Past projects 27
LGBTQ+ Club Games and Snacks
Funded Sep 24, 2024Once again, thank you for helping me to fund this project for snacks and games for my GSA students. GSA is an important club where students can be themselves and connect with other queer students and allies. Having a snack after school is an important part of the ritual of entering the room and unwinding with friends before we get to work on whatever project we are doing.
It has been so much fun sharing the snacks with the students. They have been extremely excited to see the options. Since there are so many different kinds, I can change up what is offered each week and keep the kids guessing. It's also great to have a variety of snacks because of dietary restrictions and food allergies.
We haven't tried the games yet, but that's on my agenda for our next meeting, and I will be sure to post photos when we do.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pignataro
Organize Our Library!
Funded Aug 18, 2016Thank you so much for your contribution to our classroom. Having new bins for our classroom library allowed us to start the year with a great number of books on display for students. It also helped to replace bins that were cracked or broken.
More importantly, I was able to further categorize the books for easier book searching. We now have most genre bins also separated by level, and I was able to add more author bins for students to easily find books by their favorite authors. Most excitedly, I was able to add additional level/genre bins to ease the ones that were over-stuffed. Students now have six Z-level realistic fiction bins to search through!
I was also able to organize the nonfiction section by creating more categories of books. This makes it so much easier for students when they are searching.
Once again, thanks!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pignataro
Seeing the Future!
Funded Apr 15, 2016I wish you could have been at our school on Monday morning in order to see the delight on the face of each student who received a pair of glasses. I have worn glasses for over 25 years, and I can still remember the moment the world became clear. Seeing that moment on the faces of my students was a touching experience for me and them.
The day of the eye exams was great. The doctors and vision staff were so kind and took their time with each student. I was impressed with the quality of each exam and the care given to each child. We had a lot of fun choosing glasses, and couldn't wait for them to arrive.
When the optician arrived Monday morning, and the kids began trying on their glasses, their faces were priceless. They expressed how amazing it was to be able to see things in detail and how they would no longer have to always sit close to the board or move up to see it.
This is by far the most rewarding project I have had funded. Thank you so much. I cannot express how awesome this experience has been.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pignataro
This classroom project was brought to life by Warby Parker and one other donor.The Students Have Spoken
Funded Jan 21, 2016Thank you again for your generosity.
As a teacher, there's nothing better than seeing a student's face light up at the sight of a book, and that's exactly what happened when I gave The Twenty-One Balloons to the students who requested it. Not only did she begin reading it immediately, but she completed it quickly--which, honestly, was a great accomplishment for her.
Other students were also excited to see the books they requested. Hope Solo's memoir was read quickly and then checked out by another student, and the bin of books by Laurie Halse Anderson has seen a lot of action.
It is for reasons like this that I continue to teach and continue to post projects that allow donors like you to help make magic in my classroom.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pignataro
What Happens Next? Completing a Series.
Funded Dec 18, 2015Thank you all for your support, especially to those of you who have chosen to support our classroom time and time again. I will do my best to describe what happened the day the first box got here (they were shipped in two boxes):
One student asked, yet again, if the books were here yet. I quickly tracked the package and saw that they had JUST been delivered. I told him this. He asked if he could go get the box. I said yes. He ran down the hallway and returned two minutes later with the box. I'm still not sure how he made it down to the first floor and back up to the fourth floor so quickly.
It's only been a few days, but a number of the books are already checked out and being enjoyed by the students (including the above student who already finished the book he borrowed). Thanks for helping to complete our some of our series. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pignataro
This classroom project was brought to life by Disney and 5 other donors.Fall into Reading
Funded Jul 30, 2015The beginning of the school year was great, and it's partly because of you! Being able to introduce my classroom library while having brand new books to show the students was amazing. The children enjoyed browsing the new books, especially the super-engaging nonfiction books that were included in the project. Most of the books have already been checked out once, and many have been checked out multiple times.
By helping to give the students a variety of new, diverse books, you have helped to foster their love of reading, and I thank you for that.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pignataro
The Students Speak!
Funded Oct 21, 2014This project has truly been a success!
The students were psyched to see additional books to some of their favorite series, and it was even sweeter because they had recommended the books themselves.
In addition, I knew the students would appreciate the nonfiction, but I was thoroughly surprised at how many of them wanted to read one of the books immediately, especially the boys. It's always extra-rewarding to see boys get excited about books. A number of the books are already being read, and we thank you for making that possible.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pignataro
High-Interest Books for All Readers
Funded Oct 21, 2014Thank you so much for helping to fund this project.
The students were excited to hear about the books that were coming, and now that the books are here, some of them actually seem overwhelmed by the amazing selection. As I've said before, it's important to have books for readers of all levels, and the struggling readers were immediately drawn to the books; a number of them were checked out immediately and were in the hands of students before I even had a chance to enter them into the classroom library database!
None of this would be possible without your support. Again, I thank you.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pignataro
This classroom project was brought to life by Wells Fargo and 7 other donors.Breaking the Mold, Pushing the Limits, and Staying Strong
Funded Sep 30, 2014Once again, I thank you for supporting our classroom. Books may seem small, but the impact they have is tremendous.
When I told the students we were getting new books, they were thrilled. That excitement was increased exponentially once the books actually got here. The new books are beautiful; everyone wanted to touch them, pose with them, read their blurbs. They argued (kindheartedly) over who was reading which book first. It's hard to explain how it feels to see teenagers loving books; so often they are obsessed with their technology.
Seeing these books had on the students gives me hope for the future of books and the future of teen readers. Thank to you, that future is bright.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pignataro
Protect and Present
Funded Mar 29, 2014The students were thrilled to see the cases for the iPad Minis arrive, and they were even more excited when I told them we would be hooking the iPads up to the projector for their Keynote presentations on the 1920s. The cases arrived last week and the iPad to VGA cable arrived yesterday.
Having the cases for the iPad Minis allows me to breathe a sigh of relief when the iPad Minis are passed out to the students because I know they are protected. The cases easily snap on to the backs of the iPad Minis and are translucent. I've given every iPad Mini an identification number and placed it on the back. It is easily viewed through the case to facilitate handing out and collecting the iPad Minis.
Thank you for helping to keep our new investment protected!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pignataro
This classroom project was brought to life by 100 Women in Hedge Funds and 5 other donors.