way.
And so does the Clorox Company and that is why they started the Power a Bright Future program. Since 1980, Clorox has donated $80 million to non-profit organizations and community programs with a focus on schools. This year, the company is awarding four grants, totaling $110,000, to help fund school programs that will brighten and enrich the lives of kids.
As part of the Power A Bright Future grant program, Clorox is seeking nominations for school programs for a chance to win a $50,000 grand-prize grant or one of three $20,000 grants to help provide critically needed resources to school programs that enrich kids’ lives and create brighter futures. In November, four schools will be chosen to receive grants and the opportunity to impact the lives of children in their communities.
I hope that you will consider honoring a school or teacher who is close to your heart.
To help promote this amazing program, Clorox is giving one Girlymama reader a Back-To-School gift basket, containing Clorox disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer, Dr. Harley Rotbart’s book Germ Proof Your Kids, plus a load of school supplies including scissors, markers and crayons! Here's how to enter:
Mandatory Entry: Leave a comment sharing what teacher/school you would nominate.
Extra Entry #1: Leave a SEPARATE comment telling me you subscribed to Girlymama's feed by email or in a reader.
Extra Entry #2: Leave another comment telling me in what way you promoted this contest (i.e., posting about it on your blog or Facebook, or Tweeting about it.
Contest ends Tuesday, September 7th. Entries such as "Enter me" or "I want to win" will NOT be counted. Winners will be selected by Random.org, announced back here on this post, and notified via email with further instructions. If I don't hear from the winner in 48 hours, I will be choosing a new winner.
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post by Clorox and TheMotherhood. I was compensated for my time in writing this post and running this giveaway.
About Melissa
my eldest sons favorite teacher
I would nominate my son’s school, Cedar Forest ES in Fredericksburg, VA
I would nominate my school- I’m biased, I know. It is WCCUPE Community Schools- Midnimo Middle School. We are a small charter school with struggling students, but are constantly trying to add more programs that will give the students an even better education:o)
I would nominate my daughters former teacher Mrs. Bellinger. She is the best. She has been there for my daughter since she was in 2nd grade. Unfortunately she and most of the school staff are teaching at another school, but I still choose Mrs. Bellinger. We luv her!!
I would nominate my daughters school Library Desert aire elementry here in el paso, texas. They think about the kids education and listen to parents. They offer many different opertunities for our children even a book club called bookworms. Which currently can only take 25 kids each year.
waitressdani (at) hotmail (dot) com
I subscribed via email.
I Tweeted
http://twitter.com/CaramelsDelight/status/22573310577
Nominate-Lucille M. Nixon Elementary School
I’m a subscriber
http://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/22577610767
Good post, this blog is so unique, and i think your blog style is great, and I like your idea, which is helpful for me, I think you will write more great about your idea, i like.
Kudos to your school and principal that they handled that so well!
I would nominate my son’s school Titus Elementary and his teacher Carol D’Onofrio. She teaches a k-2 mix emotional support class. This is my son’s third year with her. She is amazing and has taught not only my son but my husband and me how to better understand and parent Noah.
I’m a subscriber.
I nominate Olympic View Elementary. California is a mess and there are so many cutbacks – no more art program or music, limited library hours. Parents have stepped in to help but more is needed.
We homeschool; but if I had to nominate a school, it would be New Life Christian Day School in Matamoras, PA. New Life is a very small private school that uses the A-Beka curriculum from Pensacola College which is far more progressed than anything a public school uses. They also refuse to take the government’s 501(C) tax exemption as to keep the government from mandating any of their dumbed-down, outcome-based education. Children who graduate from New Life are far more ahead academically than their public school counterparts.
I would choose Lemon Road Elementary School in Falls Church, Virginia because it’s a wonderful school, and it’s where I attended. Thanks for the giveaway!
I would nominate my daughters school: Severn Elementary.
I would nominate our daughter’s school Victor Falls.
Thanks for the chance.
mogrill@comcast.net
I would nominate S. County Technical High School. This school is an alternate school to a traditional school that does a great job preparing students for a craft such as auto mechanics or graphic arts.
I tweeted https://twitter.com/cstironkat/status/22833073977
I plan on nominating Rowlesburg School. With 75% of the children living in poverty, some can’t even afford basics like pencils. I’ve seen how a little money can go a long way with them, and a lot of money could do wonders in giving this school a boost.
I follow you google reader.
I would nominate my son’s first grade teacher. He had a rough year in Kindergarden but his first grade teacher was awesome. He really bloomed under her guidance.
I would nominate my daughter’s 4th grade teacher. She was practically like family the way she cared for our daughter.
Chilhowie Elementary school in Chilhowie Va!
I would nominate the Royse City ISD.
I would nominate my daughter’s daycare teacher Miss Yasmin. My 2.5 year old came home reciting all the planets and other crazy facts that I hadn’t even recalled – like that the rings of saturn were made of ice and rocks.
Oh and your poor little Ellie! I got sad (and scared!) thinking about my daughter starting school one day
I would nominate Calvary Chapel Elementary School in Wichita KS. Thanks for the contest! codisweepstakes2 (@) gmail(dot)com
I subscribed via Google Reader RSS. codisweepstakes2 (@) gmail(dot)com
I tweeted about your giveaway: http://twitter.com/codisweepstakes/status/23127718741 codisweepstakes2 (@) gmail(dot)com
I would nominate my grandson’s school..Northlake Elem. in Garland, Tx.
My nominate any of the schools in Baltimore City, MD. They have a lack of resources and are already overcrowded.
I nominate my nephew Zach.He is student teaching FIRST grade this semester at Milford. He has more enthusiasm than most teachers.
I’d nominate my daughter’s middle school.
I’d nominate my daughter’s history teacher
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tweet;
paz247
I would nominate my youngest son’s school Rock Creek Elementary.
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Tweet: http://twitter.com/samman324/status/23214762763
I would pick my sons school Harry S Truman elementary school
ardelong2(at)gmail(dot)com
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I would nominate Sunset Elementary school in Wilmington, North Carolina.
I would nominate my daughters school as jenks It has so many great programs! suelee1998 @ gmail.com
I would nominate the band teacher at my children’s high school.
I would nominate Arnold Elementary School in Michigan Center Michigan
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Mr Tom a dedicated and fun teacher who probably will soon be retiring unfortunately
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I would nominate the high school in zion IL
ortizvelasquez at yahoo dot com
i would like to nominate St. Brendan Parish School in Bothell, WA
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I would (and will) nominate the school that I went to as a child and that my nieces and nephews now attend. It’s in a very poor, underprivileged, rural district where most families don’t own a single children’s book, college attendance is extremely rare, and education is generally under-valued. The administrators and teachers at this school do a great job trying to enrich their students’ lives with totally free educational field trips, after school reading groups, and lots of care and attention.