For the next four weeks, I will subject myself to public humiliation and private doubt by growing what will no-doubt be a ridiculous-looking Mustache. To justify this endeavor, I need your support. Please sponsor my 'stache by choosing a classroom project and making a donation of any amount. And wish me and my Mustache luck.
It gives me such great happiness to express my thanks for your generous contributions on behalf of the team. We've never once had a set of team sticks belonging solely to the team! Though we weren't able to revamp our entire "look" this season with much needed helmets and jerseys the new gloves were a welcome surprise to many of my athletes who've worn hole riddled gloves held together by tape for the past three years. The gloves I used as part of an incentive for athletes who showed the soft skills I value in practice like teamwork, grit, consistency, punctuality, and commitment.
My athletes have siblings to care for, jobs, homework, Ib/AP exams, and just plain city-teenager struggles. I work with them not only to excel at the sport but to ensure they see the metaphors in life's practices such as nothing worth doing is easy (i.e. running for 45 mins straight in 80 degree weather whilst wearing pads and a helmet or studying for the SAT's). I teach them to value time and effort spent no matter what the environment (classroom or field) and to develop five year and ten year plans (most of which do not include being a professional athlete).
With your help we may have only secured a set of teams gloves for our varsity along with some defense sticks but having new gear means being able to focus on growth. And helping to facilitate growth of any capacity is what coaching is for me. Sports much like any school community activities gives kids reason to see that school is valid. Sports can positively alter student trajectory mind, BODY, and soul. I have experienced this in my own terms and am so glad you've chosen to help me help others with the same experience.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Meekins
This classroom project was brought to life by DICK'S Sporting Goods Foundation - Sports Matter and 14 other donors.
Thank you so much for your generous donation towards my classroom library. As you may know, our school does not have a library like a traditional public school might have. Instead, it has been a project of the classroom teachers to get books into the hands of our students, and your donation helped to make my idea of creating a classroom of readers a reality.
I began a new independent reading project this year to encourage my students to read more. Although many students were interested at the beginning of the year, it wasn't until they could actually get these books in their hands that they really jumped into the idea of reading for pleasure. There is something so exciting about a brand new book! This final marking period, students chose books that related to a topic they were interested in, and used what they learned to write letters and news articles to share their new-found knowledge with their classmates and beyond.
The books, rugs, bean bag chairs, and bookshelf have all helped reading become a more integral part of the classroom. Every day, students look forward to arriving and having their turn in the bean bag chairs! Many students have become more productive, just having a more comfortable seating option. And, one thing I did not anticipate was how excited the students would be to contribute to the project as well - my bookshelf is now overflowing, as students are so excited to see the books in the room that they have started bringing in donations of books to add to the collection! You have been a part of creating a wonderful community of readers in my classes, and I can't thank you enough!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Bruck
This classroom project was brought to life by Ripple and 7 other donors.
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