Funded Sep 25, 2024My students have been greatly impacted as they have access to basic school supplies. Your initial and continued donations are greatly appreciated, they will ensure students at this crucial age will benefit the most. The items that I ordered included: binders, college ruled paper, sheet protectors, an emergency crank radio and pencil top erasers. This year I have 168 middle school students, the majority of my classes have more than 25 students with my largest class having 33 students at one point. I am one of two 8th grade history teachers that directly services the needs of the local community school. I am also a second-year teacher that is striving to provide students with critically and culturally relevant education that will provide them with tools to read the world around them and continue a legacy of educational equity in East LA.
Without your donations, students would have been negatively impacted due to issues with basic school supplies. The materials I ordered have been used by my students as soon as they got them and these are materials they will continue to use until the end of the academic school year. . Several of my students that expressed a materials need were shocked and excited to know that they would have a binder for history class. One of my students was so surprised to receive his binder, lined paper, sheet protectors and eraser with pencils that he texted his mom. When I met this student's mother during back-to-school night, she started our time with "Thank you so much teacher, I made sure to know your name because I wanted to make the time to thank you in person" as she wore her work uniform to eagerly shake my hand. Your donation has allowed me to provide students with materials, but also to alleviate potential financial hardship in the lives of some of my students. I value the time, energy, and thoughtfulness you have demonstrated as an educational philanthropist.
The FM radio is not considered an essential item by the LAUSD emergency guidelines and as such is not included in each classroom's emergency kits. This year my school site experienced four emergency lockdown drills, these were not drill practices. On one of those occasions my school received a gun-threat through social media postings, this event greatly impacted the mental health of my 13 to 14 year old students. These times remain uncertain and ensuring that my emergency kit includes essential surviving supplies has become a priority I did not anticipate.
In the Spring term, I anticipate engaging my students in a Civic Action Project that is influenced by a service learning based project model. I want my students to use the historical background they have learned in order to critically think about ways they can contribute to their community. I will attempt this project with all my students so that they can present their research and possible solutions in May as part of a Teach for Democracy Conference.
I sincerely thank you for your donations as their impacts will continue to help my students in more ways than academically.”
With gratitude,
Mx. Hernandez