Math teacher Sandy Mathews turned her passion for packing Christmas shoeboxes into an opportunity for students to put their school’s mission statement (...character before career; wisdom beyond scholarship, service before self, and participation as a way of life) into practice.
A LaCrosse, Wisconsin native, Mathews has been teaching for 18 years. For the past seven years, she has been teaching at The First Academy (TFA) in Orlando where she is now head of the Upper School Math Department and primarily teaches Algebra II and Pre-Calculus to 10th through 12th graders.
“In years past, TFA has encouraged the students to participate in the Christmas shoebox effort. It’s something everyone can participate in, and becomes a competition among grade levels,” said Mathews. When asked which grade usually wins, Mathews chuckles and says, “My students generally win every year. I am known at TFA for my enthusiasm with the Christmas shoeboxes.”
Usually the shoebox effort kicks into high gear in the fall and tops out with a packing party in November. However, Mathews is in high gear all year long, constantly buying shoebox items on clearance and raising money in her classroom.
“My cupboards at school are full,” says Mathews. “I buy things when I see them on sale. Recently, I saw wash cloths on clearance, and after Christmas I found socks and jump ropes for a quarter.”
Mathews gets creative in the classroom too, offering incentives to students to help reimburse herself for the items she buys throughout the year. She may sell candy or cupcakes for a quarter or fifty cents and allow the students to eat in class that day. Some students donate items for the shoeboxes while others choose to donate the cost of shipping several boxes.
“The participation comes in a variety of ways,” said Mathews. “When they see my enthusiasm and what I have stored in my cupboards, the students get enthused, too.”
That enthusiasm recently translated into the “off season” when several TFA students volunteered to help Mathews assemble nearly 200 shoeboxes on Good Friday. There was a great energy as the students arrived by 10:00 am (on their day off from school) to help assemble shoeboxes. The donated items were organized in the classroom: calculators, clothing, essential hygiene items, etc. The passion was contagious! The local Christian radio station, Z88.3 FM, was playing in the background and there was an excitement in the room. After the shoeboxes were packed, the students loaded them into cases and drove them to the New Missions office in Orlando.
–Terri Starcher, Contributing Writer
Watch the video of the students participating.
