Past projects 62
Permanent Piano Perches
Funded Sep 14, 2018The last few weeks of class have been SO EASY! Students are coming into the room, grabbing their piano, and setting up with ease! While the students are still be careful and safe with the instruments, the fear of them being stacked correctly to avoid damage is gone, and the speed at which we are setting up and breaking down has increased, thus increasing practice/teaching time.
Nearly every inch of wall is currently covered with instruments. The atmosphere it creates just walking in is one filled with excitement and expectation. The freshman are only 2 weeks away from starting pianos and there was a noticeable change in the atmosphere when one student pointed out that "all those things on the wall, are pianos."
As a teacher, I love seeing my students get excited for music. Knowing that these instruments are stored correctly and safely, let's me relax in the knowledge that they will last for years, allowing more and more students each year to be exposed to the joy of piano, which was my first instrument.
While the students may not be able to attribute their excitement to the new wall racks, I am able to see the connection and am so grateful to you for allowing this to happen. Thank you for your support in our program, we appreciate you so much!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Allocco
Summer Storage for Cooking Club
Funded Jun 26, 2018We are so excited to launch the second year of our cooking program! Thanks to your continued support, we have enough materials to double the size and use both sides of the kitchen. The racks and organizational tools provided will allow for easy access to spices, and materials like tinfoil and parchment paper. (It will also help me see at a glance when we are out of tinfoil and parchment paper, so we don't get stuck one week without it!) The large containers will store dry goods like salt, flour, and sugar, which I will label largely, lest we have a student use salt instead of sugar. (Happened twice last year...)
The item that I am most excited about is the cutting board rack. One, because it makes the cutting boards easier to access. They are very heavy and last year needed to be stacked for storage on a high self, and getting them was often a frustrating challenge. And two, because they wouldn't dry right while stacked, and needed to be rinsed off each week.
Which brings me to the item the students are most excited about- the silverware container. IT HAS A LID!! Every week one student would grab all the silverware, re-wash it, dry it, and then we would use it, followed by washing it, and drying it, before storing it in an open container.
Growing programs are one of my favorite things as an educator, and people like you make that possible. Thank you, again and again!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Allocco
From Brooklyn to Broadway!
Funded Mar 14, 2018What an exciting day we had last week while attending SpongeBob SquarePants the Musical! It was an extra bonus for all of the students who had just finished their AP exam and were tired and stressed to be able to leave the building and party on Broadway!
From the moment we walked in and the black lights were lighting the set to the moment we walked out the door, the kids would not stop chattering about the different things they saw. There was instant love for the actress that plays Pearl from at least half the students present. It was so exciting when she came out for the talk back and the kids got to speak with her, and even more special, take a picture with her! Even I couldn't help but to sing along to "Best Day Ever" when it started towards the end.
You have gone above and beyond to give our students a well rounded experience in high school, and I cannot thank you enough. It is so rewarding to know that music and the arts are still valued, and even more rewarding to get my students emerged into it in such a fun way.
Thank you again for every bit of last Wednesday, it was a day none of us in attendance will soon forget.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Allocco
Mallets, Guitar Strings, and Ukes! Oh My!
Funded Mar 7, 2018Thank you so much for your donation to our growing program! Many music teachers find it difficult to get those "little" things like guitar strings and mallets, but because of your generous donation that is not a problem for us! Over the last few weeks students have been working on a few different projects, including writing parodies, raps, and jingles. The ukuleles are being used continually, and our drum set it finally up and running! The soft headed mallets that were donated have been such a blessing in helping keep the volume of the drums downs (my ears especially thank you!) I am also able to allow more students to play the floor tom without fear of them breaking the drum head.
Giving students a choice of instruments, especially instruments like the electric guitar which they have seen in my room since day one but unable to play, has been such a joy to watch. Thank you for continuing to provide opportunities and options to my students as they explore and learn in my classroom!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Allocco
Teaching Cooking and Sustainability
Funded Dec 6, 2017Once again, thank you so much for your generous donation to our growing school! As the students begin their second semester "Battle Chef" curriculum, the food we are making has transitioned from finger food, to full meals that need to be served on dishware and eaten with silverware. This would NOT work without either of these things!
In addition to providing us with a way to eat, you have also given us items to ensure the program itself is sustainable. While grants for this area are fairly easy to find, they often only provide the big items, and storage and protection are not included. The knife bags and the silverware tray will make protecting and keeping track of these items much easier, especially when more than one group is working at a time.
Finally, the part of this project closest to my heart is the compost bags. Composting is something I have been teaching for years, and find that once students understand it's purpose, they become very excited about it. At our first spring class we had a student get upset that we were practicing on potatoes, but then "throwing them out" and wasting the food. Another student who had been with me all year jumped right in to explain, "This green bag is compost, not garbage, they use it to make healthy dirt and put it on other plants as they grow, so it's still feeding something." While her answer was simplified, her passion and sincerity were not. Our school as a whole does not compost, but brown bins are present on our block, so these bags make it simple for me to bring out when I leave for the day, and deposit next store, without needing to bring the "compost bowl" back to the 8th floor to wash.
Thank you again for your support of our programs!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Allocco
Garbage Bags Make Poor Piano Covers
Funded Oct 20, 2017So many times as teachers, the focus is put on getting materials and resources. "If I have more (insert item) I can reach more students," but I think there is often a disconnect in proper storage and maintenance of materials. As excited as students get for new materials, be it pianos or computers, so often the ability to keep these items new and safe is overlooked in schools. Often times grants barely cover the materials themselves, but as a teacher the goal can't just be on these students, this year. The goal has to be bigger than that. The goal has to be a culture of respect and care. We have to provide students with a way to do the right thing, handle these items properly, and have an expectation that this is what we do.
Your donation came just in time for the beginning of our piano unit. Each piano was able to be covered when students entered the room. Each piano is now stored on the side of the room covered.
In addition to providing piano covers, I would like you to know that you provided several other important things as well. One of which, was "Shakira Hair" as class after class students decided to use the piano cover to give themselves long, luxurious hair. Not only was it absolutely beautiful, it was proclaimed to be the silkiest hair ever. And when it was not on student's heads, they would often just run their hands over it as if it were a dog and wish for bed sheets made of that material. One of my favorite moments with them however, was when we did a class lesson on how to fold a fitted sheet. No joke, I had 20 students following step by step directions on how to use this "mini version" of a fitted sheet, learn the steps to achieving what many have believed impossible.
Life skills, protection for instruments, culture, and Shakira hair. What more could you ask for in a donation! Thank you again for making these moments possible.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Allocco
This classroom project was brought to life by Yamaha Corporation of America and one other donor.C is for Cookie (Sheet)
Funded Nov 9, 2017Because of you our culinary repertoire is growing! So far students have created red velvet cupcakes, Oreo stuffed brownies, bruschetta, taco bites, pigs in blankets, and pizza wheels. And that is only after 2 cooking sessions with these materials! Our students will be holding a cookie competition and a gingerbread house building session, all of which these cookie sheets and muffin tins have made possible.
The idea that food brings people together is such a true sentiment. The class has been focusing on 'holiday shares' and items that can be shared among family and friends during the holidays. The generosity you have shown these kids is life changing, and I hope to be able to encourage that same heart of giving in them, even if it starts with just sharing their cooking.
There is a different sort of pride that comes with cooking successfully than with completing a math problem. Perhaps it is because there is a different perception of expectations in the kitchen than within the classroom. The same students I have watched grow and learn in my classroom have a different sort of energy and confidence in the kitchen that is such a joy to watch.
People like you make that possible. So again, thank you for your heart, your kindness, and your generosity.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Allocco
Smokin' Hot Hot Plates!
Funded Nov 3, 2017Thank you so much for your donation to our cooking class in honor of baby Finn! Up until now our class has only been able to create dishes that are baked, or had one pair of students using the single hot plate to prepare an ingredient for the entire class. Your donation of hot plates has allowed us to break up into as many as four groups, giving more students a hands on experience, and allowing students to be more active in the cooking process.
When students found out the project had been funded the responses of excitement included everything from, "YES WE CAN MAKE REAL MAC AND CHEESE!" to complete wonderment that someone would value cooking enough to choose it as where they wanted their donation to go.
Many of my students come from single family homes, and are accustomed to take out and delivery. Teaching basic dishes and kitchen skills not only creates independence but provides an opportunity for students to take ownership of their health. The abundance of cleaning rags now also ensures that every student is participating in clean up, which increases the speed, and creates accountability. You use it, you wash it.
One of my favorite moments however was when we took out the hot plates, one student plugged it in and stared at it for a minute before declaring, "It has no buttons to turn it on."
Thank you for your donation to our class, and for providing these students an opportunity to expand their skills in the kitchen.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Allocco
Garbage Bags Make Poor Piano Covers
Funded Sep 28, 2017I can't tell you how much it brightens my day to be hear stories of music experiences that continue throughout the years. Some of my fondest memories from growing up are singing with my mom and brother in the car and singing along to the scrolls in our player piano around Christmas. It is wonderful that you were able to provide similar experiences of family and music with your children. I believe that music is one of the easiest ways to connect with people and has the ability to span generation gaps. Like you and your children, I still sing with my mother today every chance we get.
I came in early today to unpack the shipment of piano covers and as my first class poured in one girl said, "What happened? Why does the room look so much bigger?" and another girl a minute or two later spotted the change immediately and yelled, "They look so pretty!". I don't believe that there actually is any more room than their was before, but the space looks so much more organized, and black is apparently slimming on all things, not just people.
My school is just entering it's 13th year, and between start up grants and the previous music teacher (who recently retired) the school has a wonderful assortment of materials and opportunities for the students. I am not at a loss for instruments. However, I have spent time in other schools and know that over time normal wear and tear, along with the occasional accident, can quickly diminish the functionality of instruments. I am choosing to dedicate my first few months here to creating systems and protocols that will strengthen the program as well as increase the life span. I appreciate any help you are able to give to our school and feel blessed that you have offered support.
Thank you again!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Allocco
This classroom project was brought to life by Yamaha Corporation of America and one other donor.Guitar Bags Instead of Book Bags!
Funded Oct 12, 2017Yesterday, as the first few students finished their journal entries, they argued over who would be able to unpack and set up the guitar cases! (Which in all fairness, there is no real set up besides unfolding them, but it was still really cute). I was once again asked, "When can we take the guitars home?" and I was able to say "TODAY!" which was met with total excitement and a race to sign them out.
Although it seems like such a simple item, with the obvious result of 'playing the guitar at home', the big picture is so much more.
-Students are learning time management: What time do they need to leave to get to school with enough time to return the instrument before first period begins?
-Students are learning to care for a fragile item: Not to mention a bulky item. Acoustic guitars aren't tiny, and spacial awareness is pretty important with one on your back. While guitars are definitely not as fragile as I imply at the start of term, they are still temperamental.
-Students gain independence: Taking a guitar out for the night doesn't include bringing me home to place their fingers on the right frets for them. Students are now looking up their own music, finding new chord patterns, and applying the skills they learned in class at home.
I grew up playing the flute, and started performing (outside of school) at 14. It was THOSE experiences, the ones that were all me, without a teacher, that taught me the most, and grew my passion for making music the fastest. You've just given my students a chance to experience that. A few of them have already hinted that they will be playing in the subways. I hope you happen to walk by as they sing your "Thank You Jingle".
(PS. They made me record it to send to you, but I can't upload videos on the website, I'm sorry!)”
With gratitude,
Ms. Allocco
This classroom project was brought to life by Yamaha Corporation of America and one other donor.