Past projects 19
Science Research Class Needs Field Equipment
Funded Jun 2, 2010This has been an exciting year for our environmental science research class and a large part of that is due to your generous donation of field equipment. The nets, collecting jars, waders and binoculars were all used by students to collect data in New York City parks.
This year, we have had 8 groups of students begin an ecosystem study at Inwood Hill Park in New York City. Students have collected data about the soil chemistry, plant diversity and wildlife diversity on 3 separate trips. Student groups are mixed freshman, sophomores and juniors where knowledge is being passed from older students to younger students. The field skills that students are receiving during this experience include how to test the pH of soil, identifying plants using dichotomous keys, setting up ink traps for small mammals, finding invertebrates in leaf litter as well as organizing data in field notebooks and making observations.
Students in the research program at our school are exposed to real scientific research and data collection techniques. They gain skills that many young people are not exposed to until they reach college. The next steps for the Inwood Hill Park Study are for students to organize their data into Excel and link their data to maps in a Geographic Information System (GIS). Research students also learn how to search, read and analyze primary scientific literature through the development of their own research projects. The students in this class are a special group that have shown dedication to this elective program and they continue to excel in all of their academic and extracurricular endeavors.
Thank you for your support of these students and this research program. It is continuing to grow stronger each year and that would not be possible without your generosity. ”
With gratitude,
Ms. Bellino
Technologically Needy!!
Funded Dec 22, 2009Thank you so very much for your most generous donation to my classroom! I can't wait for you to see the projects that the students have completed in class now that they can print color photo's and text in classroom!! This one simple piece of equipment has made creating these projects so much simpler for everyone.... No longer do students have to email me their projects so I can print them at home on my personal printer. Now they simply attach their computers to the printer in the classroom and print whenever they are ready!!
I hope you can see from the pictures the type of projects my students now are able to produce.
THANK YOU!!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Bellino
This classroom project was brought to life by HP and National Lab Day and one other donor.Apple Care for Our New Macbook Pro
Funded Jan 4, 2010Thank you so very much for the AppleCare. With this we will be insured to truly take the best possible care of our valued hardware. This is quite possibly the greatest gift ever, that of insurance for the future. This class as well as many others will be able to tend for and love some of the elements that are making this school and class potentially the greatest of all time. The mutual understanding of greatness is what draws people together and for this we thank you. We can only be humbled by your most gracious donations.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Bellino
Musical Theatre ... What To Do With All This Stuff Part III
Funded Dec 25, 2009I can't fully express my joy, excitement, and thanks for your donation to my project. Your generosity truly embodies the spirit of the holiday season.
My students are so excited to be able to properly organize and put away their costumes, props, and sets. Right now, the materials are piled in a small room from floor to ceiling! When we get back from holiday break, the students will immediately begin to work on this project.
Thanks to your generosity, we will continue to have materials for our performances for years to come.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Bellino
This classroom project was brought to life by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and one other donor.Learn Anatomy by Doing Dissections: Lab Period 5
Funded Dec 22, 2009I can not thank you enough for your most generous donations to my classroom and my students. Thanks to you I was able to conduct the dissections with two different sections of my periods 5 Biology Lab students last week. There aren't the words to describe the experience they had!!
They had been anticipating the lab for some time, many handing in their prelab assignment weeks in advance (something that is unheard of in LAB class!!!). When the day finally arrived all of the kids were early to class and ready to get started as soon as the bell rang. It is one of the joys of being an educator when you have the opportunity to be present for a child's "Uh-Ah" moment, and i got to be there for dozens during this lab. So many of the kids were finally able to piece together what they learned in lecture classes with what actually goes on in the body. They were so proud when they correctly identified an organ or could explain the function of whatever they were looking at.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping me to give these students and experience they will always remember!!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Bellino
This classroom project was brought to life by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and one other donor.Technology Needed In the Research Classroom
Funded Dec 29, 2009This has been an exciting year for our sophomore science research class and a large part of that is due to your generous donation of the MacBook Pro and the back up drive. This technology was used by students to analyze and present research projects conducted in many New York City parks.
This year, we have had 12 groups of students begin research projects in a variety of ecology fields. Of these 12 projects, 4 groups have been accepted to the New York City Science and Engineering Fair (NYCSEF). Some of the projects that were accepted to the fair are studies done at Riverside Park related to tree diversity, soil quality and wildlife diversity. Attending NYCSEF is a first for our high school and it is a real accomplishment for these students. They will have the opportunity to present their research projects to scientists, engineers and educators from New York City in the hopes of progressing to the International Science Fair in San Jose, California.
Students in the research program at our school are exposed to real scientific research and data collection techniques. They gain skills that many young people are not exposed to until they reach college. Students prepare PowerPoint presentations which they share with both the freshman and sophomore research class, as well as present to the larger school community at our science symposium every June. Research students also learn how to search, read and analyze primary scientific literature through the development of their own research projects. The students in this class are a special group that have shown dedication to this elective program and they continue to excel in all of their academic and extracurricular endeavors.
Thank you for your support of these students and this research program. It is continuing to grow stronger each year and that would not be possible without your generosity.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Bellino
This classroom project was brought to life by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and 2 other donors.Students Need Field Guides for Ecosystem Study
Funded Sep 17, 2009This has been an exciting year for our sophomore science research class and a large part of that is due to your generous donation of the complete set of National Audubon Society Field Guides. These field guides were all used by students to collect data in New York City parks.
This year, we have had 12 groups of students begin research projects in a variety of ecology fields. Of these 12 projects, 4 groups have been accepted to the New York City Science and Engineering Fair (NYCSEF). Some of the projects that were accepted to the fair are studies done at Riverside Park related to tree diversity, soil quality and wildlife diversity. Attending NYCSEF is a first for our high school and it is a real accomplishment for these students. They will have the opportunity to present their research projects to scientists, engineers and educators from New York City in the hopes of progressing to the International Science Fair in San Jose, California.
Students in the research program at our school are exposed to real scientific research and data collection techniques. They gain skills that many young people are not exposed to until they reach college. Students prepare PowerPoint presentations which they share with both the freshman and sophomore research class, as well as present to the larger school community at our science symposium every June. Research students also learn how to search, read and analyze primary scientific literature through the development of their own research projects. The students in this class are a special group that have shown dedication to this elective program and they continue to excel in all of their academic and extracurricular endeavors.
Thank you for your support of these students and this research program. It is continuing to grow stronger each year and that would not be possible without your generosity.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Bellino
This classroom project was brought to life by Korein Family Foundation and 2 other donors.Research Projects need Field Equipment
Funded Sep 26, 2009This has been an exciting year for our sophomore science research class and a large part of that is due to your generous donation of field equipment. The nets, soil sieves, magnifying glasses and binoculars were all used by students to collect data in New York City parks.
This year, we have had 12 groups of students begin research projects in a variety of ecology fields. Of these 12 projects, 4 groups have been accepted to the New York City Science and Engineering Fair (NYCSEF). Some of the projects that were accepted to the fair are studies done at Riverside Park related to tree diversity, soil quality and wildlife diversity. Attending NYCSEF is a first for our high school and it is a real accomplishment for these students. They will have the opportunity to present their research projects to scientists and educators from New York City in the hopes of progressing to the International Science Fair in San Jose, California.
Students in the research program at our school are exposed to real scientific research and data collection techniques. They gain skills that many young people are not exposed to until they reach college. Students prepare PowerPoint presentations which they share with both the freshman and sophomore research class, as well as present to the larger school community at our science symposium every June. Research students also learn how to search, read and analyze primary scientific literature through the development of their own research projects. The students in this class are a special group that have shown dedication to this elective program and they continue to excel in all of their academic and extracurricular endeavors.
Thank you for supporting these students and this research program. It is continuing to grow stronger each year and that would not be possible without your generosity. ”
With gratitude,
Ms. Bellino
Learn Anatomy by Doing Dissections.... Period 4!!
Funded Dec 22, 2009Thank you Thank you Thank you!! We completed the dissections this week with the period 4 lab classes and they had a BLAST!! It was such an amazing experience for me, as this was the first time I did this activity with students I do not teach in lecture. During this activity I saw students who never engage or get excited about lab class actively participating in the dissection, identifying organs and asking questions. It was the type of teaching moment you usually only see on TV or in the movies.
I can not express just how grateful I am for what you have done for my students and myself. Hope you enjoy the pictures.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Bellino
This classroom project was brought to life by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and one other donor.Microscopes In The Classroom - Part 2
Funded Feb 18, 2009I would like to thank you so very much for your generous donation to my school and to my classroom. I can not express how much it means to me that you consider my students and their education important enough to make such a generous donation.
A few weeks ago my students spent two days in class using the microslide viewers. They were able to see real cells dividing and the how the chromosomes moved when this happened. They had such a good time, looking at the slides, comparing the animal and plant cells and seeing a bacterial cell divide during binary fission. It was so much fun for me to watch them really begin to understand what it was I had been talking about in class for the last few days. It was as if I was able to see light bulbs lighting up above their heads. While the activity gave the kids a break from taking notes, I know that it also helped them to understand the content better. But more importantly activities such as this allow the students to see that science can be interesting and fun as well.
The equipment that you helped purchase have not only been used in my 4 classes, but by 3 other teachers in 5 other classes. That means that in a very short period of time, your donation has already helped to educate and entertain over 250 students. And the best part about your donation? That it will be used for years to come and in countless classrooms, helping many of the cities best but underserved students.
Again, I thank you for your most generous donation and hope that you will continue to support education, as well as my classroom, in the future.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Bellino
This classroom project was brought to life by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and 10 other donors.