the lake
Wish Week Edition
Meet Jaden:
the sevenyear-old with cystic fibrosis and a
BIG WISH
This is Jaden.
The ground is overflowing with molten, bubbling lava
as he jumps from the sofa to the recliner. One slip and he will be absorbed by the heat. He isn’t phased by the magma and continues on, waving his pretend lightsaber along with his other fellow Jedi in defeat of the villainous Darth Vader. He’s just like all of the other second graders, playing and expressing his imagination on the playground. Except, Jaden has cystic fibrosis. Seven-year-old Jaden, a Star-Wars-obsessed football fan who loves superheroes and the color red, has been diagnosed with a disease that causes a buildup of mucus in the lungs, pancreas, and intestine. And this week, Standley Lake has the chance to be the real life hero that Jaden looks up to. The students have the chance to grant his one wish, to meet his favorite idols at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. For the first time, Student Council and PeaceJam, along with the 1,300 students of Standley Lake, are joining forces to put on Wish Week, a full week dedicated to fundraising for Make-A-Wish Colorado on behalf of Jaden’s wish.
He likes Star Wars, Disney, superheroes & the Broncos.
“Wish Week is a great opportunity as a school to come together and do something really amazing for someone,” Social Studies teacher Ms. Hayashi said. “I think it allows us to show all of our strengths--we are good at coming together, we are good at helping each other out, we are good at seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, and here we are utilizing all those skills to make this kid’s wish come true.” The Make-A-Wish Foundation aims to provide memories of “carefree happiness” to children and families affected by medical conditions. Standley Lake’s funds raised during Wish Week will be donated to the foundation to help them continue to grant wishes. The week-long fundraiser will involve spirit days highlighting some of Jaden’s passions, as well as daily opportunities for students to donate. “I think its cool we are personalizing it,” PeaceJam member Courtney Kauffman ‘16 said. “We are going to get to know him and we are making the whole week about him and not just the money about him.”
And he has cystic fibrosis, a disease causing a buildup of mucus in pancreas, lungs, and instestine.
The whole week is set up in honor of Jaden with numerous ways to donate. “We have given the school the opportunity, so now its up to everyone else to help and contribute to Jaden’s goal and to the foundation,” StuCo leader Kendall Bril ‘17 said.
Jaden wants to go to Disney World, so Standley Lake and the Make-A-Wish Foundation are going to make that happen.
One boy can spark hope in a community, reminding them how powerful one school can be when it comes together—strong enough to grant Jaden’s biggest wish. “I always want to spark someone else’s own philanthropy, finding their own cause they really care about and seeing how much they can do when they really care about something,” Ms. Hayashi said.
With the chance of granting a life-long wish for Jaden, this week isn’t all about the money. Students will have the chance to learn a little bit about who Jaden is before Friday’s assembly, where Standley Lake will present their money raised to the Make-A-Wish Foundation on behalf of Jaden’s wish. T-shirts, wristbands, and “Wish Stars” will be sold all week to fund Standley Lake’s donation. Various events will be going on throughout the week, including a Beard-Off, Penny Wars, a movie night, and a closing assembly where Jaden will show up to be granted his wish.
In the next five days, Standley Lake students will have numerous chances to show how much they care by granting Jaden’s wish in partnership with the Make-AWish Foundation. “Everyone is rooting for him, and we just wanna make him happy and make his wish come true,” Kauffman said. | Alie Settje | Morgan Whitley | Tina Muscarelli | Meg Metzger-Seymour | Chaye Gutierrez
What is the Make-AWish Foundation? A 2011 US study on wish impact states that most health professionals believe a wishcome-true may influence a child's health. A wish granted gives children invigorated strength to fight their illnesses.
Wishes fall into four categories: 1. "I wish to go..." 2. "I wish to have..." 3. "I wish to meet..." 4. "I wish to be..."
The MakeA-Wish Foundation grants unique wishes to children facing life-threatening medical conditions to provide memories of "care-free happiness."
Wish Week t-shirts, wristbands and"my wish for the world is..." stars will be sold in the upper commons all week.
5 days of Wish Week Monday, Jan. 26 Wear purple
Purple is the color of cystic fibrosis awareness.
Head to Macaroni Grill
Penny Wars
A percentage of the night's sales will be donated to SLHS Wish Week! Don’t forget your flyer.
It’s a battle of the classes! Participate in the library by donating change to your class’ bucket.
Tuesday, Jan. 27 It's Disney Day
Time to rock those Minnie ears and break out that Buzz Lightyear costume from elementary school.
He shoots...he scores
Try your luck at the halfcourt shot for $1 at the boys basketball game against Valor at The Swamp.
Beard-off time
Donate money to the “Keep” or “Shave” jars for our bearded teachers. Their new looks will be revealed at Friday’s assembly.
Wednesday, Jan. 28 Show some Star Wars Spirit
Tie up your Princess Leia buns and practice your Darth Vader voice! Deck out in Star Wars gear.
Kick some soccer booty
Teams of 6 can compete in the tournament in the gym during resource. The winners will play in inflatable bubbles at Friday’s assembly. Sign up in B-222 through Tuesday.
One miracle, one minute
How much money can Standley Lake donate in one minute? We’ll find out!
Thursday, Jan. 29 #TBT to 2nd grade
Did you wear pigtails? Spiked hair? Show us your inner-child & dress as your 2nd-grade self.
Movie night at SLHS
Head to SLHS at 7:00 p.m. and bring $3 to see The Dark Knight Rises.
Day 2 of soccer tournament
Bring your team of six (with at least two girls) down to the gym for a chance to play in bubbles at the assembly.
Friday, Jan. 30 Today's the day! Bronco Pride
Join Jaden in his love for the Denver Broncos by rocking your blue and orange.
Make his wish come true
StuCo will present the Make A Wish Foundation with Standley Lake’s donation to send Jaden and his family to DisneyWorld.
Use #gatorwish on your Wish Week photos on Instagram and Twitter!