"High school is when many of our teens are shaped for the rest of their lives, and for that reason they deserve to have these formative years chronicled to reflect on later. I teach yearbook to high school students in a racially diverse community with a high poverty rate. Many of these students do ...
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"High school is when many of our teens are shaped for the rest of their lives, and for that reason they deserve to have these formative years chronicled to reflect on later. I teach yearbook to high school students in a racially diverse community with a high poverty rate. Many of these students do not own computers or cameras, but they are expected to use them in school to create a yearbook for their class. Yearbook students are driven to share their school spirit with their classmates, and they want to impress staff and students alike.
Our students are starting the year with eight cameras, two of which actually work. This is problematic because each member of our staff is required to take photos and write copy. The students are motivated, but the supplies are not available for them to capture the moments that make up a student's life.
We need to replenish our camera supply. We would like to add a few cameras at a time until we have one camera for each student on staff. If we can get better pictures in the yearbook, the students will be more excited about submitting the yearbook for competition.
Our yearbook account is currently in the negative. If we have the right supplies, we can produce a better book, which will increase sales. Once sales increase, we can begin to use our own profits to keep our supplies replenished.
Your help will ensure that my students will use their skills in photography and writing to make a great yearbook. You will make it possible for students to use their imaginations when taking photos because they won't have to worry about the camera not working. Thank you so much for your support.
My students need 3 new digital cameras and rechargeable batteries.
The students in my yearbook class were so disheartened this year as camera after camera gave each one of them problems. Some students lost images of students that could not be recreated. Others planned and planned to get a great shot only to turn on the camera that they checked out and find that it was malfunctioning. Needless to say, this created a more stressful environment in the yearbook classroom. Thanks to the generous donations from each of you, those problems are no more. My students are excited to take photos, and they are very grateful for the new cameras your donations have provided. The quality of pictures is much higher now, too, so the students are taking great pride in their work. This has made the yearbook classroom a more exciting environment than before. Your generosity has helped the students see how important it is to give to others and they are now researching the best way to raise funds to help other students. You have made a difference in the lives of countless students. Thank you.
With gratitude, Ms. B.
Ms. B. sent this note after the project was fully funded:
My students and I are so grateful
for your generosity.As we all
know, Yearbook is all about the pictures, and many of our spreads have been
subpar because we have had to settle for what was available.We have been struggling since August
with camera issues, and just last week another camera quit working.This funding came at just the right
time to boost our spirits.
Yearbook is the type of class that
attracts passionate students, and my students are no exception.They have put in time before and after
school, as well as weekends to make sure that they are putting out the best
product possible up for publication.Now that you have helped fund our new cameras the students will surely
be even more excited about working on the yearbook.
As donors, you have also taught my
students a valuable lesson about giving.They were anxiously awaiting the "We're funded" email, and they now know
that small actions can make a big difference.I am encouraging my students to raise funds for another
Donors Choose project so that they may give back and help another class achieve
their goals.
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Maria S. (volunteer)
on Aug 28, 2009
