DOTHAN, Alabama, November 9, 2022 - The Bright Key® program at Highlands Elementary School will host a Kindergarten Lemonade Stand on Wednesday, November 16, from 8:00 - 10:00 a.m. in front of the school. The event - an initiative of the Bright Key® Highlands Basic Practical Arts Team - is a service learning opportunity for kindergarten students where they will learn the value of hard work and the importance of good citizenship and giving back to the community.
"We all believe that good citizenship and hard work are characteristics that every child needs to develop as early as possible, and that's where the idea for our lemonade stand originated from,” said Bright Key® Highlands Resource Coordinator Jessica Steltenpohl. “Our stakeholders came up with the idea of introducing local community organizations to our kindergarteners so they could hear about all of the good work that is being done in Dothan and also understand how they can help. We want them to realize that, even at 5 or 6 years old, their contributions are important.”
Highlands kindergarten students have been visited by the Wiregrass Humane Society and will hear from the South Alabama Regional Council on Aging on November 28. Each organization to visit will present its mission and how it helps the Dothan community. They will also share ways that the kindergarten students can help. Also expected to visit this school year are a Special Olympics medalist and coach along with other nonprofit organizations.
After the students learn from all the visiting organizations, they will vote on the organization to which they will dedicate their Lemonade Stand profits.
Community members are invited to stop by the Lemonade Stand and contribute to the cause. Visitors will be asked to give a $2 minimum cash donation on the day of the event, and no change will be given. Donations are appreciated and will be used to support the local nonprofit organization the kindergarteners elect to support.
“You can feel the excitement throughout the school for this meaningful and fun Bright Key® project! This is such a valuable learning opportunity for our kindergarten students to experience, and we are most grateful to our parents for their participation and support,” said Highlands Principal Beth Bouchard.
For more information about the Bright Key® program and this event, contact Bright Key® District Coordinator for Dothan City Schools, Brittany Shepard, at (334)589-9148 or brshepard@dothan.k12.al.us.
Media outlets are invited to attend the Kindergarten Lemonade Stand.
ABOUT Bright Key®
Bright Key® is a partnership between Wiregrass Foundation and Dothan City Schools to pilot an innovative, grassroots community school initiative in area schools Bright Key® involves school-community stakeholders (teachers, parents, and others) in the identification and implementation of programs and services to maximize the academic potential of every child. Each school’s program is uniquely tailored to positively impact the children, schools, families and communities of the individual school. Programs and services will be invited into the schools through a self-sustaining partner model that will continually engage the active participation of the stakeholders. Bright Key® has been at Highlands Elementary and Selma Street Elementary for over six years and has expanded to Heard Elementary and Morris Slingluff Elementary where the initiative is in its second year.