Past projects 4
Tools To Boost Physical Education Instruction
Funded Oct 5, 2016Thank you for helping us purchase three iPad minis (with protective cases) for our Physical Education program. We are very fortunate to have wireless access in our PE facility, which makes it possible for us to introduce students to a variety of web-based applications that elevate our instruction. Despite this however, with few student devices and growing class sizes, we are limited in our ability to use these applications as often as we'd like. With the help of donor's like you, we now have a few devices that students can use for assessment, and group activities.
In addition to basic record keeping, we have found ways to incorporate these iPads into daily lessons and games. On days when classes are engaged in game play, students take turns serving as an official, using the iPad to keep score which leads to a greater understanding of various sporting rules, and team strategy. Students are also able to create teams using an application that sorts students into equal, skill balanced teams, making it possible for us to create learning groups quickly and fairly.
The iPads allow our kids to access the Internet for research purposes when we are learning about sports from different countries, as well as providing them with a way to sign up online for enrichment and academic support classes throughout the week. In the near future, we plan to introduce a new application that will allow students to take a video of a skill as it is performed, and then analyze skill performance to diagnose performance errors and make changes for overall improvement.
The students and I are beyond grateful for your contributions to our project, and are very excited to continue using these devices in our class each day. Your donations are helping my students learn valuable technical skills, and most importantly, are allowing them to take a more active role in their learning. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for helping us provide a quality program for our students, and for making it possible for us to create a positive movement experience that students will benefit from for years to come.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Sos
Tools To Boost Physical Education Instruction
Funded Oct 6, 2015Thank you for helping us purchase seven Garmin Forerunner GPS watches for our Physical Education program. We have been very fortunate to have had access to a class set of GPS watches in recent years, however with growing class sizes and normal wear and tear, we have struggled to find the funding to replace watches that no longer function properly. With your donations every student in my class now has a working watch and can track their performance without having to share a watch with a classmate.
Our GPS watch program has been very successful and has made it possible for us to individualize our curriculum to meet the needs of each individual student. GPS watches allow us to help students set individual goals that are specific to their level of fitness and will ultimately allow them to see gradual improvement over time at a pace that is challenging, yet attainable.
Traditional PE programs make it nearly impossible for the teacher to provide immediate feedback to each student, whereas the GPS watches allow students to not only monitor their progress during fitness assessments, but to make adjustments based on live data provided by these watches. With a simple glance at their watch, students can adjust their performance based on their time and distance, making it possible for them to focus on their individual performance, rather than how they are performing compared to a classmate. We have experienced a great deal of success since the addition of GPS technology, and have seen higher levels of student buy-in, and improved performance from year to year. We are very proud of the program we have created at our school and are thrilled that we will be able to continuing offering this technology for years to come.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for continuing to help us provide a quality program for our students, and for making it possible for us to create a positive movement experience that students can enjoy from year to year.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Sos
Lights! Camera! MacBook!
Funded Oct 7, 2014Thank you for helping our Leadership students purchase a new MacBook Pro. For years, we have had to rely solely on decade old computers that do not support many tools students use both at home and in school. With your donations the kids have been able to reach out to more of their classmates, introduce various activities, present new ideas, and to promote service-learning opportunities.
The new computer allows us to film multiple commercial spots for our school's weekly morning show, and has made it possible for several students to edit and produce a number of commercials at one time without impacting other classrooms. In addition, students are creating presentations highlighting volunteer opportunities both at home and abroad, and they recently introduced photo booth software for students to use during special activities.
Your donations are helping our students to not only learn valuable technical skills, but they are encouraging them to test out new applications and programs that engage students across the board. Thank you for believing in our kids and helping them promote the message that "Anyone can make a difference!"”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Sos
Lights! Camera! Leadership!
Funded Oct 11, 2013It is with great pleasure and gratitude that I say thank you for your generosity in helping my
Leadership students purchase two digital camcorders and tripods. In the past, our Leadership program has had to rely primarily on print media, and it was difficult for my students to not only promote school involvement, but also participation in community service projects. Your donations have made it possible for them to not only reach out to more of their classmates, but to involve the community in their various efforts.
Currently, my students are utilizing the cameras and tripods to create public service announcements highlighting specific character traits that we promote at our site. We are filming commercials spots to encourage participation in special events, and most recently were able to show the student body how their charitable donations brightened the day of over 500 students and their families at our sister school in a neighboring town.
Your donations are helping my students learn valuable technical skills and for that I am beyond grateful. Thank you for believing in my kids and helping them to extend their efforts far beyond the walls of their classroom.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Sos