Past projects 56
Here's Lookin' At You, Kid! Catch Me If You Can!
Funded Mar 9, 2016I wish I could describe with mere words how the students have responded to your generous gift to our project. We were hoping that we would be able to get this project funded but knew it was a big deal . Imagine our surprise when we received this wonderful gift in the mail! Students were fighting for the first chance to use this little action deal. Thank you so much for the opportunity to use things that other schools take for granted. It is exciting to watch students trying to figure out how to use something they've never seen before! Your kindness and generosity are deeply appreciated.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Atkisson
Each Piece Makes A Whole
Funded Dec 22, 2015I can't begin to thank you for helping us acquire these materials. They seemed like such simple things but not when you don't have them. The students helped me unpack them and their remarks were classic: I can't believe we really got this!, Ms. A! The hole punch is here! Lookit! Can we stay after school to try out these materials? Can I PLEASE have one of the notebooks? It did my heart so much good to see them so enthusiastic over school supplies! the notebooks will be for their science projects and they have already begun to use them. They were asking their other teachers if they could come up and work in my room so they could use the notebooks! You just can't imagine how it is when you need such simple little things like good pencils (Cassie) and you tell them we really got some and they get excited! Thank you so very much! From the depths of my heart, I thank you!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Atkisson
This classroom project was brought to life by American InterContinental University and 6 other donors.What's It Like Over There?
Funded Nov 19, 2015The energy pack arrived at school yesterday and I wish you could have seen the class when I opened it! They are generally very active as it is the last hour of the day and they want to go home, especially right before a holiday break! They actually stayed over to check out the materials and try to figure out how to make them work!
They made me promise to use these with them when we returned to school Monday! These students are used to having a book or something with paper to fill out. They are really excited when 'things' come in that they can actually put their hands on. They are so used to looking up the definitions in the back of the book that the opportunity to do real science is almost unheard of. You have given them the opportunity for hands on science. The digital balance is exciting because they can actually see the difference between weight and mass and it actually means something to them.
The biome kit will bring materials they have never seen into their hands as they discover what the real deal is. It is one thing to look at a picture but to hold the thing in your hand, well that makes all the difference in the world!
Thank you for making this possible for these students. You have really made an impact in what might seem to be a simple thing, but it will imprint concepts in their minds that they might never have understood without you.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Atkisson
And The Crowd Roars!
Funded Dec 17, 2015My deepest thanks go out to all of you for your generosity to our students The resources are still coming in to the building. I wish you could have seen the stack of boxes and the expression on the students faces when they found out they were gym supplies! Oh my! We didn't continue with lessons; we stopped to open the boxes and how excited they were when they saw the basketballs! They couldn't wait for us to find the gym teacher and tell her what we got. She thought we were joking! She started to cry when we brought those balls down to the gym! She didn't believe we would be able to get those balls for our students. There is NOTHING else available in our school for these students to go to other than the gym. Usually they wander around because there isn't anything to use. Now they can play basketball, volleyball, dodgeball and go on from there! Thank you so very much for giving our students a chance to create a team and learn sports skills! We can hardly wait for the rest of the equipment to get here!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Atkisson
This classroom project was brought to life by DICK'S Sporting Goods Foundation - Sports Matter and 3 other donors.He Named me Malala Field Trip
Funded Oct 8, 2015My students were so excited for this trip! Many of them have no idea how children in other countries fight for the privilege to attend school; mine come because they can get something to eat! We are a highest poverty school and everyone gets fed at no cost here. They had a lot of questions after the movie because it really brought things home to them in many ways. Gunshots are common here, but never for the reason that Malala experienced. It was almost too much to understand that someone got shot for wanting to come to school and get an education!
They had already started writing thank you notes when we arrived home today because they wanted to express their gratitude for getting to go to a "real" movie theater. They were hoping to see a second film! I can't fault them for that either. Movies are not a regular occurrence for them.
The staff members who came along were equally impacted by the movie. Mr. Graham, a social studies teacher, had tried to talk with the kids when this event first occurred , but it had no impact until they saw the movie. Staff members are planning to take their families to see the movie because of the impact this had on the as well.
Thank you for making this possible for us! This movie really gave us another side to the story of world education. Even we are wealthy compared to some of them. The kids were impacted by the Africans who lost their daughters and realized that they really do have it easier here! You are very special for what you are doing for us.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Atkisson
Can I Get That in Writing, Please?
Funded Nov 12, 2015I wanted to take a moment and let you know how our newest gift to the classroom has made a difference in just one day. We set the printer up during lunch, nine students stayed behind and helped to set up the printer so we could use it. It was so fun to see their excitement. Now we don't have to share pages; when we need a copy of something we can just print it out!. One student was so excited about actually having something he printed that he put it up on the bulletin board for others to see. Antione wouldn't stop talking about how many ways we could the printer!
It is vital to have a printer so each student can print out their science paper, project pictures, charts, and graphs so they can have an equal chance when it comes to presenting their work to others. Most of our children do not have access to Internet nor do they own a printer. Their parents are busy putting food on the table.
We are working on drawing watersheds right now in 8th grade and those colored pencils came at exactly the right time. They couldn't get over the fact that we had them to even use! They are generally fortunate if there are a few broken crayons around! Your generosity has really made a difference for us! Thank you for giving these students a chance to create science fair projects, journals and papers that will be on an equal or better par with their suburban counterparts. Your kindness is not forgotten!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Atkisson
Help, I Can't Breathe! Where's The Oxygen?
Funded Oct 9, 2015My students were in disbelief because we actually received funding for this project. It wasn't until I took the first group out after school on Friday to get water samples and perform tests in the field. This gives them such a good idea about who does this and what career field might be something interesting to them. They kept saying this was the best thing ever and we were after school, on a Friday! What better review could we get? Thank you so much for making this possible. They think I am the coolest teacher in the school and I love having that status! Science is the best and I want them to know that!
Thanks for making their science a little easier to catch up. They missed a whole year of science and I am trying to help them gain that back. You are making it possible. I really appreciate it!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Atkisson
We Want To Probe The World Around Us-What Can WeFind?
Funded Sep 14, 2015Two Fridays ago, I took students after school to the Rouge River to conduct research in water quality using the resources you helped us get. This was after school, on a Friday, and they chose to miss Homecoming, and a variety of other activities to pile into my van and check out the water. Their comments were not about what they missed but that they had the best time of their lives doing some of the coolest things ever! I wish I could have put you in my pocket and brought you along to see how excited they were. The site we went to is one that I have researched for over ten years and is in a very affluent area of the metro we live in. There were kids enjoying the park who came over to see what we were doing. They wanted to be a part with us! They watched and thought we were really cool for checking out their water! Two weeks later, these kids are still talking about what we did and when can we go again! What a way to enjoy science!
Thank you so much for making this possible for them......and for me! I love being the coolest teacher in the school!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Atkisson
What's in Your Water? How About Your Soil?
Funded Dec 17, 2014I want to thank you again for your generosity to our students. Their eyes have been opened to the world around them and they realize there is so much more than what was known before. Several of the students have presented in the largest county fair in our state (2400 students) and came away with first and second place for their efforts. Four of them also went to another state and presented there as well, coming back with trophies from that at well. Two of them have an opportunity to attend an international event this summer and present their work to scientists from around the globe. They will also have the chance to create project and work in an unaffected biome while there. This is the impact you have made on my students. None of these opportunities would have happened if you had not supplied the necessary materials for them to start their journey. Thank you for making this possible. Who knows where they may go? you started the journey, now lets see what they do!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Atkisson
Scientific Journalism: From Idea To PRINT!
Funded Oct 24, 2014I am in the middle of a frenzy with students, trying to get science fair materials printed and on boards. Watching students using the laptop to create titles; type experimental processes and finish projects we could not have done without you, I was very thankful for your generosity. These students are staying after school for an extra 2 hours and gathering information on lunch hours. You have made it possible for them to participate . Snow days kept us out of school so we are behind but we have a chance because of you. Thank you!
I asked donors choose to reopen this letter and allow me to add some extra information. Science Fair is done and these children did amazing. For the first time ever, they presented projects and in a category that was very competitive, came away with 2 first place and five second place awards. The science fair is huge: 2400 entrants, and 102 in the category we presented in. thank you for making this possible with your generosity.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Atkisson