Send Our Students to Washington!

Orchard Gardens K-8 was once a struggling school. Test scores were low, students were struggling, and its spirit was broken. Serving primarily students of color from communities suffering from poverty and violence, the school needed to be fixed to put these students on a different life path. In September 2010, under the leadership of a new principal and new teachers, the school took a dramatic turn for the better. Three years later, the school is now Level 1, a mark reserved for the best schools in Massachusetts. Our students are remarkable young people with inspiring dreams. This particular graduating class has grown tremendously in their academics and, more importantly, as people. As both an acknowledgement of their hard work and in an effort to expose them to a world beyond their own, we want to take this year's graduating class of 8th grade students to our Nation's capital. We need support to help cover the costs of travel, lodging, food, and costs of visiting major sites throughout the city.