Friends of Ravenswood School

HELP STUDENTS FROM RAVENSWOOD ELEMENTARY GO TO WASHINGTON D.C.!

Sending over 60 students to our nation’s capital regardless of their financial means is not an easy feat. The 8th grade students work to self-fund this trip throughout the school year by completing a wide variety of volunteering and fund-raising activities. While their efforts have raised significant funds they are still short of their goal.

While in D.C. our students will bring their classroom course-work on the Civil Rights movement and World War II to life through visiting museums and other important sites in our capital. The students will also get to see first-hand how to strive to be global citizens who actively participate in the efforts that unite our country. It is also a great way for the students and teachers to connect on a deeper level and have some fun right before they say goodbye at graduation.

We appreciate anything you can do to help us meet our goal. Please consider giving a little something today. Thank you!

More information about Friends of Ravenswood School: Friends of Ravenswood School (FORS) is a 501(c)3 organization whose mission is to gather private supplemental support - in the form of funds, volunteers and various professional expertise - for the benefit of Ravenswood School, its programs and all of its students. The funds we raise help the school pay for teachers, programs, field trips, supplies, and other essentials that make Ravenswood great.

Ravenswood Elementary School's eighth-graders are back in their Chicago elementary school, after a year and a half at home, and are learning and growing together again. In celebration, the whole class is planning a very special educational and memory-making experience—a trip to Washington, D.C! You may be wondering—“DC? Out-of-state travel? NOW?” While it’s true we are still experiencing a lot of uncertainty with the pandemic, please know that Chicago Public Schools and Ravenswood Elementary trip organizers are watching the situation carefully, and the kids will only go if it’s safe. That said, we’re optimistic that out-of-state travel will be safe by early June, and the class needs to plan for the trip now.

For many students, this will be their first trip outside of Chicago. The D.C. class trip is a culmination of our students' history, art, social studies and language arts classes. The students hope to visit the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Smithsonian Museums, the U.S. Capitol, the White House, and the National Mall and Memorials. An overnight coach bus will transport the students in both directions to allow for four full days in D.C. with three nights in a hotel. It's important to our school that all the eighth-graders who want to attend this class trip can do so – regardless of each family's financial situation. We are looking to fully sponsor eight students, who may not be able to attend without the generous contributions of donors.

The 8th graders have been working hard, with candy sales, pizza sales, winter event fundraisers, etc. to raise these funds. Our local community has a history of generosity to support so many fundraising opportunities in the past. However, many of our local sponsoring businesses are either closed or do not have extra funds to support our cause, amidst the pandemic. So we are reaching out to our broader community to help during this season of giving.

We have a diverse group of students and this trip will show our students how people from different backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs are all part of the United States. Donations will go to Friends of Ravenswood School (FORS), a 501(c)3 organization that helps support programs at the school, and you will receive a donor acknowledgment letter for your tax records.

We are incredibly grateful for any amount you can give! Thank you!

P.S. - If the unfortunate happens and they are unable to travel to DC, the funds will be reinvested in another unique learning opportunity for the class, such as a trip to our state capitol in Springfield, IL or extra local events to celebrate graduation.