Cotton Bureau Give Back Friday

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With your support, our classroom has been able to embark on a very exciting project this year: starting a silk screen printing business called CapABLE Creations! Our school provided a dedicated space, and a professional has been guiding us through the process of setting up the equipment and learning the techniques. Screen printing is an art form that requires skill, but our students are eagerly acquiring this new knowledge. We are thrilled about the prospect of selling our creations to other high schools and the community next year. This project is not just about screen printing; it's about helping our students develop important life skills. Through CapABLE Creations, they gain experience working in a real-world business environment, fostering their growth into well-rounded members of society. Thank you for your generosity, which has made this transformative learning experience possible.”

With gratitude,

Mrs. Hardy

I cannot describe the excitement and joy my students felt when I first pulled out all of the wonderful gifts you gave us! They are so eager to use the manipulatives for math and practice their sight words with the BINGO game now.

Many of the gifts, are used weekly for easy start mornings and fun Friday. They love to create something new and have me come see it. The magnetic maze is a huge hit! Their teamwork has grown as they've had to work together to overcome challenges as they build. It's increasing their cooperation and respect for each other. Social skills are so important to develop at this age, and these supplies have helped me foster that development.

Thank you again for thinking this project was important! These children need a village and you've become a part of that.”

With gratitude,

Mrs. Brown

Thank you so much for this amazing donation. We have had many printmaking screens in a cabinet for years, with no materials to do anything with them. The drawing fluid, screen filler and squeegies, along with acrylic printing ink and fabric ink will finally make using these screens possible! More often than not screen printing is a very laborious process, requiring a dark room and chemicals that are not appropriate for middle school students. This process is simple and safe.

When I told my students that we were going to be doing screen printing, they were so excited! I had one young man who was thrilled to be able to make t-shirts for his band. Others said right away, "Oh, I know what I want to make!" This is a very cool process, and my students had immediate engagement and wanted to get started right away.

We will be using these materials to make prints on paper, fabric and mixed media. We have enough for this year and next year as well. Access to these materials is so special, and we are thrilled to have them!

Thank you so much for this amazing donation!”

With gratitude,

Ms. Potoma

When students enter the Perry Traditional Academy Library and see that we have actual paints, table-top easels and real canvases with brushes, their eyes POP, and they can NOT believe that they have access to these materials. They have no access to them in their one art class, so coming in to the Library and pairing books on Frida Kahlo, Kehinde Wiley, Banksy, etc. and real art materials is a mind bomb. They are SO excited to sit down and let their mind wander over glorious images in books and then explore the materials you so generously provided them with.

So many have had no experience in their lives with paint, brushes, or being trusted with their own ability to explore, imagine, take time to think on their own and just be free to be joyful with art.

Seeing the images in the library, and then exploring on their own has changed some of their lives. They get to take home their canvases, gift them to people they love, or hang them in their rooms forever. You did that for these children. I can not thank you enough. You are heroes. Art changes lives and minds forever. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”

With gratitude,

Mrs. May-Stein

Thank you so, SO much for purchasing our gym equipment. Our students were overjoyed when they found out it had been funded. When the equipment started to be delivered, every day was like a birthday! They had so much fun helping to open boxes and set up the equipment for the first time. I am not sure if I have EVER seen students having so much fun during the school day! Having such beautiful, brand new equipment definitely has increased the self-esteem of our students as well.

The hockey nets and pucks have allowed our students with physical disabilities to interact and enjoy a sport with students who do not have physical disabilities. We have organized several floor hockey games with larger groups of students and staff and these games have allowed students to show off skills many of had never seen before. One student with autism, who regularly exhibits negative behavior, has NO behavior issues while he plays floor hockey!

The scooters are AMAZING, and our students with physical disabilities ADORE them! They use them almost every day!

The basketball arcade game is used often and really levels the playing field between a variety of students. The Velcro and bean bag games are used by students who cannot participate in large motor activities and they feel so included when they are playing.

In general, all the equipment has really helped to bring a variety of students together to socialize, enjoy sports and have fun. We cannot thank you enough.”

With gratitude,

Ms. Milbrath