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Having the necessary tools for any job is key-- and when it came to the attention of math instructors at Chisago Lakes High School that  students lacked the proper calculators for advanced math classes, instructors took matters into their own hands.  

Lindsey Wilson and Haley Goulet said they were hearing at conferences about families’ difficulty providing calculators that can run about $136 retail.  

Teachers knew some kids were sharing, handing off calculators in the hallway between class, and some were using the wrong equipment and grades suffered when device functions didn’t match-up.  

Goulet said, “We started our project with the goal of 10 calculators in mind.” It was the hope, someday, to get enough calculators for every math teacher’s class , or 175 calculators.

The phase one part of the effort this year resulted in a total of eight. Instructors are still shooting for every advanced math student to have access to a donated calculator.

Chisago Lakes high School math department acknowledge local business support  providing these first several calculators.
 
Goulet and Wilson send “a big Wildcat shout out” to Lakes Area Electric Inc, and Plastic Products Co. Inc.  which donated enough to provide for the eight new calculators.

Remarked Goulet, “When you start a project you never know if it’s going to have success or not. Although this started at the end of the year and only a few select businesses received letters, we were able to make great strides in the students’ educational lives.”

She added that simple things like a student being able to check-out a free recharging cord even makes adifference.

Goulet explained that having discussions about equipment led to more openess about challenges in general.  

“Ms Wilson even started to have students open up to her about struggles they deal with getting or having the right equipment. When we started hearing stories like this we knew we were on the right path.”

If you can help with this effort, and assist in reaching the full 175 calculator availability-- please  consider donating the department standard  Texas Instrument Ti 84 Plus CE device.  Monetary support is welcome.  And, check your corporate charity matching programs.

Contact Ms. Wilson at [email protected] for details.

Checks for donating money towards all or part of a device,  can be written to Chisago Lakes High School and sent to Chisago Lakes High School, Attention Lindsey Wilson, Math Dept. 29400 Olinda Trail, Lindstrom, MN 55045.

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