Past projects 4
Classroom Essentials 2023/2024
Funded Aug 29, 2023In a heartwarming tale of kindness and generosity, our classroom has been transformed into a thriving educational haven, all thanks to the unwavering support of our amazing community. With the power of gratitude at the forefront, we have witnessed an incredible metamorphosis that has garnered attention far and wide.
Through the power of donations, we have gone from having limited resources to being equipped with the tools we need to inspire and educate our students. From new textbooks and technology to art supplies and learning materials, our classroom has been completely revitalized, sparking a newfound passion for learning and growth.
This uplifting journey has not only impacted the physical environment, but has also fostered a sense of connection and unity within our community. The outpouring of generosity has shown our students the importance of compassion and teamwork, highlighting the impact that a shared goal can have on building a brighter future.
Join us as we reflect on this incredible transformation, and dive deep into the power of gratitude and community support in unleashing the potential of our classroom. Together, we can inspire and uplift, one donation at a time.
In order to bring attention to our classroom and its needs, we knew we had to find a way to share our story with a wider audience. We turned to social media and community outreach as powerful tools to spread the word and generate support.
Through heartfelt posts and videos, we shared the challenges we faced and the potential impact that donations could have on our students' education. We also reached out to local businesses, organizations, and individuals, inviting them to join us in making a difference. The response was overwhelming, with our story being shared and retweeted by hundreds of people, ultimately reaching thousands.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Stepien
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 7 other donors.Classroom Supplies for 2023
Funded Jan 12, 2023We are now over half a school year into my experience at a new school. As I continue to settle into the new school, I needed a few materials to assist in having the school year continue smoothly. These materials created a major improvement in our classroom in cleanliness and organization.
Our fifth graders go through a lot of things whether it comes from their home life or from manufactured drama for their classmates. In these moments, it is important for my students to be able to come to my classroom and have less worries than they previously had. My students come to a comfortable, organized place where they only need to worry about themselves.
As the school year continues, the materials will continue to help organize our classroom. I want the students to have an active role in the creation of areas in the classroom, and these tools allow us to do so. I really appreciate all the support, and I really would not be here without you. I appreciate you, the kids appreciate you, and I know you are helping me improve the lives of these children. We are making a difference.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Stepien
Classroom Calm Down & Zen Corner
Funded Jul 10, 2022We are currently two months into my experience at a new school. Fortunately, my new school was very accommodating with the materials I brought to create my Zen corner. The students absolutely love the calming corner, and it is definitely a sought after spot during centers as well. It is the perfect area for kids to cool off.
During my SEL lessons, I use the calming corner as both an example and a learning center. Our fifth graders go through a lot of things whether it comes from their home life or from manufactured drama for their classmates. In these moments, it is important for my students to be able to get that alone time where they can cool off and allow themselves to return to their best selves. We believe more in cool downs than times outs in our classroom.
As the school year continues, the corner will grow with other materials both provided from the school and from the students. I want the students to have an active role in the creation of areas in the classroom, specifically the calming corner. While we gave the calming corner a great start, it will not be complete until the students add their flair and flavor to the corner. I really appreciate all the support, and I really would not be here without you. I appreciate you, the kids appreciate you, and I know you arfe helping me improve the lives of these children. We are making a difference.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Stepien
Field Day Attire
Funded May 20, 2022We cannot express our appreciation for the materials we received with just this letter, but we will try. The resources that were provided by this project helped us not just by creating shirts for field day but also for creating a bonding activity for our classroom. While none of the students were ironing or sewing, we were all hands on in creating each of the field day t-shirts. The students were able to select a patch, a headband color, location of items on their shirt, and which nickname they wanted on the back of the shirt. The students were so happy to be able to create something that they were going to wear on field day instead of just wearing a plain color. In addition, we had a few leftover t-shirts sent to us by the company that we shared with a first grade classroom, as they shared the same color as us.
When I first brought the materials into the classroom, the students erupted with cheers. They were informed about the project prior to receiving the supplies, but they were surprised with how detailed and varied the supplies were. With our project there were several moments of jubilation. As we worked through each step of the project the students were excited about the results. First, they loved the patch choice and placement process. Second, their excitement grew as they saw their names ironed on to the backs of the shirts. Finally, when they saw their completed shirts with the sewn fronts, ironed on names, and patches of their choice, they were excited to show them off and wear them. They were right to be excited, as the shirts became the talk of field day amongst the adults in the school. When field day ended, students were asking if they were able to keep the shirts and headbands. When they found out that it was theirs to keep forever, another loud cheer erupted in the classroom. I have never seen my class as happy as they were that day.
As our school year wraps up, and with field day behind us, our class is venturing into another project that we want to create together. As a class, we decided to attempt to create a zen corner for our class and my future classes. We decided to list things we believed were important for our zen corner and to look through Amazon together to find reasonable items for the corner. The students also agreed that the zen corner should be accessible for adults as well as children, as they notice that we are all stressed out throughout this grueling school year. With that said, our zen corner is still a huge work in progress, and we are looking for help in creating it. We appreciate everything you all have done for us for field day and for any future projects you may assist in. Thank you so much.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Stepien