Students First: CYP for Education, Building a Better Ocean Hill-Brownsville

Edit title

We cannot thank you enough for your generosity to my project. The students were super excited to begin using their pens today for the first time!

The first activity we used these colorful pens for was to browse student notebooks looking for commonly misspelled words. Students then added them to a personal word wall to use as a reference for future assignments. My students are more motivated to write their stories because of the wonderful supplies you help make possible.

Once again, thank you!! Without your help, this project would not have become a reality!”

With gratitude,

Ms. Ymaya

Your generous donation to purchase laminating sheets, a laminating machine and Velcro has encouraged student achievement for my students with profound and severe disabilities. Two of my students, one during the 2018-2019 school year has progressed to a LRE (least restrictive environment). Another student in the 2017-2018 school year has moved to a LRE and is being recommended to move again! These accomplishments could not have been done without you.

As you can see from the photographs the supplies have been put to great use in helping the students to attain their full potential. We use them daily and can be used month after month and year after year. Thank you again for your generosity! I wish you a very happy holiday season.”

With gratitude,

Teacher

Thank you so much for your generosity. My students are thrilled about receiving additional laptops. Technology is a vital part of education now so many projects require the use of computers. These laptops allow us to explore new ideas and topics. The students feel as though our classroom has no walls or limitations by accessing the information available through the Internet.

These laptops will be helpful for projects that involve researching information, data and images. Students will use them to create reports and presentations. Including these in our discussion and analysis of issues is critical in preparing for the 21st century workplace.

My students are very excited to have this resource in our classroom. It will be a great aid in completing assignments and it would not have been possible without your generosity.”

With gratitude,

Ms. Kleberg

When the drums were received it came at approximately the right time, because our students had just started an after school program with Marquis Studios, where they were learning how to play the Djembe drums. For six weeks on Fridays after school, the Marquis instructor came to our school. During the final week the students had a showcase where they performed for the school and members of the Marquis organization. In addition, my students and I are now practicing for an end of year performance. My principal announced that all the classes had to do some sort of activity of their choice. My class chose to celebrate the end of a successful school year, the way their ancestors celebrated a successful harvest. They will drum and dance.

The students were super excited when they saw the drums. They ran toward the boxes and began to tear them open. Without any direction they began to drum and make their own beats. They wanted to know how the drums could be incorporated into their classroom routines.

During the next school year my co-teacher and I are looking at ways we can incorporate drumming into our routine. Since I was assisting the drumming teacher in after school I have learned a little how to drum with the Djembe. We are thinking of allowing either every week or every other week, a thirty minute period for Djembe drumming. We will then have a small showcase for school staff and parents toward the end of the school year.

We are excited for the many ways will be incorporating Djembe drumming into our class routine. Once again, thanks to all involved!”

With gratitude,

Ms. Koroma-Bernard

Thank you for your generous donations. I originally started this project for my students to have iPads to record their feminism PSAs. However, by the time the project was funded, we were starting a new unit. This school year we have read books, articles, viewed clips and films surrounding social injustice issues. For their culminating project, my students are in the process of organizing a school wide March for Awareness Day. My students are currently using the iPads to create their posters in an app called Walk Woke. Access to this app allows students who prefer not to create a hand written poster to create a professional looking poster.”

With gratitude,

Ms. Tutt

There are no words that can truly express the impact this experience has had on our students. When we began this project it was nothing more than a dream sprinkled with a little hope. We hoped that there were people out there who knew and believed in the value of a strong foundational education that was full and rich with incredible experiences such as these. Thanks to you, now we know that these people really do exist.

We began our trip with a stop at a local restaurant for lunch. Many of our students had never been to this restaurant and they were simply amazed by its size. The students were able to choose from a small menu of items and even that experience helped them feel mature and one student even said "sophisticated!"

Once we were done with lunch we took a quick walk over to the theater. The students were in awe when they walked into the theater. They said it was unbelievable, it was spectacular and they loved it . . . and the show hadn't even started yet. When the show began, the students were on the edge of their seats from start to finish. They laughed, danced and sang along the whole way through.

For the teachers, this was a dream come true. As educators we want to provide our students with experiences that can change the way they see the world. We want to open their minds so that they can see and think beyond the classroom walls. Unfortunately, we are not always able to do that and our biggest obstacle is money. Donors Choose and your donations made the "impossible" possible!! Our students are already talking about possible careers in theater, other shows that they would like to see and even thinking about writing their own plays.

We would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your kindness and generosity. You have made the world of difference in the lives of our students. You helped create memories for them that will last a lifetime!”

With gratitude,

Mrs. Cornwall-Lewis

Thank you so much for your generosity and thoughtful gifts. Through your donations we have been able to utilize our new alternate seating to make long term and significant changes in how we are able to attend to activities while fulfilling our sensory needs. Prior to these gifts, sitting in traditional chairs was a challenge that requires constant redirection, constant prompts and interruptions to remind students to sit appropriately. Now, we are able to sit in different manners while attending and learning.

The wiggle chairs have allowed my students to fidget in a safe manner while sitting at their desks. This has stopped the dangerous habit of tipping their chairs back and has allowed them to sit in a manner that is conducive to learning while gently rocking and moving to help give them the sensory stiumation that they need.

The bouncing balls has provided needed sensory input for my students to both bounce out that energy and to help them alleviate tension and frustration. They were so excited and shocked when they saw these new "toy" chairs. They think that it is so exciting that they get to sit on balls while they learn. What a difference this has made towards their motivation to learn!

Through your gifts my students are being given the tools that they need and deserve to learn. This will have an impact on them forever. Thank you again!”

With gratitude,

Ms. Nelson-Ip