Past projects 4
Mindful Practice
Funded Aug 17, 2023How can we begin to thank you for what you have provided for us at Hall-Dale High School during first period each White Day morning? I continue to be overwhelmed by what you have enabled us to do. I think the words of my students are important to share with you:
"It brings me zen and comfort to do yoga with the mats and blocks and blankets first thing in the morning. I like to start my day off feeling relaxed and be able to just breath and feel calm before starting stressful classes later that day."
"The blocks and mats have helped me every morning with starting my day calm and stretched. They mean a lot to me because they help me out so much in the morning."
"The colorful mats make yoga fun. The blocks help me be able to do yoga stretches that I was not able to do before and the blankets make everything more comfortable at the end of class. Thank you so much for helping make Mindful Yoga class great!"
"This class means so much to me, the props are super comfortable, I can feel myself able to fall asleep on the mats because they are so comfortable. Thank you for helping us be able to experience peace and love all in one class."”
With gratitude,
Dr. Freed
This classroom project was brought to life by The SONIC Foundation and 18 other donors.Building A Library of Acceptance & Respect
Funded Apr 1, 2023Your donations made it possible for my High School Civil Rights Team students to read books that covered the 6 categories that fall under the Civil Rights Laws in Maine. Each week for 6 weeks they went down to the 5th grade classrooms and read to them.
They covered the 6 Civil Rights categories including race, national origin and ethnicity, religion, disabilities, sexual orientation and gender identity. Some of the photos that are included show that both the readers and listeners were very engaged during the read alouds and subsequent activities.
The higher level books on the shelves of the "Library of Acceptance and Respect" were borrowed by many of the high school students who were really glad that the books were available to them. I will continue to add to the library so these books are accessible to my students.
Thank you again for your support of both me and my students.”
With gratitude,
Dr. Freed
Remote Access For All Students!
Funded Oct 6, 2020Each time I think of how you have eased the stress of running my "COVID Hybrid Teaching & Learning Circus", it warms my heart and fills me with the utmost gratitude. I was so overwhelmed by the show of support, especially because so much of the support came from former students - those I taught in my very first years of teaching 30 years ago!
In my district's hybrid situation, I have a cohort of students in person, while the other cohort joins us remotely via Google Meet. Before I received the gift of an iPad, I could not "see" my remote students because they were hidden behind whatever slideshow, video clips or other presentations I had up on my SmartBoard. I often missed remote students' questions and comments because I had to mute them in order to show a video clip and unless an "in-person" student had joined the Google Meet and was willing to oversee the "chat stream", remote students' comments and questions were not seen. The hot spot has been helpful for students without internet access and the headphones block out the background noise for my remote students.
Thank you so much for your deep generosity.”
With gratitude,
Dr. Freed
We Stand on Giants: History of the American Revolution
Funded Mar 8, 2018My students are still talking about the trip and how wonderful it was! Many of them have never left the State of Maine so this experience was life-changing. The opportunity to learn about our nation from the 18th-century costumed Freedom Trail Foundation Players brought the rich history of our nation alive. One student remarked: "The tour guide had a great personality and really brought the information to life with his sense of humor and interactive style."
The Freedom Trail Players were able to use humor to engage students while also sharing significant information about the American Revolution. The 2.5 mile tour included visits to Boston Common, Massachusetts State House, Granary Burying Ground, King's Chapel Burying Ground, Benjamin Franklin Statue & Boston Latin School, Old South Meeting House, Old State House, Site of Boston Massacre and Faneuil Hall.
A high point of the experience was learning about the Boston Massacre. A student mentioned, "We learned who started it, where it happened and the people who died." Another student said that "the best part was hearing the story and standing where it happened." The opportunity to share the rich history in Boston was a wonderful way for students to see where it all happened and bring to life what they had learned about the American Revolution in school prior to this field trip. In the words of one more student, "This experience was like a real life history lesson. We all had a great time in Boston and would love to do it all again!"
As they continue to talk about the Freedom Trail Tour since returning to school, I know that this was an experience that would not have been possible without your generosity. You have given my students a gift that will stay with them. Understanding the past on which our society has been built by learning about our country's rich history that had its roots in Boston is invaluable.”
With gratitude,
Dr. Freed
This classroom project was brought to life by The First Million Fund and 11 other donors.