Past projects 3
Let's Get Movin' - Playground Fun
Funded Dec 3, 2024Thank you so much for your generosity. We are having fun with the new play equipment and plan to use the new resources even more once the weather is warmer. One student said, "The jump ropes and balls are so fun and they boost everyone's energy so when it's time for the next class no one is really tired and falls asleep in class." Another student was so appreciative and said, "We also plan to use them respectfully and appreciate them so much." The students who helped plan the fundraiser have labeled all the items, created a sign out sheet, and a plan for clean up and care. They are hopeful the equipment will last for a long time.
One of our student leaders said, "I think the students will be very happy especially because there is nothing to do outside right now except play soccer and hang out. Now we can be creative and draw with the chalk, play four-square, jump rope, and hula hoop."
Thank you for helping us buy this equipment. It is bringing us a lot of joy!
We appreciate you!
The 7th Grade Student CoCreate Team”
With gratitude,
Ms. Joy
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 11 other donors.Relationship Centered Education
Funded Oct 31, 2024Your generosity has allowed the students at our school to build and deepen relationships in their Advisory classes, club spaces, and other places and spaces of belonging. With your donations we were able to purchase a variety of snack options that we can provide for our Advisory groups and other small groups as well as have for students who just need a little pick-me-up or kind outreach from one of our Restorative Justice Coordinators or teachers. Gathering around food changes a space. We all love to gather around a table with friends and food. Offering a snack mid school day can be a gesture that changes the relationship between an adult and a student. These ever-so-small acts of kindness and community carry a tremendous impact on our students' sense of belonging, self-worth, cognitive growth, attention span and focus.
Adolescents respond with the greatest enthusiasm and joy when it comes to food and snacks. Their faces light up, their energy lifts, and there is great enthusiasm! They love the Takis, Nutella dippers, and chips the best. The box of Mexican Candy Mix brings the greatest joy to our students who find representation, connection, and happy food memories with this culturally specific candy. In fact the moments that I can offer that candy to our Latine students are some of the most joyful moments of my day. I have found no better illustration of the importance of cultural and identity representation in school than that box of candy. Thank you.
As our school continues to offer an increasing number of student spaces with the intention of creating belonging, these snacks will reach more and more kids and relationships essential for restorative work and for academic success will develop. Thank you.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Joy
Community: the Power for Change
Funded Apr 10, 2024Thank you for the generosity you showed when donating to our "Community: the Power for Change" project. Students, teachers, and school staff are benefitting from the materials your donation helped purchase. For example, during a recent Restorative Justice Professional Development Workshop all the teachers and support staff in our school received gifts of affirmation and encouragement. These gifs included stickers, highlighters, fidgets, affirmation notes, candy and snacks. Every Monday morning of this school year teachers and staff received gifts of encouragement and affirmation. This has been significant and important for a few different reasons. First, a community where we affirm and celebrate one another helps to build the container where restoration and belonging thrive. As our adults feel appreciated, supported, and loved they are able to appreciate, celebrate, support, and love our students. Your donations are helping to nurture a culture where every individual feels valued and supported to contribute their very best. Additionally, having the resources to model joyful community shows our teachers how to reproduce joyful community in their classrooms and spaces around our school. Additionally, we have been able to celebrate student and staff identities as we recognize and honor them during PRIDE month, Black Lives Matter Week of Action, Trans Day of Visibility, and Autism Acceptance Month. Our Student Equity Team utilized supplies that we were able to purchase as a result of your generosity to distribute stickers that celebrated each of these identities and encouraged others to be allies and upstanders. Stickers, snacks, gifts and notes of encouragement bring joy, laughter, and a sense of belonging into our school. As students sense feelings of safety and belonging this enhances their ability to learn and grow. In education it is the connections that matter most.
Your donations afforded us longevity in our ability to encourage and celebrate, even when school resources began to dwindle, community initiatives remained strong. We will continue to utilize the stickers, encouragement notes, fidgets, highlighters, and snacks as we begin school next year. We remain committed to MS447 being a place where everyone belongs, where students and staff can experience equity, justice, and joy. Our Student Equity Team, Youth Equity Congress, and Restorative Practices Teams continue to learn, grow, and thrive. Our students are tapping into their agency and voice and developing the power to change. Thank you for joining with us!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Joy