Fundraising

Fundraisers are an inevitable part of a high school campus. You pretty much can't walk 10 feet without a kid hitting you up to buy a candy bar, car wash, or coupon book.

Camino is no exception in the fundraising department. The cheerleaders want to go to camp, the volleyball team needs uniforms, and Mr. Gonzalez's world history students are eager to see D.C.  My wallet is out all the time.

Two major differences I noticed at my school right away: Camino kids are allowed to sell homemade food, which is pretty much the awesomest idea ever. Less awesome, though, is that all food sold on campus must stick to the school's nutrition policy. Somehow, pizza gets a pass, as well as tamales and conchas (a big, sweet bun thingy), but nothing pre-packaged in a bag or tray. Words like "processed" and "salt content" get tossed around a lot, I think because Latinos suffer from a disproportionally high rate of heart disease. No Dorritos at Camino.

Never, though, have I heard anyone mention our policy regarding selling food out of a tire.

I walked out of my classroom yesterday to see something that should be featured on Food Network. Picture this: a 3x3 piece of black foamboard laid out flat on the concrete in full sun. On top of that was a foil-lined tire, procured from the recycling station across the street. Inside the tire were five little smores stacks, and on top of the whole contraption, a sheet of glass.

I'm not kidding.

My wallet stayed in my backpack, but only because Marisol's AP government kids had already brought me a little plate of homemade flan. Well, also because I'm not all that wild about smores, and I'd like to leave the great state of California with any extra weight tucked safely in my suitcase.

These kids are so cool. I wonder if Hawaii kids are cool, too. Tough to beat smores in a tire.