Dr. Fuzzenstein's (Nick Giardina) Donation Page

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I know that this thank you has been a long time coming, but since awarding these supplies, my position as a classroom teacher changed. I know work with the school system as a resource teacher helping other teachers develop great projects.

After I left the position, I handed over the materials to a new teacher who did not make use of them right away. As is often the case, there are curriculum changes and mandates handed down from above and this caused the original project to change. Please take comfort in knowing that your donations and supplies did not go to waste.

The teacher ended up using the hot glue guns, hot glue and Styrofoam trays to create an alternative energy project. In this new project the students were tasked with designing towns/villages that could be powered with a source of alternative energy (wind, solar or hydro) of their choosing.

As you can see the project was a success. This project actually took place at the end of the last school year. Students, parents and teachers were impressed at what was accomplished. The projects were displayed for a long time in the media center and the students still talk about the fun they had with doing the project. If the impact ended there, it would already be a success, however, your contribution goes further. This project ended up inspiring other teachers in other content to do bigger and bolder class projects. They saw that it was possible and they saw the learning that the students got out of it.

Again, I'm sorry that it took so long to share this success with you and again, thank you for your generous support of our teachers, school and most of all students.”

With gratitude,

Mr. DeSilva

Thank you so much for your generous donations towards math games for my classroom! We have been using these games in stations and the students are enjoying the engaging learning experiences! I have also been using the games as an intervention to practice previously learned math skills in my morning math club! The cards can be used to play many different games that the students enjoy playing! I have seen a lot of growth in my students' math skills since we started using the games in the classroom. Thank you again for you donations towards these fantastic learning materials.”

With gratitude,

Mrs. Varnell

As soon as my students saw me take the first recorder out of the box, they began to cheer. New recorders mean that we can get rid of some of the oldest ones; I can happily say that all of the recorders that were riddled with bite marks are no longer in the music room.

The recorders have been effective tools for teaching melody and composition to students in grades 3-5. My older students are incorporating the recorders into almost every class. Some days, we do group practicing. Other times, we work in small groups to perform harmony. Next month, we will begin to compose recorder pieces that will be performed at the end of the year.

One of my favorite things about the recorder is the connection between beginning recorder playing and band participation. It is my hope that starting recorder in third grade will boost my students' interest in performing in either band or chorus in the future. I am the first music teacher that most of my students have. While general music is extremely important, I also feel that my kids should leave elementary school with an excitement not only for learning, but also for performing.

Thank you so much for your donations that helped make this project possible. We couldn't have done it without you!”

With gratitude,

Mrs. Lichtenberger

Thank you for your support of my project several months ago! I, and my students, were excited to open up countless boxes of school supplies, and a couple boxes of snacks, that your donations provided. Students always ask about the "cheez-its", but I think they are even more excited about the pencils, erasers, and other school supplies they can purchase with their Commodore Cash they earn from positive academic and behavior habits.

My students earn points through the "Class Dojo" iPad application by completing homework, arriving on time, and demonstrating our school's "Five Promises" of Commitment to Quality, Perseverance, No Excuses, Contribution, and Honor & Integrity during classes. After several weeks of accruing the points, they receive a check for their earned points and can purchase items at the school store. The school supplies and treats were in abundant supply and have been purchased, used (and eaten...) by very happy 7th graders.

Students are really motivated by positive feedback, and utilizing this system of recognizing positive habits and behaviors serves to boost leadership of students. Recognizing students for doing the right thing immediately further helps their peers to "do the right thing". Thank you once again for providing resources that will continue to help our middle school students' investment!”

With gratitude,

Mr. O'Brien

Thank you so much for your generous support in providing the Let's Find Out magazines and resources for my Kindergarten students! They are so excited to learn about the topics presented in the magazines and to watch the short videos presented on the Let's Find Out website. They also enjoy playing the literacy games that can be found on the website as well. After I show the magazine and video to the students in a whole group, they then are able to take their own magazine to the table, browse it, and find words that they know in it. What they are especially excited about, however, is to be able to take the magazines home with them and share them with their families. I had one student ask, "Can I show my baby brother this?" Providing this resource not only positively impacts my Kindergarten students, but their families as well.

The Let's Find Out magazines tie in with our Kindergarten curriculum which boosts the students' engagement and learning of the Kindergarten topics that they are learning about. Students are also able to learn more about the holidays and special occasions that occur during the school year. I have found that the short videos that are shown that go along with the magazines give students a much better understanding of what the holidays are about than even the non-fiction books in the school library do, since many of those books are written for older students. The videos that are shown with each Let's Find Out magazine are student friendly and engaging clips that the students can learn from. Many of my students are English Language Learners and are so excited when they are able to also hear the same short videos in Spanish as well.

Thank you again for all of your support. These resources are further encouraging my students to be excited about learning literacy and other Kindergarten curriculum concepts and experiences, and to share that excitement and learning with their families.”

With gratitude,

Ms. Peggins