Hopefully soon students across Wylie will be able to access a Counselor’s Care Closet at their campus thanks to the Bulldog Protection Program, a community service initiative recently created by one of Wylie’s Destination Imagination (DI) teams.
The DI team, called Science Alliance, used a similar program in Abilene ISD as a catalyst for their initiative after it’s youngest member Clayton Hanner became aware of the program during an activity at church.
The team of six students, ranging from 5th through 8th grades at Wylie’s East Intermediate and Junior High campuses, began their research with a tour of AISD’s facility. During the tour, they walked through classrooms that were transformed into large closets for a variety of items.
It was then the team realized fellow classmates at Wylie would benefit from something like this but on a scale the team could organize. They brainstormed and came up with each campus having its own Counselor’s Care Closet – a place where students could discretely obtain items they may not have access to but need regularly for success in the classroom.
“Statistically students do better at school when they are equipped with the supplies and necessities they need to be successful as well as comfortable at school,” said team member Benton Hanner.
Fellow team member Kaden Copeland said it’s about more than just providing students with school supplies or essentials for health and wellness.
“It’s not just items,” he said. “It [the program] is about giving students reassurance they have what they need to do well.”
The team worked with counselors at each campus to create supply lists specific to their students’ needs. While the team initially developed the Bulldog Protection Program as part of their DI community service challenge, it was during a meeting with Wylie Superintendent Joey Light that the program could eventually be established indefinitely.
Benton said Mr. Light “sparked the idea it could be student-led and possibly become managed by campus organizations like Student Council.”
The team members strongly feel the Bulldog Protection Program will really impact Wylie students and are hoping the Wylie community will help kick-off the program by making donations to stock the closets. “Even if parents only bought one item, it will fill the list,” said Benton.
Science Alliance coach Jennifer Hanner said campus lists are online at Walmart. “Each list is set-up like a gift registry so families can purchase items online and ship it directly to campus,” said Jennifer. “Or it can be used while shopping at the store. Either way, it is a win for the students.”
As the team moves forward to implement their program, team member Max Thornton said their motivation is clear. “The best thing is how much we are helping our own community.”
To help stock a Counselor’s Care Closet on your campus, use a link below:
WISD Webstore (money donation)-
https://wyliebulldogs.revtrak.net/Student-Activities/#/v/DI-BULLDOG-PROTECTION-DONATION
Wylie Early Childhood- https://www.walmart.com/registry/ER/53dfd6f5-3603-4b87-9e42-e37bde636015
Wylie West Elementary- https://www.walmart.com/registry/ER/88675ed9-b580-40ca-aa71-5eb01906aa66
Wylie East Elementary- https://www.walmart.com/registry/ER/33adb1a1-7c1f-4944-be47-2151eea164c9
Wylie West Intermediate- https://www.walmart.com/registry/ER/578846c8-1a4d-48bc-8d4a-137326bea2e0
Wylie East Intermediate- https://www.walmart.com/registry/ER/f19123b4-fd3a-4c18-843c-74980fb5d174
Wylie West Jr. High- https://www.walmart.com/registry/ER/3ae76e70-225e-4289-baaf-38fadd5eb355
Wylie East Jr. High- https://www.walmart.com/registry/ER/b1d24167-420a-4a88-94cb-5b01db66d749
Wylie High School- https://www.walmart.com/registry/ER/a48df65f-9108-4e5b-9f58-79704afdfb54
By Kristen Johnson