South Milwaukee students are involved in many different charity events, sponsoring fundraisers, collecting items for less fortunate individuals and many other positive community events.  This page will feature a few of the many positive ways that South Milwaukee Students Give Back!

During the 2012-2013 school year, students and staff members at the four elementary schools, middle school and high school have raised over $25,000 for charitable organizations, in addition to many hours of service.  Congratulations!

Rawson Walk for the Cure (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation)

Rawson students were visited by a representative from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and learned about how Type I and Type II diabetes affect children and how it can be treated.  Three students then shared how they persevere through the daily checks of their blood sugar, how they eat a healthy diet and live active lives.  They led the Rawson Walk for the Cure through the neighborhood.  During the two week donation collection window, students raised over $2,700 for the Foundation.  Way to go!

Blakewood Stuffed Animal Drive

When St. Luke's South Shore emergency department came calling, Blakewood Elementary School students answered.  The ER gives away stuffed animals to children who arrive in the emergency room, giving them a positive feeling in what can be a traumatic experience.  When asked, Blakewood students brought in many new stuffed animals for donation.  Thanks Blakewood!

Polar Plunge 2013

High School students raised money for the Special Olympics by agreeing to jump into icy cold Lake Michigan this winter! Calling themselves the "Bomb Pops" brave students and staff members put on their red SM shirts and plunged into the lake.  Congratulations to our students and staff for helping the Special Olympics!

Be Like Mike and Pennies for Patients 2013

South Milwaukee students throughout the district collected coins and donned "Be Like Mike" white and orange Tshirts to raise money to help fight childhood leukemia.  The "Be Like Mike" phrase is in honor of a current middle school student, Mike, who is currently defeating cancer for the third time in his life.  His positive attitude inspires us all!

Red Out 2012-13

South Milwaukee students at the high school and middle school participated in the National Red Out today to bring awareness to women's heart health through the American Heart Association.  Both schools held very successful fundraisers and held special assemblies, raising over $3,000 in donations.

Empty Bowls 2013

The premise of Empty Bowls is profoundly simple and has been repeated thousands of times by groups of people all over the world. A few people get together and create bowls. Guests are invited to receive a simple meal of soup, served in one of the handmade bowls, with bread and dessert. In return, guests take home the bowl they have eaten their soup from, as a reminder of continuing hunger in the world, and that they are part of a caring community doing something about it.

Winter 2013 marked the 16th Annual Empty Bowls Dinner hosted by South Milwaukee High School Family and Consumer Education students and staff members.  The high school art department and students take the lead in creating the wonderful bowls that patrons use and take home that evening.  All proceeds go to local food pantries.  Look for the 2014 event and spend an evening enjoying some absolutely wonderful soup and bread while giving back to our community.

Lakeview Food Drive 2012-13

Lakeview Elementary Students held a food drive to benefit the Salvation Army.  Great job students!

Veterans' Day 2012

High School Students raised almost $2700 for the Fisher House in Milwaukee, a home for the families of veterans to stay while the veteran receives medical care at the Milwaukee VA hospital.  Please see www.fisherhouse.org for more information.

The students honored local veterans, who were present at the school-wide assembly, as well as honored veterans and current service members who have ties to South Milwaukee.  Additionally, the Air Force Band Starlifter was present and played at the assembly.

Congratulations to our entire high school for showing such respect and honor to all the veterans!

Luther Scares Away Hunger 2012

EW Luther Elementary Students hosted a "We Scare Hunger" event this fall to collect food a local food pantry.  Thank you EW Luther students and staff!

MS Art Club Creates Character Education Murals

Ms. Laski's Middle School Art Clubbers are designing a new mural for the entrance of the Middle School.   They are basing their design on the five character traits of the SM Way: Perseverance, Respect, Honesty, Kindness and Responsibility.   We are just at the beginning stages of the design.  5 groups have each designed a potential version of the mural.  The Art Clubbers, Mr. Hendrickson and Mr. Wightman will then evaluate the mural designs to pick out the best parts of each.    Then the whole group will combine the best of each into a final SM way comprehensive mural design.   This will be the largest Middle School Mural to date and will take two years of hard working students to complete.   Look forward to updates!!  Thank you Parent Advisory Council for funding the MS Art Club!!

Pink Day 2012

October 16, 2012, was Pink Day in South Milwaukee.  The students in our schools raised over $10,000 for the Susan G. Komen Foundation in support of breast cancer awareness and research! A big thank you to high school teacher David Fix and the advanced marketing students for designing, marketing and distributing the 2012 Pink Day shirts throughout the city.  Another big thank you to high school teacher Marty Johnson and the DECA students for starting the 1st Annual Chicken Dinner fundraiser for the cause.  Our elementary schools also held penny drives, bringing in approximately $1,000! Way to go South Milwaukee!

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 2012

The South Milwaukee Pom Pon Team Members were at the Komen Race for the Cure on September 23, cheering on the thousands of race participants.  Joining them in supporting the Race for the Cure were numerous students, parents and staff members! Thanks South Milwaukee!

Fall 2012 Blood Drive

High School students organized a blood drive with the American Red Cross in September 2012.  Students over 16 and staff members were encouraged to participate.  The students will organize several more blood drives throughout the school year.  Thank you to our student organization HOSA and high school teacher Mrs. Koken, and of course to all the students and staff who gave blood!

Winter Drives 2011-12

Several schools are holding winter drives for various causes.  The Rawson Elementary School Leadership Group is collecting new hats and socks from December 1st - December 22nd -- feel free to drop off any of your new extras at Rawson.  Blakewood students are collecting new toys to donate to Toys for Tots.  Please drop off new toys at Blakewood to be included in this good cause!

Fall Food and Holiday Drives 2011

Different schools held food drives this fall to help support local food banks such as Human Concerns. Blakewood, Luther and Rawson participated in food drives.  Lakeview alone collected over 1,000 items for the Salvation Army!  The middle school houses adopted families through Human Concerns to buy toys, clothing and food for area families in need.  Groups of staff members also adopt families through Human Concerns.  Thank you to our generous staff, students and families!

Veterans' Day 2011

High School students raised money to support the Stars & Stripes Honor Flight program.  The program flies WWII veterans to Washington DC for the day to see the war memorials and Arlington Park.  The students raised over $2,700.  An assembly was held on November 11 to honor our veterans and was attended by students, staff and area veterans.

Toys For Tots

In November 2011 South Milwaukee High School participated in a challenge by FM 106 to see which high school could collect the most donations for Toys for Tots.  The winner would receive a concert with Scotty McCreery, a recent American Idol winner.  Unfortunately the high school did not win but we were part of collecting over 9700 toys to donate to the Toys for Tots charity!

Hats On Day

On October 26 students particpated in Hats On Day.  Hats On Day was created by a group of students to support their friend with childhood cancer. For $1, a student gets to wear a hat to school for the day.  All funds raised go to the Foundation for Children with Cancer.  All six schools participated in the fundraiser, resulting in over $1,400 in donations to the foundation!

Go Pink Day 2011

South Milwaukee students went pink on October 11 to raise breast cancer awareness.  In the process they helped the community raise over $7100 for the Susan G. Komen Foundation.  Big thanks to the high school advanced marketing students for helping design, sell and distribute over 1,000 Go Pink t-shirts!

Blood Drive

South Milwaukee high school students participate in several blood drives every year.  The student organization HOSA sponsors the blood drive which takes place at our high school.  Students over 18 and staff members are encouraged to give blood during the day.  This is a great way to give back to the greater community!