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Mr. Cruz's Classroom

  • Washington Elementary School
  • Lowell, MA
  • More than half of students from low‑income households Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more

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Support Mr. Cruz's classroom with a gift that fosters learning.

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Past projects 3

  • The Less Exciting Side of Teaching

    Funded Jan 24, 2022

    Thank you all so much for donating to this project! It's not the most glamorous of materials but it matters so much all the same. We really appreciate you helping us further the education of our little ones and your donation goes a long way in making that happen! We can't wait to get started as soon as we get the materials in!”

    With gratitude,

    Mr. Cruz

  • Who's the Cat in the Hat??

    Funded Jan 24, 2022

    Thank you all so much for donating to this project. To be completely honest, when I was putting this project together I thought it was too much money and too much of an ask. I thought maybe by the end of the year it would get filled and I'd have a new library to show next year's students but your generosity has blown my expectations out of the water. I can't thank you all enough for blessing our room with such an amazing gift. Your donation will not only be felt by this year's students but will continue to impact every student that walks into my room, year after year. Thank you all again!”

    With gratitude,

    Mr. Cruz

  • A Cool Place to Learn

    Funded Sep 22, 2021

    First off let me just say how thankful we are here at Room 206 for all your help in acquiring this air conditioner. Words can not express how much it's helped keep our kids cool and comfortable, so that learning can happen. The last days of summer and early autumn can be sweltering which becomes a distraction for both students and staff. Constantly feeling uncomfortable and hot can ruin even the most of events, but trying to learn sight words or counting to 100 while feeling this way is almost impossible. These uncomfortable feelings are compounded even more so in my room because my students are all on the autism spectrum. This leads to behaviors and outburst that could be easily avoided and now has been thanks to your help!

    As soon as we got our package, the students were curious to find out what it was. Rarely do we get such large packages in our room so it was clearly an exciting time for all of us. I had the kids help me unwrap the box which was an adventure on its own. Lots of scissors and ripping off cardboard was involved and all the kids had a blast pretending it was Christmas. Once the air conditioner was unwrapped, they were all a little confused. They expected some huge toy had come to our classroom for them to share, but instead they got a massive white box with a long tube. Some of the excitement had worn off but after I explained it was an air conditioner to keep us cool, the students immediately want to grab our pretend tool kits and hard hats to help Mr. Roy set it up. I allowed them to pick a good place for it to go, that would help everyone remain cool, and the students did an amazing job demonstrating empathy for each other while choosing a spot. Ultimately we chose a nice spot in the back of the room next to the window so the tube attachment could be connected. Before the cool of autumn settled in we ran the air conditioner every day. The students enjoyed standing in front of it when they were starting to feel overwhelmed by the heat of the day and have done an amazing job taking care of it. At the end of each day one student is responsible for cleaning it and making sure it is ready for use the next day. The air conditioner has helped more than just keep us cool, it has brought a sense of responsibility and ownership for something that the students didn't truly have before, which has been very encouraging to see. The students love to have their reading and choice time over by the air conditioner when it's available and have helped us complete a number of craft projects. Honestly, we can't put a price on how nice it is to be cool on such hot days. Even other students and staff around the school will pop into our room just to get a little break from the heat.

    Since returning from Christmas break, our classroom continues to thrive. The students are making progress each and every day and starting to transition into their next grade. Typically around this time all the students start to turn a corner and seem a little older than they did just a couple months ago. It's one of the best parts about being a teacher, watching them grow up right before your eyes is a privilege I appreciate every day. We're all definitely looking forward to spring so we can go enjoy the outdoors again, and we're hoping to add to our classroom library soon. We're even thinking through what it would look like for our room to grow butterflies this year! If we decide to go with this plan I'd love to keep you all updated with pictures! Thank you all again for your generosity, it means so much to our room and has helped our students grow and develop in more ways than you know. Thank you so much : )”

    With gratitude,

    Mr. Cruz

    This classroom project was brought to life by The Allstate Foundation and 6 other donors.
It's September, and it's hot and humid in New England. We have been in our class now for three weeks. Not only are we dealing with the heat and humidity but my students are also struggling with wearing their masks in this heat. Our classroom is on the second floor of a 100-year-old building with no air conditioning or ventilation system at all. It is very hot and very humid and difficult for my students to focus on their studies when they are so hot.. With a portable air conditioner, my students will be able to focus on their work and play rather than the lack of ventilation and cool air in the classroom. With your support, receiving a portable air conditioning unit for our classroom can make a positive difference in my student's ability to learn to their fullest potential!

About my class

It's September, and it's hot and humid in New England. We have been in our class now for three weeks. Not only are we dealing with the heat and humidity but my students are also struggling with wearing their masks in this heat. Our classroom is on the second floor of a 100-year-old building with no air conditioning or ventilation system at all. It is very hot and very humid and difficult for my students to focus on their studies when they are so hot.. With a portable air conditioner, my students will be able to focus on their work and play rather than the lack of ventilation and cool air in the classroom. With your support, receiving a portable air conditioning unit for our classroom can make a positive difference in my student's ability to learn to their fullest potential!

About my class

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