Mr. Varas' Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 13

• Help Me Keep My Computer Lab Running!

  Funded Jan 21, 2025

  Thank you so much for your generous donation. It’s comforting to know that people support teachers. Many of our best teaching ideas are difficult to find and we already spend a lot of our own money on technology supplies and parts.

  Thank you so

  Much for allowing me to innovate.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Varas

• Help Us Showcase Our Students' Talents!

  Funded Sep 11, 2024

  Thank you so much for your generous donation. Our previous projector was very old and not designed for an auditorium. In schools you make due with what you have available. Students found it hard to see and the staff had trouble viewing important information during building wide meetings.

  This is now a thing of the past. The image is so crisp and clear that everyone can see it from any angle in the auditorium. This comes just in time for our holiday show. We will be able to show case our students creativity and talent with both audio and visual tools!!

  Thanks!!”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Varas

  This classroom project was brought to life by News12.

• Help Us Compete at the Lego Robotics League!

  Funded Dec 5, 2022

  Thank you so much for you donation. Teaching is a difficult job without having to figure out how to pay for it. It's because of people like you that teachers can innovate and teach using current technology. These are the moments that I'll remember when I consider how education managed to bridge the achievement gap.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Varas

  This classroom project was brought to life by Cognizant Foundation and 2 other donors.

• Spike Prime Robotics for the Next Generation of Computer Geniuses!

  Funded Sep 29, 2022

  Thank you so much for you generous donations. This will allow me to begin expanding our robotics program. Soon we'll be able to provide more of our students with the opportunity to learn computer programing and problem solving in a fun way.

  It means the world, truly, to both me and my students!!”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Varas

  This classroom project was brought to life by The Allstate Foundation and 2 other donors.

• Learn to Solder and You Can Fix or Create Anything!

  Funded Oct 19, 2017

  Thank you all so much for your generosity. Its great to know so many people support education.

  I’m excited to share pictures of my of what promises to be a scary but fun experience.

  Here’s to a few more electrical engineers who got inspired who discovered their talents early.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Varas

  This classroom project was brought to life by Con Edison and 9 other donors.

• Old School Library To STEM Makerspace

  Funded Feb 16, 2016

  Dear Donors,

  I often hear many people my describe the current generation as smart and way ahead of the curve because they can do with technology what we can't. That is some what true. Kids these days can use technology mainly because that's all they know. They can use it but don't understand it conceptually. That's what I do in school with technology. I explain the "Why?" Why do certain toys light up? How does the controller on their xbox work? What is programming and how does it play a major roll in all they see. That's what we do in technology class we seek out the "Why?"

  My students love robotics but just like most kids they get bored easily. New and different robots open their minds to different ways of programming. They start to realize the possibilities. They can't articulate it yet but I think what they find most exciting is that they get to learn something that they can also make their own.

  Some of my Special Ed kids really thrive in these environments. Most of them can stay focused and process for long periods of time but lack the confidence or social skills to participate in class. When it comes to technology they can and often do participate. So much so that many times they finish early and I have them help other kids. It's great to see a student who feels he has nothing to offer teach a young student how to program an ozobot with just a maker.

  I could talk for hours about the benefits and not come close to doing it justice. Thank you so much for giving my students hope. Hope that there exists success that doesn't involve a pro sport or a record deal.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Varas

  This classroom project was brought to life by News Corp and 5 other donors.

• Waterproof Robots and Paint = Coding Art!

  Funded Mar 9, 2016

  This is truly an exciting time for technology and teaching. In the past few years I have been able to incorporate real learning and excitement with the technology subjects I teach. Students are so excited to participate that they barely realize they are learning math concepts.

  Earlier this year I realized that technology can sometimes ignore the artistic students in class. Thankfully technology and art can live together in harmony.

  With these robots I will be able to teach my artistic students computer programming while giving them a way to express their artistic side.

  Thank you so much for your generosity. It truly makes my job that much more possible.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Varas

  This classroom project was brought to life by Infosys Foundation USA and one other donor.

• Lego Robots and Kids = Learning and Creativity!!

  Funded Jun 30, 2015

  Just wanted to express a heart felt thanks. It's been a grey year at school for technology. Its the first year that our school participated in the Lego Robotics Competition and the kids loved it. With these kits I can teach more students how to program robots while teaching them valuable math and critical thinking skills.

  It's amazing how much more focus kids have when you're teaching them something that is also fun. Your donation has made it possible.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Varas

  This classroom project was brought to life by Infosys Foundation USA and 4 other donors.

• Awakening the Inventors of Tomorrow With a 3D printer!

  Funded Oct 21, 2014

  Thanks for your donation. My students are very excited about being able to make just about anything. They look at the printer all the time and marvel at what it does. It's amazing to be in a position to awaken a student's curiosity. I have a quiet class every time I teach them how to use 3D imaging software. It's interesting watching them sit in front of the printer and wait sometimes for 30-40 minutes waiting for their object to print. The best part is I think teachers finally have an effective way to teach spacial reasoning. I have to say it has been tough to get a student to picture something in three dimensions until now.

  I owe this opportunity to all of you.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Varas

  This classroom project was brought to life by Wells Fargo and 9 other donors.

• A Few Thousand Less Plastic Water Bottles in the Ocean!

  Funded May 21, 2015

  I just wanted to thank you for your donation. Your generosity will allow me to teach my students a multitude of lessons. With this filament extruder I can teach them how 3D filament is made while saving my school money. Most importantly I can show them that technology can be self-sustaining. Instead of technology creating waste I can show how technology can help our environment. With this machine I'll be able to recycle plastic waste and turn it into anything they can create. Imagine a generation of children thinking of recycling as second nature. Your donation is making that possible.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Varas

  This classroom project was brought to life by Cognizant Technology Solutions and 7 other donors.