The CES Sneaker Fundraiser has a beautiful new look to it thanks to a collaboration with PBHS artist and tech student Maya Oakes.

The CES Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) committee launched a sneaker drive fundraiser earlier in the school year. It’s an ongoing fundraiser, initiated by Ashley Morris, a special education teacher at Circleville Elementary and a member of the PBIS committee, collecting all old/used or barely worn sneakers and recycling them. They used a trash can marked for the fundraiser to collect the sneakers. 

Ms. Morris had been doing some research a while ago as a volunteer for an organization. That organization never got the sneaker fundraiser going. “So I kept the idea in my pocket,” said Ms. Morris. She mentioned it at a PBIS meeting and the committee loved it. The company they are working with gives a certain amount of money for each pair of sneakers donated, based on their condition, and recycles them.

 

To help bring attention to the collection bin located in the entry hallway of the school, School Counselor Deana Lenz had an idea: to collaborate with the tech students at Pine Bush High School to help create something that would bring attention to the collection bin.

 

Ms. Lenz got in touch with Kenny Marshall, the STEAM coach at the high school, and the project was underway. Mr. Marshall recruited senior Maya Oakes, one of his students who is also an artist. Maya plans to go to school for art after her graduation. They worked on a new computer numerical control (CNC) device for wood; it’s a brand new piece of equipment they received from Haas. This was actually the very first project done on that machine.

 

Maya designed an oversized Chuck Taylor All-Star high top sneaker, iconic footwear for sure! She worked on it after school for several weeks and during her study hall. She used her abundant artistic talents to paint it and included the PBIS Sneaker Fundraiser circling the classic star found on the high top. The result was remarkable – and much more than Ms. Lenz and Ms. Morris expected.

 

“This is more than we ever imagined,” said Ms. Lenz, complimenting Maya on her work. “We really appreciate all that you have done for us.”

 

The PBIS committee works to teach kindness and positivity throughout the school. Students agree to show respect and be kind to everyone. They work toward school-wide rewards that change each month. They are rewarded when they make good choices.

 

Now, no one can miss the donation bin at CES. So drop off those sneakers and help support the CES PBIS!