Last school year, students in Ms. Fortaleza’s 6th grade classes (now Claremont 7th graders) raised money to send to pen pals in the Philippines at General Roxas Elementary School in Quezon City – a school where Ms. Fortaleza had taught during summer break.

The money they raised was used to buy essential supplies for the school, which serves underprivileged children. Every U.S. dollar is equivalent to almost 50 Philippine pisos, so the couple hundred dollars our students raised was HUGE for the students in the Philippines. Some of our pen pals sent this video message expressing holiday greetings for Claremont Middle School, a big thank you for the donated money, and a clip of students doing a chant that Ms. Fortaleza has taught to all of her current and former students.