[KHTS] Since the beginning of the school year, the science students at Saugus High School have been able to conduct experiments with brand new microscopes, thanks to a WiSH Education Foundation donation.

The new equipment is part of nearly $50,000 that was divided among all the William S. Hart Union High School District junior high and high schools, raised at “A Toast and a WiSH” fundraiser and a fundraiser through Jersey Mike’s Subs.

The WiSH Foundation asked the science chair at each school to created a “WiSHlist” tailored to their departments specific needs.

Science Department Co-Chair Krista Botton said that Saugus High spent all of the money on microscopes, purchasing 20 state-of-the-art machines. The school now has six full classroom sets, one for each biology lab.

WiSH Executive Director Amy Daniels said that her favorite part of the fundraiser was the fact that each school was able to choose what they most needed, everything from scientific dishwashers to beakers and anatomy parts. Each school also received money from Jersey Mike’s earmarked specifically for microscopes.

On Tuesday, Botton’s anatomy class used the microscopes to examine bone tissue and identify the different components.

She noted, with excitement, that the microscopes are equipped with LED lights, which don’t burn out as often as traditional bulbs.

“I’ll probably never have to replace a light bulb as long as I teach,” she said.

Amy Sandberg, director of marketing with Jersey Mike’s, said that they came up with the idea to buy microscopes for Hart District schools almost a year ago.

They celebrated their fifth anniversary with a fundraiser in February and sold fundraising cards to the students in May.

“We thought that microscopes was a really interesting feature (that would) affect kids in a positive manner,” she said.

Botton agreed that having new microscopes was helping her students grasp the material.

“They really have enjoyed the use of the microscopes,” she said. “It’s a lot easier for them to see their specimens.”

Billy Anthony, a senior in the anatomy class, certainly thought this was true.

“I feel like in this class I’ve been able to understand looking in microscopes better,” he said. “I wasn’t grasping the concept as much, but now I just get it.”

The WiSH Foundation holds fundraisers throughout the year to support all the junior high and high schools in the Hart District, including Academy of the Canyons and Bowman High School.