Past projects 23
Social Action T-Shirts!
Funded Nov 22, 2017As usual, you have come through for The Island School. Designing and pressing Social Action T-shirts has been an extremely valuable way for students to express their understanding and opinions about a variety of issue including what it means to be a man (caring and supportive!), defending immigrant rights, how horrible bottled water is, and the need to support Puerto Rico. Until you, supplies were limited. Because of you, all interested students are welcome to create to their heart's content.
Stay tuned, as we learn to upcycle jeans and old t-shirts into new clothing printed with Social Action messages.”
With gratitude,
Dr. Lahana
Woodturning: Bringing our Woodworkers to the Next Level
Funded Jan 23, 2017Once again, you have come through for The Island School students in the Tech Café. With your help, our Makerspace has indeed taken woodworking to the next level. Students have created a wide variety of powerful projects using the wood lathe that you funded, as well as the table saw, router, sanders, and artistic supplies you funded from our previous DonorsChoose project. For example, Diana created a house-shaped frame featuring portraits of the homeless, Lima and Jhan built a birdhouse to beautify the Lower Eastside, Latasha created a giant E-Cigarette with addiction warnings strewn across it, and Yanilsa designed a lamp to shine a light for those experiencing depression. In each case, students transformed from reluctant woodworkers to confident and enthusiastic crafters. Again, thank you for fostering this work and we look forward to each of you visiting us one day--- prepared to be amazed!”
With gratitude,
Dr. Lahana
Wood Working Tools and Materials for our Makerspace
Funded Sep 12, 2016The past three months have been really special in the Tech Café. Woodworking has opened up a brand-new set of tools and materials for students to create with. They have hammered, sanded, cut, and shaped wood into practical and novel shapes. They have created jewelry boxes, bookshelves, wooden cityscapes, and coat hangers. These items are destined for our Etsy shop to sell on behalf of Oxam and Watsi charities.
One thing distinctive about woodworking in the Tech Café has been its appeal to a different set of learners than other activities have. A downcast seventh-grader who recently arrived from Puerto Rico and spoke very little English was suddenly energized and confident as he dismantled a discarded desk and used the wood to make a shelf. Many of our students who have been lukewarm about making music, jewelry, robots, or games, have been surprisingly passionate about their woodwork. There were also students who were motivated in other areas, but were unexpectedly devoted to crafting with wood. For example, a group of four sixth-grade girls who had been mostly focused on creating hip hop songs, began pleadingly knocking at my door during lunch to work on their mason jar display.
Put together, your generous contributions have truly impacted the lives of students at The Island School. I again invite you to come visit and see your good deeds in action.”
With gratitude,
Dr. Lahana