West Orange Teachers Share ‘Wish Lists’ Ahead Of New School Year

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of the West Orange Public School District. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

For the fifth consecutive year, West Orange Public Schools is inviting the community to help stock classrooms and support educators through its annual Clear the List campaign.

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Since the initiative began in 2022, the response from the West Orange community has been remarkable. Families, alumni, local businesses, and community members have helped clear more than 500 teacher and staff wish lists, providing classroom supplies and learning materials that directly benefit students across every school in the district.

The 2026 campaign launches with more than 120 wish lists from teachers and staff who are preparing their classrooms for the new school year.

Community members can view and shop the wish lists by visiting www.woboe.org/clearthelist

"One of the things that makes West Orange special is the way our community consistently steps up to support our schools," said Superintendent Hayden Moore. "Year after year, our families, residents, alumni, and local businesses have shown our teachers and staff that they are valued. Every item purchased helps create opportunities for students while reminding our educators that they have an entire community standing behind them."

While teachers are dedicated to providing the best possible learning experience for their students, that commitment often comes at a personal cost. Nationally, more than 90 percent of educators purchase classroom supplies with their own money, with many spending hundreds of dollars each school year on everything from books and art supplies to classroom organization, science materials, and basic student necessities.

The Clear the List movement has grown into a nationwide back-to-school tradition, giving communities an easy and meaningful way to support local educators. Schools and districts across the country now organize annual campaigns that connect teachers directly with donors through online wish lists, helping reduce out-of-pocket classroom expenses while ensuring students have the tools they need to succeed.

Supporting a West Orange educator is simple. Visit www.woboe.org/clearthelist, browse the available wish lists, and purchase one item or several. Every contribution goes directly toward helping a teacher or staff member prepare for the first day of school.

As West Orange Public Schools celebrates the fifth year of the campaign, the goal remains the same as it was on day one: make sure every classroom has what it needs so every student can start the school year ready to learn.

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