Mrs. Bernardo's Classroom Edit display name

Current requests

Past projects 5

• Even The Littlest Students Need to Feel Their Best!

  Funded Apr 19, 2024

  I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude for your generous donation of hair brushes, hair elastics, and hair care products for my students. These materials have made a significant impact on the student's daily experiences. Each item has been essential in providing self-care and grooming skills, which are essential for my student's confidence and personal development. The students know at any moment that they may feel they need to freshen up, their teachers can tend to their needs. As you can see in the photos we added the hair care items directly into our Pre-K bathrooms, enabling the children to see and be reminded that they can receive assistance whenever they need it.

  When the students first opened the package, their faces lit up with excitement and curiosity. They eagerly explored the brushes and elastics, sharing their thoughts and ideas on how we would use them. This moment was more than just a surprise; it was an affirmation of their individuality and a celebration of their uniqueness. The students commented on the diversity of the types of brushes and were excited that their teachers could help them with their individual hair needs. It's heartwarming to see how something as simple as hair care supplies can uplift their spirits and foster a sense of community and belonging among them. We had discussions about how sometimes we have to get out of the house quickly in the morning and we may not have time to have our hair done but they can always come into school and take time for a nice hairstyle if they want it.

  We cannot thank you enough for providing these self-care resources to all three of our Pre-K classrooms.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Bernardo

  This classroom project was brought to life by Power for Good Foundation and one other donor.

• Spring Is In The Air In Prek-4

  Funded May 8, 2024

  Thank you so much for your generosity! There were so many resources provided to us that it feels impossible to say thank you for everything. These resources gave my students an enhanced experience in their flower shop dramatic play center AND they were able to plant some real seeds in the classroom and take them home. We were able to add a spring touch to EVERY center in the classroom. The bendable flowers and garden connect set were added to the block center and they loved it! Many resources were added to our flower shop, such as floral foam and artificial flowers. The books were awesome additions to our library, which helped our recycling theme come to life. The recyle-themed toys and the zoo animal look finder, were also a big hit. This donation came at the perfect time to end our school year with an amazing theme and the students and I are so thankful for that. The pictures will really encompass all of the fun the students had with these materials. Also, like most things donated to a Pre-K classroom, all of our future students will benefit from these materials. Come April & May every year, students will have access to these resources and delve deep into the theme of spring, planting, and recycling. Thank you again!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Bernardo

  This classroom project was brought to life by General Motors and one other donor.

• Paint it!

  Funded Apr 2, 2024

  I cannot thank you enough for the generosity you have shown us in supporting this project. We used the resources to create a fully functional and independent paint station. The children were able to decide what to paint and have full access to all of the materials they would need. The students absolutely loved how there were many different avenues to choose from. They were able to paint on the easel with pre-filled paint cups, or they can use emptied soap containers that we filled with your paint to squirt the specific colors they wanted into a paint tray. The most useful resource that was provided were the gallon pump dispenser! This has made it so easy for us teachers to not waste paint products or spill! They were excited about the new smocks and the sponge set the most! During one of the art center moments, we overheard one student proclaim their excitement with the "More Than Peach: Multicultural Crayons"- she said, "Look it's the same as me!".

  These are not resources that will just last through one project. This is going to last us YEARS! It did not just help this year's group of students but it will also impact the next set of 20 students. Next year we will provide them with the same, if not more opportunities to learn and become independent in the paint station. Thank you again!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Bernardo

  This classroom project was brought to life by The Dalio Family and one other donor.

• Pretend Play in the Pre-K Classroom

  Funded Nov 29, 2022

  This donation has made the biggest impact in my classroom, more than I could have even imagined. For the last couple of months, the children have been able to use these items in the dramatic play center of the classroom. Each of the food items is an actual representation of the cultures in my current classroom and it has made them feel so special. I have overheard the following statements, "I eat this at home" (referring to the taco/fajita kit) and "My mom rolls these with her sister for dinner" (referring to the sushi kit). The different food items also sparked different types of conversations, as well. I overheard a conversation with two students talking about how their mom makes them breakfast in the morning (they were using the breakfast kit) and the other student discussed how it was her dad that made him breakfast in the morning. Having conversations like this help the children get to know each other, connect real-life situations to their work in the classroom, and understand how everyone has similarities and differences. They love using the tea and coffee set, as well, it has become a very popular item. They also now take their time and set full place settings at the tables, which was something they were unable to do before.

  They were ECSTATIC when I continued to open box after box. For each new item, they began yelling out ways they can add it to the dramatic play center to set up a restaurant, which was their idea once they saw what all of the items had in common.

  These items completely transformed my classroom's dramatic play center and they are so versatile that they can be used in my future set-ups, not just a restaurant theme. The children have also come up with an idea of creating a flower shop where they can also serve tea and coffee, a food truck theme, or a salad shop. My students are continuously being assessed and observed during their playtime and due to having these fun, meaningful complex toys added into the center, 100% of my students improved their skills in the following areas, symbolic representation, relationship with peers, receptive language, expressive language, cognitive flexibility, logic and reasoning, and social studies. It has made a tremendous difference and I can't thank you enough for your kindness and generosity.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Bernardo

  This classroom project was brought to life by an Anonymous Classroom Supporter and one other donor.

• Draw it! Create! Supplies For The Art Center

  Funded Nov 29, 2022

  The children have been loving the new art materials that we have now been able to add to the art center thanks to your donation! As you can see in the photos we have a free creative art center, with different materials out at all times. I will say that the children are loving the colorful tape dispenser the most! Every day the art center is one of the first centers that get chosen and they are handing me different collages or creations that make to hang up somewhere on the wall. Not only are the children appreciative of the new art materials but I have had 3 parents specifically mention how their child always comes home with different and fun projects.

  We sat around in a circle and opened up each of the boxes and talked about how we would add it to the center, how to care for it, and how to use it. They were excited with each and every new item. They loved that they could use the white paper roll to cut their own-sized paper for projects. They thought the glitter markers and twistable crayons were going to be "exciting" instead of using "the same old markers and crayons every day".

  The last couple of weeks we have actually been practicing how to be more independent with the art easel and painting. The paint cups that were donated are a huge contributor to helping the students become responsible for their own painting process.

  We thank you again and could not have created a more fun and expressive art center without your help.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Bernardo

  This classroom project was brought to life by an Anonymous Classroom Supporter and one other donor.