To Prove to Dad I’m Not a Fool

BY: RACHEL WUMKES

It’s almost impossible for me to think about going back to school without the song popping into my head from the Adam Sandler movie, Billy Madison.  “Back to school, back to school, to prove to Dad I’m not a fool.”

You know you’re totally going to sing it the rest of the day, right?

You. Are. Welcome.

So, here we are, on the cusp of another school year.  I’ll never understand how June and July fly by in 7.2 seconds.  I mean, I still have my red, white and blue decorations out!  How did this happen?

Here at the Chamber, we like to do it up BIG for back to school.  In fact, we’re dedicating the entire day on August 17 to getting everyone pumped for the upcoming year.

First up is the Educator Appreciation Breakfast.  A favorite event of many, this fun morning welcomes faculty and staff back to school in style!  Thanks to our VERY generous sponsors, everyone at Clear Lake Schools starts the day with a catered breakfast from Hy-Vee.

But that’s not all.

These sponsors go above and beyond, decorating a table and providing AMAZING gifts for every person on staff!  You can check out last year’s table gifts here.

As a kid, I used to love getting new school supplies.  Opening a fresh box of never-used crayons gave me goosebumps.  I’d spend hours lining up my notebooks, all color-coded for each subject before I organized them perfectly inside my new backpack with all the other supplies.

When I began buying school supplies for my children, it was like a dream come true.  Making a detailed list of all the items and then crossing them off.  Ahhh… perfection!

But for some parents, back to school time may cause more stress and anxiety than others may realize.  For them, the added expense of school supplies, backpacks, shoes and clothes is crippling to the monthly budget.  Not to mention, the rising cost of school lunch.

That is why the Clear Lake Area Chamber is partnering with Clear Lake Community Schools – to help!

Thursday, August 17, is the final night of Thursdays on Main.  It’s the perfect time to celebrate the end of summer fun in the sun with Back to School Night.  This collaboration with the Clear Lake Community School District was organized as a way to raise funds and collect school supplies for families in need.

School officials, teachers and coaches will take their turn in the ever-popular dunk tank.  Students will have the chance to give them the ultimate splashdown into the water. Incidentally, they are looking for THREE more happy, smiling faces for these kiddos to dunk.  If you’re interested in being a good sport and taking one for the team, send an email to saputtmann@clearlakeschools.org.

The brand-new Clear Creek PTO will be present.  You’ll have a chance to chat with them and see what they have planned for the upcoming school year!

There will also be a table set up in front of the VFW where you can drop off your donated school supplies.  If this timeframe does not work, you can drop them at the Chamber office, or mail to Clear Creek Elementary (901 4th St. – Attn: Sara Puttmann).

So, what do they need?  Well, a little bit of almost everything!
  • Earbuds AND Inexpensive over the ear headphones – no wireless
  • 1 1/2″ or 2″ binders with clear view cover
  • 1″ Black Binders
  • Drawing Sketchbooks (8.5×11 OR 9×12) NO LINES
  • Accordion Folders 6+ pockets
  • 8 Tab Dividers
  • Plain Pencil Boxes no bigger than 6×9
  • 8 ct Watercolor Paint sets
  • Fiskar Scissors
  • Small handheld Calculators
  • Yellow Highlighters
  • Black Sharpie Markers
  • Black Dry Erase Markers
  • Glue Sticks
  • PRE-SHARPENED Pencils
  • Pens-RED, Blue, Black
  • WASHABLE Classic Colored Markers
  • Gym Shoes! (Size child 12 up to 10 adult)
  • Oversized Paint Shirts
  • Facial Tissues
  • 9″ white paper plates (preschool)
  • Napkins (for snack)
  • Boxes of healthy snacks (no nuts or peanut butter)

While we definitely need all the items on this list, we are open to any and all donations.  We would also gratefully accept monetary donations to the Kids and Families in Need fund.  This is a community account, not specific to Clear Lake Schools.

Whew!  That’s a lot of stuff. I know can be overwhelming when you first look at it.

But here’s the deal, folks.  Every person gives at their own level.  Whether you contribute $5 and a box of Kleenex, or hundreds of dollars and buy one of everything on this list – IT ALL HELPS!!!

We need to pull together as a community for our children.  Sometimes in life, things happen that are out of our control.  As a parent, you don’t want your children to feel that burden.  In union, there is strength, but we need you, Clear Lake, to step up to the plate and help.  Without the stress and anxiety and struggle of worrying about supplies or if our children will get a decent lunch, our school can focus on education and the well-being of their students.