Past projects 8
Hear Me When I Sing
Funded May 1, 2017Thank you so very very much. As the time for the performance draws near we had been concerned about not having the needed sound equipment. We are ecstatic!
The students are working on their diction for speaking parts and getting vocal coaching to perfect their singing technique. Thanks to you, everyone will be able to hear them!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Gathers
Art is Scientific, Science is Art
Funded Aug 26, 2015The new resources acquired from this donors choose grant, have made an amazing contribution to my visual arts classroom. Our school is located in Brooklyn New York which is a wonderful educational resource for the young people who live there. However, it is not an environment where most arrive at school after a walk through the Forest, or after tending their garden. I decided that this year I wanted to focus the eyes of my visual arts students, on nature. Looking closely at nature (portraits of animals) and admiring a panorama (painting landscapes). Your generous contribution provided the inspiration and concrete evidence for the former. Students first studied the skeletons of the cat and the pigeon, before drawing the same. I collaborated with our school science teachers for this part of the unit.
When they first saw the skeletons, my young artists were so excited and couldn't wait to face the challenge of drawing them from observation. This activity provided the foundation for understanding the structure of the body of the animal once they added the fur or feathers. I must admit, I was inspired, surprised and impressed with the results!
Everyone had to create a portrait of a cat, using watercolor paint. Then they had to choose a landscape from a photograph which they stored on their cell phone or one provided by me. This in turn was drawn using watercolor pencil and then painted using water color paints.
The next step will be to choose any animal or landscape they like and create a work of art using watercolor, oil pastels, charcoal, or clay. This will be our final nature project for the year. In June, we will have an exhibit to celebrate all of this outstanding work and the students who created it. Thank you again for your kindness and generosity.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Gathers
The Art Of Drumming
Funded Oct 8, 2012Our scholars are so excited and appreciative of this magnificent privilege. They are being instructed by a master drummer, and learning classical djembe rhythms. The course of study includes the fundamentals of playing djembe, as well as the history of the instrument. Scholars are also taught the cultural significance of the rhythms which they are learning.
This opportunity has enhanced the quality of our Arts Education program. We have violin instruction, drama, African dance, modern dance, ballet, and visual arts. The African drumming is a wonderful addition to an already quite comprehensive arts education program. Thank you so much!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Gathers
This classroom project was brought to life by an anonymous donor and 15 other donors.Drama! Drama! and More Drama!
Funded Jan 1, 2011Firsts of all please allow me to apologize for taking so long to say thank you. The show was just a few weeks ago, and then we have had numerous events involving the ending of the school year; trips, luncheons, awards night, and graduation. In addition my mom had surgery and I had to fly out of town to attend to her needs. So please excuse me for not saying this sooner. But you are the best that there is or ever was.
Anyone who will sacrifice to support the arts is a gift to humanity. I have very strong feelings about the need for our young people to understand the importance of engaging themselves in the discipline and pleasure of embracing some art form and developing their passion for it. I know that you agree with me and that is why you gave us the money to get what we needed to help to make our show a success.
We performed a scene from the play, A Raisin in the Sun. The students rehearsed for six months. We worked on their lines of course. But articulation in their speech and proper projection of their voices was also very high on the list of priorities for those items that they must master in order to give a superb performance.
They did a stellar and memorable job! Although they were able to project their voices much better than they had before we worked on it, the auditorium is old and the acoustics and very challenging for stage presentations. The microphones that you gave to us, made it possible for them to hear themselves and for the audience to really "get" the message. We are so appreciative of your generosity.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Gathers
This classroom project was brought to life by American Express Members Project and one other donor.Singing From Our Hearts
Funded Nov 1, 2010Thank you so very much your generosity and kindness. My students were surprised and excited when I told them about your gifts. They stayed after school to rehearse and prepare for our performance. I taught them how to play the rhythm instruments and they were so proud to show off their new skills when they for the others in our community.
The karaoke CDs were so useful and will be useful for next year's holiday season as well.
Our scholars are middle school aged, very creative, energetic, and were excited about rendering community service. The chorus was well received by the audiences for whom be performed. Thanks to the microphones you bought, we were also very well heard. Since the holidays, the instruments and microphones have been put to very good use in our school assembly programs.
People like you provide children with hope for the future. You proved to them that someone out there cares. You also modeled for them, that when they are grown up, they should also remember to help others who have less.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Gathers
This classroom project was brought to life by Perry & Donna Golkin Family Foundation and 2 other donors.Honoring Musical Legends
Funded Mar 25, 2010Thank you so much for your donation of a djembe and an udu for use by my students. These are instruments not commonly used in school, so first of all, the students were so curious and thrilled to have access to musical instruments such as these.
One student was so inspired that he went online and searched to learn more about the udu. In this process he also saw and then heard a digeridoo, loved it and used his allowance to buy one. We used the digeridoo (although it was much harder to play than he had anticipated), the djembe and the udu to accompany a song sung by students, for the school earth day celebration. We stressed the fact that these instruments are made from natural earth products, and talked about the craftsmanship required to create each one. I also gave the students in our Special Education class the opportunity to play the instruments after instruction with me. They were shy at first, but then I had to tell them to give someone else a chance to play. One girl said, "Wow! I want one of these!" I noticed that the girls were just as excited as the boys.
Your generosity is deeply appreciated. Budget cuts always seem to go for the throat of the arts programs in schools first. Without people like you to inspire and support us, the children would be at a great loss. Please keep on doing what you do. Thank you so much!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Gathers
This classroom project was brought to life by Pershing Square Foundation and one other donor.FDA Goes to Ghana
Funded Nov 24, 2009Thank you so much for the cameras! The students began taking photos on the flight and did not stop until we were on our way back to the United States. They took photos everywhere we went, and will post many of those pictures in their journals.
We traveled to Ghana, West Africa on a service learning mission. We rendered services at an orphanage, a middle school, and a primary school. The students washed clothes, swept, read stories, danced, taught classes, told stories and made friends while we traveled around Ghana.
They have all said that this was an opportunity of a lifetime and are very grateful to you for your donation.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Gathers
FDA Goes to Ghana
Funded Nov 6, 2009Thank you so much for the cameras! The students began taking photos on the flight and did not stop until we were on our way back to the United States. They took photos everywhere we went, and will post many of those pictures in their journals.
We traveled to Ghana, West Africa on a service learning mission. We rendered services at an orphanage, a middle school, and a primary school. The students washed clothes, swept, read stories, danced, taught classes, told stories and made friends while we traveled around Ghana.
They have all said that this was an opportunity of a lifetime and are very grateful to you for your donation.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Gathers