“Lemonade staannnddd!”

If you happened to miss the five lemonade stands, put on by the kindergartners and elementary students last week, let me fill you in on what it was all about! It was about refreshing lemonade on a warm sunny day, of course (not to mention the delicious baked goods), but it was also the culmination of a leadership year in which the kindergartners learned to lead, to stretch themselves, and put into practice some of the foundational elements they have been experiencing for the past three years in the primary classroom – what it means to be part of a community, to learn from one another, and to give back to others. 

Leading up to the event, the kindergartners and elementary students spent time in their classroom communities, and as a whole group, learning about the importance of giving back to your community. They learned that when we work together, we can give so much more and that there are many ways to give. Group discussions led to the children identifying five possible ways we can use the money earned from the lemonade stand to help either people, the environment or animals.

On Monday and Tuesday of last week, each of the kindergartners had a chance to squeeze the lemons that turn into lemonade, while the elementary students spent Monday and Tuesday baking fresh cookies to sell at the stand. 

During all of this preparation, ballot boxes were set out so that the children could each vote on which type of organization they would like the money to go to: the help unhoused people to help clean up the Schuylkill River Banks, to help the elderly, to help animals or to help people who don’t have enough food.

At the end of the week, the votes were tallied by the elementary students. They created this poster as a way to share with the kindergartners what their vote looked like. Helping animals received the most votes.

In total, the lemonade stand and bake sale earned $610.75!! The money will be donated to Philly PAWS. Our one time donation will help save Philadelphia’s homeless pets. The gift will “support rescue, foster programs, adoption, veterinary care, and more for the dogs and cats who need it most.”

In addition to the enriching experience for the children, the lemonade stands were a lovely way to bring the community together as the school year comes to a close. Thank you to all who were able to stop by and contribute to the success of the event! And of course, we couldn’t have done it without the help of our parent volunteers – thank you for sharing in this event with us, for all the yummy treats, and for helping the children run the stand!