Past projects 29
New Library and a Seat at the Table!
Funded Feb 19, 2025Your investment in our program has had an immediate impact. Our students run faster to our library center, they are demonstrating more joint attention, and they even smile more during dialogic reading sessions. And the books that you helped purchase for our library have been a huge hit. The students reach for them and happily investigate the books, reinforced by the beeps and boops of the sound buttons. And it would be remiss of me not to mention how much easier it has been on the staff to join in activities and centers with the use of the new chairs. All of this happened because of one critical factor; you.
You took it upon yourself to invest not just in our classroom program, but on the future of our students. And not just for today's students; students for school years to come. I hope you know what you mean to these kids, and what you mean to me. I am so grateful to you. You bridge the gaps in our program and help ensure that our students get everything they need to succeed. I am humbled by your generosity, and will always remember it.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Schulz
Starting the School Year!
Funded Aug 13, 2024You have had such an impact on our students. First, they are having FUN using the materials. You can see the bubbles in flight in our photographs, which the children love chasing, popping, and a few even try to count. And, the students get to share in the bubble play, which helps develop social and emotional development. And those batteries you funded help power our bubble machines, among other classroom toys and equipment. Then there's produce set; beside being great for the kids to play, it allows us to practice build matching skills, which is critical in early childhood development. And Mr. Potatohead; such a staple of early childhood, and a great tool to help not only develop awareness of body parts and fine motor skills, but it's something the students really want to use. And last but not least, I have to thank you for the knee pads. I am on my hands and knees with the students all the time, because we have to meet the kids where they are and not expect them to crane their heads and necks up to us adults. You're helping me work and play with them on the floor and ground, and helping me help them further engage in learning.
All of this would not have been possible without you and your investment. Your generosity makes all the difference in the world; not just to me, but to the students as well. Thank you so much for everything you have funded. You've made a big difference in our little world.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Schulz
Pre-K Upgrade!
Funded Feb 27, 2024The impact of your donation has been both immediate and fun for the students. It's a great combination!
We are all about embedding learning in play. The cause and effect toys are doing just that. They allow us all sorts of opportunities, from building vocabulary (i.e., talking about colors, counting, etc.) to developing fine motor skills. Plus, they are allowing the kids to have fun! That is so important. It helps the kids invest more in school and want to come back.
The timers have been put to immediate use as well. The sand timers are a wonderful way of allowing the students to see time. Time can be a difficult concept for young children, and being able to see the passing of time with sand helps make that concept become real. The digital timers are helping the staff with tracking time and spacing out breaks for the students. Plus, it helps us chart progress with their pre-academic goals.
This is all because of you. And to be clear, I'm referring to you, our anonymous donor. Thanks so much for investing in our kids and helping make our program even better. You have made the difference.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Schulz
Organized & Clean!
Funded Oct 3, 2023The supplies you've donated to the program have been having a big impact on how our program is running. The business supplies were put to immediate use, and are apparent in all parts of the class. We have been able to rebuild our PECS schedule, giving the students new cards for their visual schedules. Additionally, we now have a binder system in class that allows all staff access to data and information that helps them all be able to more directly impliment IEP goals because they can check the information easily, any time they need. The knee pads that I now use have made a big difference, as I am now able to get on the floor with the students much more easily and safely. Lastly, it's surprising how much difference a new broom makes, and we use it all the time.
All of the items and their uses are all because of you. You took the time to invest in our program, and the impact of that investment is seen daily. I really appreciate your participation in our program. To me, you are as much a part of the program as the classroom team.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Schulz
Sensory & Visuals!
Funded Aug 2, 2023As you can see from the photos I've posted, your investment in our program has already made a huge impact. Sometimes the impact is subtle, and sometimes it is direct and immediately clear. With this campaign, the results fall in both categories.
The borders you helped provide make a difference in creating a soothing, calming, and inviting feeling to the room. Creating an environment that welcomes the students is crucial to helping the students transition into a school environment, and the subtle difference it makes to the room becomes visible with the students' interest and participation in the room's activities.
The sensory equipment (and the batteries that power them) makes a big difference for the students. Many students are still learning how to self-regulate, and providing the toys that give the students the input and feedback they are seeking to help them achieve self-regulation affects their entire school experience on a daily basis. You can understand how important this is, and how your investment ensures that the students get this input as often as they need.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for supporting our classroom program.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Schulz
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 3 other donors.Table Time!
Funded May 9, 2023Your investment in our program is already paying dividends. And those dividends will be paying for years to come.
The new table from Lakeshore Learning is replacing a table that was only meant to be a stop-gap measure. Without a regular table coming in the foreseeable future, I new I had to take action to get the students what they needed; a table that was designed with them in mind, that would serve as a place for them to eat together while developing mealtime communication and social skills, as well as an area to play and learn together on small group projects.
You have made the table a reality. It would not have happened without you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Schulz
This classroom project was brought to life by PNC Grow Up Great® and 2 other donors.Boxes! Boxes! Boxes!
Funded Feb 11, 2023In a small classroom, space is everything. And keeping that space organized, useful, and visually pleasing is not always the easiest goal. So when we figured out a way to help use our limited space to help keep the room efficient and easy to use, we reached out to you, our donors, to help us with our design. As always, you invested in our program and helped us make our idea a reality.
The organizing containers have helped us treat our students' materials with the care they deserve. And they help us more easily access those materials when we need them, without having to hunt around the room. Now, everything is in one hub, easily labeled. But more than that, this project has helped us to better create a space for our students where they and their families will feel comfortable and confident. For that, we owe you great thanks.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Schulz
Preschool Athletics!
Funded Nov 23, 2022Our students are so happy with the new equipment they just received, and it is all because of you. The basketball hoops and basketballs, and the soccer goal have made a wonderful addition to our preschool yard, and is helping us as educators create an outdoor environment that is exciting, fun, and helps the students grow in the area of physical development, one of the six areas of development we focus on here in early childhood special education.
Your generosity continues to humble and amaze me, and the students are better for it. Because of what you've invested in our program, we are able to offer the students more ways to access their curriculum and to develop crucial skills that they will need for the rest of their lives. Plus, the kids love outdoor play! What better way to help the kids to develop and have fun at the same time.
Please make sure to check out the photos that I will post; you'll get to see how your investment has improved the yard and the lives of our students. Thank you so much!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Schulz
The Great Outdoors!
Funded Aug 27, 2022You've helped make one of my dreams come true.
For the longest time, I have wanted to improve the outdoor space of our preschool play yard a more inviting environment, as well as creating an environment in which we could provide opportunities to develop strength in social and emotional development, as well as gross and fine motor skills and language development. By investing in our outdoor centers, you've given the students those opportunities. They now have a space where they can reenact scenarios that they see in the outside world, as well as also having a chance to develop all those skills with their peers (and with the adults that support them).
I've included photos of the environment before, the building of the new environment, and the current, new environment that you created. I will always be grateful for the support, and please know that your contributions will help our students not just in this school year, but in the school years to come.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Schulz
Literacy & Bubbles!
Funded Apr 30, 2022This final project of the school year was a wonderful way for you all to support our program. The books and reading materials help to supplement the literacy component of our classroom, with books that not only are fun, but help to embed lessons that benefit the students as they continue to grow and learn. The sidewalk chalk is so important as well, as it replenishes a very popular art material that the students always enjoy using during outdoor centers. It's a great way for our students to express themselves! And finally, I cannot express enough how much the students play and learn with the bubbles. It's a favorite center for the students outside.
None of this would have happened without you. It's all in place for next year as well, and these materials will benefit a whole new group of students.
Thank you for all you do to support our students. Your investment in the children means everything.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Schulz
This classroom project was brought to life by PNC Grow Up Great® and 3 other donors.