Past projects 4
Cricut Press for Creative Kids
Funded Dec 15, 2023I'd like to take a moment to express my gratitude for your more than generous donation toward the "Cricut Press for Creative Kids" project! As mentioned, school swag is a popular and much appreciated incentive at our school, and our students take pride in wearing and having items that celebrate them.
Our school serves low-income students, and staff spend a good deal of their own money to make our school welcoming and inviting and to treat our students, so we depend on the generosity of donors.
I want you to know how much my students appreciate your generosity and how many smiles will result.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Steward
Our Many Colored Days: Help Us Put SEL on Display
Funded Aug 2, 2023I'd like to take a moment to express my gratitude for your more than generous donation. We will honor our first Student of the Month soon, and they will be gifted with items made from the Cricut. As mentioned, school swag is a popular and much appreciated incentive at our school, and our students take pride in wearing the items that they receive. We are also in the middle of the high school application period, so once students learn which school has accepted them, they will receive a personalized shirt to wear on our own decision day.
Our school serves low-income students, and staff spend a good deal of their own money to make our school welcoming and inviting and to treat our students, so we depend on the generosity of donors. I want you to know how much my students appreciate your generosity and how many smiles will result.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Steward
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 14 other donors.IPad as SEL Tool
Funded Nov 23, 2020Thank you for supporting SEL at O'Keeffe through your generous donations. Though our methods for educating may have changed, our commitment has not! Student mental health is a priority in our nation and schools--now more than ever--and I will continue to work to ensure that my students' needs are met.
As the transition to in-person learning continues, we are returning to a new normal, where social distancing still exists and where the welcoming and engaging counseling office that students are used to visiting to discuss mental health is not as accessible. This iPad will allow me to go from pod to pod, adhere to rules of social distancing, and let students view SEL videos and lessons, view their and academic record and high school applications, and use online calming tools and games. In short, the iPad will allow me to take the counseling office to my students.
I am extremely appreciative of your kindness and commitment to SEL in the schools. My students will benefit from your donations, and I will use this technology thoughtfully and with full appreciation.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Steward
This classroom project was brought to life by Allstate Foundation and 7 other donors.SEL Journals for Remote Learning
Funded May 28, 2020I'd like to start by saying thank you!
Social Emotional Learning is one of our "big rocks" this school year. In fact, our SEL motto is "relationship, resilience, and responsible decision-making," all of which are crucial as we extend this time of remote learning due to COVID. The idea behind gifting our grade 3-5 students with these journals is to encourage them to find a healthy way to identify, explore, and express their feelings. The journals are an excellent tool to do so, but they are so much more! Because of the rich content of the journals, they provide a way to easily integrate SEL lessons into language arts, as they promote growth mindset, teach character development, and allow students to express themselves with writing prompts.
The journals were originally going to be sent home to the students. We have since decided to gift them to the students upon their return next quarter to be used in assigned pods. Even though they have not physically touched them, students were shown the journals, told how they were acquired, and they are excited. What is wonderful about the students at O'Keeffe is that they are appreciative students who are eager to learn and motivated by encouragement. Also, hearing that the journals came from the donations of kind people invested in their education, mattered. Knowing they have a personal journal waiting just for them is a nice incentive, gives them something to look forward to, and gives us a great SEL tool upon return.
Currently, as a whole school we are working on monthly SEL themes that promote relationship, resilience, and responsible decision-making. We have an assigned SEL time each day where we focus on student mental health. Students engage in conversations and activities designed to help them develop and exhibit the character trait of the month. When we return to O'Keeffe, the donated journals will be a great compliment to the morning discussions.
Your help is greatly appreciated. Because of you, over 100 students will be impacted. Thanks again!!!!!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Steward
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 12 other donors.