Ms. Potoma's Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 10

• Screen Printing for Middle School Artists

  Funded Dec 8, 2023

  Thank you so much for this amazing donation. We have had many printmaking screens in a cabinet for years, with no materials to do anything with them. The drawing fluid, screen filler and squeegies, along with acrylic printing ink and fabric ink will finally make using these screens possible! More often than not screen printing is a very laborious process, requiring a dark room and chemicals that are not appropriate for middle school students. This process is simple and safe.

  When I told my students that we were going to be doing screen printing, they were so excited! I had one young man who was thrilled to be able to make t-shirts for his band. Others said right away, "Oh, I know what I want to make!" This is a very cool process, and my students had immediate engagement and wanted to get started right away.

  We will be using these materials to make prints on paper, fabric and mixed media. We have enough for this year and next year as well. Access to these materials is so special, and we are thrilled to have them!

  Thank you so much for this amazing donation!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Potoma

• We Need To Be Heard! Bustling Theatre Department Needs Microphones

  Funded May 10, 2023

  On behalf of the entire drama department, I wanted to express our deepest gratitude for your generous donation towards the purchase of new microphones. Your support has made a significant impact on our ability to enhance the quality of our performances and provide our students with a more immersive theatrical experience.

  Thanks to your contribution, we were able to acquire state-of-the-art microphones that will greatly improve the sound quality and clarity during our productions. The new microphones will not only elevate the overall production value but also allow our actors to fully express themselves without worrying about their voices being lost in the gym-auditorium.

  Your belief in the importance of the arts and your commitment to supporting our drama department is truly inspiring. Your donation has not only provided us with the necessary equipment but has also shown our students the value of community support and the impact it can have on their artistic endeavors. We are truly grateful for your commitment to fostering creativity and artistic growth within our community.

  We are immensely grateful for your contribution and look forward to sharing the magic of theater with many audiences to come.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Potoma

  This classroom project was brought to life by General Motors Corporation and 4 other donors.

• Watercolors So Students Can Paint At Home During COVID-19 Learning

  Funded Dec 1, 2020

  Thank you so much for helping me purchase watercolors for my art classroom during our hybrid learning. Students need materials at home and at school. Usually we would paint with tempera, acrylic and watercolors during the semester, but because of Covid learning we have had to adjust into exclusively watercolor. Your generous donation has made it possible for all of my students to have access to paint. Painting is easily one of their favorite things to do in art class. These watercolor sets made a challenging time easier, and gave my students their best shot to succeed in art class. We can't thank you enough!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Potoma

  This classroom project was brought to life by FamilyAlbum and 8 other donors.

• Markers and Colored Pencils for Covid Learning

  Funded Oct 22, 2020

  Thank you sooo much for your generous donations for my classroom. We are hybrid this year which means I see students two days a week in the classroom and two days a week remote. We are not allowed to share materials, so each student needs their own set of everything - in class AND at home! It's amazing how fast colored pencils and markers run out when we can't share. Your donation to help us have enough colored pencils and markers for everyone who needed them made all the difference! In a regular year it is challenging enough to have enough supplies for everyone. This year is especially challenging. With these extra materials, my students have created some amazing art, in class and at home! My students and I can't thank you enough!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Potoma

  This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Donor and 6 other donors.

• Artists Need New Paint Brushes

  Funded Apr 18, 2020

  Thank you so much for your generous donation of paint brushes for the art room. We create so many things during the year, not only for class, but for school dances, props and sets for plays and community service projects.

  Having beautiful paint brushes to work with makes all the difference for the students. These smaller paintbrushes are perfect for intricate detail work and for line work for bigger projects. We did a project based on the work of Keith Haring, and all of the students wanted the green handled brushes because they had a lot of control while using them.

  When I opened up the package, the students gasped. They couldn't believe that I had almost 200 brand new brushes for them to use!

  I'm so excited to create and paint in the art room this year. Especially with Covid where each student needs their own materials, I will have plenty of brushes to go around.

  Thank you!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Potoma

• Students Need Real Art Materials To Grow as Artists

  Funded Feb 13, 2020

  Thank you so much for helping to fund this project and provide 2B drawing pencils for my students to sketch with and feel like real artists. My students are artists. They work hard each and every day in art class, and are excited to sketch out their ideas, and create. Our pencils are getting smaller and smaller everyday from regular use and sharpening. When I showed them the box full of pencils they were so happy, and couldn't wait for me to refresh their pencil baskets at the tables.

  Good quality pencils will help them do their class work. 2B General pencils are great quality, sharpen very easily are excellent for drawing, shading, and don't break when we use them. They will last us a long time. Thank you so much for helping us out. My students and I will be forever thankful!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Potoma

  This classroom project was brought to life by Anonymous Arts Supporter and 4 other donors.

• We Need To Be Heard! Theatre Department Needs Microphones

  Funded Dec 4, 2019

  Thank you so much for donating towards the three overhead condenser microphones for our play. We rehearsed from October to January putting together this play, and it is always a shame when you cannot hear the students hard work in action.

  When the students realized that we had the overhead microphones they were very excited. We only have 7 lavalier mics for individual actors. The overheads made the ensemble loud and clear. For those without mics, their voices were picked up and amplified throughout the gym. There was one young lady who always made sure to take her place center stage, right under the mic, because she understood that it would make a big difference - and the Mayor of Munchkinland was heard every night.

  Thank you so much for supporting our drama program. We are only in year two of drama performances after a long hiatus, and we couldn't be more excited. In fact, before the curtain was even down on this performance, they were asking about next year!

  Thankfully, we'll have our overhead mics ready to go. Thank you!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Potoma

  This classroom project was brought to life by An anonymous classroom supporter and 9 other donors.

• We Need To Be Heard! Emerging Theatre Department Needs Microphones

  Funded Mar 19, 2018

  Thank you so much for your generous donation of microphones for our school play.

  We have been practicing with the microphones all week for our performance tomorrow, and we love them! The students can be heard loud and clear, and it really makes a huge difference. We are performing in the gym, which is a giant space to fill. To compete with the music for the play and still be heard by the audience is a challenge.

  The DJ club at my school (students) took an entire month to practice setting the mics up and learning how to use them with the board. They really enjoyed learning about a new technology. They have been leading the way, and showing their expertise. They have been an invaluable resource to the cast, keeping track of mic passing, batteries and sound levels.

  The day that the DJ club set up the microphones, they came to our rehearsal and asked if we wanted to see how they worked. My cast nearly ran down the hallway, they were so excited. They all wanted to put a mic on and sing right away.

  Our performances are this weekend, and the cast could not be more excited. They feel like professionals, and have really risen to the occasion, using the technology properly. In addition, their voices carry over the music and the entire gym. With these mics, my students will most definitely BE HEARD.

  Thank you thank you!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Potoma

• Drying Racks to Keep the Creativity Flowing in Art Class

  Funded Sep 7, 2016

  Thank you so much for helping provide drying racks for my art classroom. We have never felt so tidy! Now, instead of putting our papers on the window sill and counter to dry, we stay organized by filing our papers in the rack. Often, we would have many misplaced pieces of artwork, classes that get mixed up, papers that fall behind the counter. The drying racks have helped us keep track of everything.

  When I first showed the students the drying racks, they were so excited. One student said, "Cool, it will keep us organized, and it's red, too!" Another said, "This is so much easier." Another, "Does this mean I won't lose my artwork again?"

  We are heading into a painting project now inspired by Marc Chagall's "I and the Village". I can't wait to have clean up be smooth and organized.

  Thank you so much, what a huge difference this has made in the success of my classroom!”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Potoma

• A Lectern for Public Speaking

  Funded Nov 10, 2009

  I cannot begin to thank you for your generous gift to my drama classroom. It may seem like a small thing, but a lectern to speak at has made a big impact in the student's dedication to public speaking. We have used the lectern now for two projects, a city council meeting and an awards ceremony. The students stood taller, spoke clearer and connected with their audience. They took command of the room. The lectern is now an anchor in the room.

  Many of my students compared their participation in the public speaking dramas to the video that we watched of some of the greatest speakers of all time, John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. Your generous donation has helped us connect with those speakers, and let the students know that success is not far from their reach.

  We will continue to use the lectern in my current classes and for many years to come. For the students it is a symbol of creating a good argument and having the courage to express themselves in a world that does not always give them a voice.

  Thank you for your generous gift.”

  With gratitude,

  Ms. Potoma