Past projects 13
Mental Health Supplies for Academic Learning
Funded Sep 29, 2024Thank you so much for the thoughtful donations to this project.
We've had a few changes in our school and greater community that have made the supplies for mental health especially powerful. First, we changed our phone policy. Students no longer have access to their phones during the day. Imagine going from 24/7 access to a fully locked phone! The fidget tools and emotional supplies have been instrumental in supporting students through this transition. Some students have had devices since they were 2 years old, so some of the coping strategies that we used to see among students are not as strong. The results have been wonderful, but also challenging as students begin to navigate this different social situation.
Secondly, world events continue to put stress on our community. War, genocide, and elections are directly impacting our families. School has become an even more important center of community and safety for our students. Having supplies that directly support mental health is so important to opening the door to learning.
I see a shift in our class with the availability of snacks when a student is hungry or a fidget spinner when there is too much going on to focus. We appreciate all of your contributions!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Abby
This classroom project was brought to life by Google.org Teen Mental Health Initiative.Supplies for a Thinking Classroom
Funded Sep 26, 2023It's fall time at school. Students are starting to feel tired as the excitement of a new school year wears off. Many students are stressed with college applications, home responsibilities, and conflict in the world. So...focusing on math is not a trivial task!
This morning, however, we pulled out the white boards. Students dove in with their favorite colors, trying to solve a graph theory problem. They were debating how to create the shortest path between four cities (in other words, we are studying Hamiltonian circuits!). The white boards allowed students to make mistakes, minimize stress of the "right answer," and - frankly - have more fun. The size of the white boards is key here. They cover the whole table, so students are required to see what the others are thinking and to share their ideas. The colors allow for multiple representations and different ways of showing possible solutions.
Thank you for supporting our class with these supplies. It makes a big difference in the student engagement, and it helps students meet their learning goals. We appreciate it so much!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Abby
This classroom project was brought to life by Kleenex and 3 other donors.Mathematical Notebooks
Funded Nov 11, 2021Thank you so much for supporting our classroom! Providing notebooks is the first step to learning. By providing the kids with the supplies they need, they are able to complete the needed work.
Students filled their notebooks with new ideas and questions. They did real math thinking and they found success in their learning. Documenting learning in this way allows students to retain more information and make more meaning of the work.
Thank you again for supporting our community! And - apologies for the late thank you - I had to take leave from work and am now returning!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Abby
This classroom project was brought to life by Clorox and 8 other donors.Feeding Families During CoVid
Funded May 9, 2020Thank you so much for providing your support for our families in this incredibly challenging time. The food you purchased has been delivered to those who need it the most in our school community.
It is hard to put into words what a care package means to a family. Families have shared "Thank you for the lovely package." and "Thank you to JBS. This care package came when we needed it most!" One family called after the drop off, in tears, with gratitude.
Another student opened their door, happily speechless to see someone from their school delivering a care package. Classes end in just a few weeks. For some of our students, this care package helps to meet their needs as they meet their final graduation requirements. For others, the food gives them sustenance to keep going and the knowledge that they are not alone.
We must stand together as a community through this pandemic, and we are so grateful for your support.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Abby
Feeding Families in the Bronx During COVID
Funded May 12, 2020As I write this, the food you provided is being delivered to families in the Bronx. These families will go into the weekend knowing that they will have food on the table. With these food packages comes the message of "We see you, we care about you, and we will help you get through this as best as we can."
COVID-19 disproportionally impacts communities of color. Our students and their families are grieving, losing income, and serving as essential workers. It is times such as these that we must stand together as a community.
Thank you for sharing your resources and providing your support to our families. We deeply appreciate it.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Abby
Making Geometric Art - Restock!
Funded May 9, 2019The school year is underway, and we are so excited to have the opportunity to use the compasses, origami paper, and pens! When students entered the classroom, they could not believe the quality of supplies. Having real supplies encourages students to make high-quality work. Students exclaimed, "Wait, are these what real artists use?" when they saw the compasses. Thanks to your generosity, students feel like scholars, artists, and mathematicians.
This week, students learned how to make the basic circle with a compass and quickly moved on to exploring how to use circles to make various designs. Next, students will learn parallel and perpendicular lines, equilateral triangles, and squares. Lastly, students will create their own artwork to be uploaded into Adobe and lasercut. The project will culminate in a community gallery show to celebrate the students' hard work.
We are immensely grateful for your donation and support of our school community!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Abby
This classroom project was brought to life by LIFEWTR® and one other donor.Unlock the Box!
Funded Jan 1, 2019This month, as we look toward the end of the school year, students experience extra stress and anxiety. Deadlines are quickly approaching, and there are many assignments to complete before graduation. It becomes even more important to take time to build community together and to stay connected to our supports. The lock box puzzles provide the perfect opportunity for students to challenge themselves. As they get lost in the puzzle, they begin to laugh and their academic and social stress is relieved for a few moments.
When students first saw the supplies, they were confused. "Why do you have a box of locks?" they asked, curious. I reassured them that it would be a fun challenge. Indeed, the first challenge we experienced was a blast! At first, students hesitated. They looked at the box, unsure what to do. But curiosity won out. Before long, everyone was leaning in, trying to figure out - together - how to unlock the box. I watched from afar, letting students explore, puzzle, and get stuck. Through this puzzle, students had the opportunity to share an experience together which leads to stronger and better relationships.
We are currently working through puzzles that are already created, but I'm looking forward to challenging students to create their own puzzles for each other. My colleague is also planning a code class, and I'm eager to share these materials with her as she develops engaging opportunities for students to crack and create codes. Hands on challenges like these are difficult to come by, and I'm grateful for your support in our school community.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Abby
Making Geometric Art - Restock!
Funded Sep 18, 2018Tomorrow, students will have their gallery opening to show their Islamic art pieces to their families, teachers, and the greater community. Students are eager to share their Islamic art pieces as they are proud of the work they have done, and they feel like professional artists and mathematicians.
This project could not have been created without the support of your donation. With the compasses and the art paper, students were able to engage in creating artwork. Moreover, with high-quality supplies, students were motivated to spend more time on their final product.
Thank you so much for being a part of this project for my school community.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Abby
Headphones to Eliminate Headaches and Create HipHop
Funded Mar 29, 2017In today's classrooms, teachers consider carefully how to use technology as a tool to provide access to content and to differentiate the learning experience for all students. In particular, videos provide targeted support to identified areas of growth in skills and concepts. By using videos, teachers can individualize instruction for all students. As one can imagine, a classroom with many different videos playing can be a distracting learning environment. While some students have personal headphones, others do not. Your generous donation of headphones ensures that all students have a quiet space to learn and focus.
The headphones can also provide a tool for creating in the classroom. At The James Baldwin School, we embrace a wide definition of literacy and encourage our students to express their arguments in various formats. These headphones will be used to support the recording of responses in future projects.
Students were delighted when they saw the high quality headphones. Often, as a public school, we use the cheapest supplies possible. We are grateful to have the privilege to use these headphones to further our work. Thank you for your kind donation.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Abby
This classroom project was brought to life by Aspect Ventures and one other donor.Got Water?: Empowering Students Through Art
Funded Jun 30, 2016Thank you so much for your donation to our project! This week, we handed out the water bottles as part of a community event. Students faces lit up with joy as they each received their own aluminum water bottle. Within hours, we were seeing students drinking water in all of our classes. Throughout the hallways, we heard discussion of the artwork (designed by a student!), water safety and availability, and health.
We were able to give every student their own water bottle because of your generosity. While it may seem like a small gift, this type of contribution has a lasting impact. I have heard students fondly remember the gift of a pencil or a pizza party; their own water bottle is a big deal! Receiving this gift shows that our school - and you, the greater community - cares about the students. Thank you for your donation.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Abby
This classroom project was brought to life by an anonymous donor and 7 other donors.