"Help me support 9 amazing, inner-city students who voluntarily stay after school two days a week for 7 months for a robotics club. During that time they work as a team to solve complex problems, research complicated topics, and bring all of their work together to compete against more than 50 teams ...
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"Help me support 9 amazing, inner-city students who voluntarily stay after school two days a week for 7 months for a robotics club. During that time they work as a team to solve complex problems, research complicated topics, and bring all of their work together to compete against more than 50 teams (mostly middle school) in the region in a First Lego League robotics competition.
I teach 5th grade in the inner city. The public school is located in the middle of one of the poorest zip codes in our state.
My students are faced with difficult circumstances every day. At school we strive to provide a safe and encouraging place to help each and every student rise above the unimaginable influences so many of them face.
For this particular project, 9 students have already demonstrated the commitment and the effort. Parents and myself have contributed snacks for them as we can, but it will be difficult to sustain for the full, 7-month season.
The students demonstrate an inspiring tenacity to rise above their circumstances when they stay and hour and a half after school. During this time they work to build and program a robot as well as do additional research about a problem they notice in the community and solutions for that problem. In order to participate, they have to maintain their grades at an A-average and they cannot fall behind in homework or home responsibilities.
By the time we finish the regular school day it is 4 PM and they stay until 5:30. The snacks I have requested would motivate them and provide the necessary sustenance for their minds and bodies. It is more than snacks and drinks, though, as the gift from someone on the outside will definitely inspire them by showing them that someone beyond their parents and teachers believes in their work. Don't underestimate your influence.
The gift of snacks will help them stay focused and to complete the necessary research and computer programming that is required. But more than these things, it will demonstrate to them that others have high expectations for what they can and will accomplish. Thank you so much for you time, consideration, and support - it goes a long way.
See Mr. P.'s class participating in this project!
(Enlarge photos)
Jan 5, 2010
Dear Lesley, Susan, Victoria, Sarah, Nicole, Jael, Alexandra, Arrianna, charmaine, M. Giant and M. Edium, Tracy, Kate and Anonymous Donor,
I do not want to exaggerate the impact of this donation - fortunately, I think that may be hard to do. We started the year, meeting twice a week after school, with whatever snacks I could afford to bring. Sometimes we had no food. Then I heard about Donors Choose and we had healthy, good snacks sufficient for the remainder of the season. It has made our practices more fun and more productive. The students look forward to their snacks and that kicks each of our meetings off on a positive note. Thank you so much for that. Another effect of the donated snacks, one my students and I have had multiple conversations about, is that the students are beginning to view the work they are doing as something meaningful. Because you all donated to them, they feel the extra push to work hard and see beyond their immediate circumstances. Thank you so much for the voluntary support! Not only has it met a physical need, it has encouraged both me and my students to continue working hard. Thanks again.
With gratitude, Mr. P.
Mr. P. sent this note after the project was fully funded:
Oct 21, 2009
Dear Lesley, Susan, Victoria, Sarah, Nicole, Jael, Alexandra, Arrianna, charmaine, M. Giant and M. Edium, Tracy, Kate and Anonymous Donor,
Thank you!!!
The impact of this project being fully funded is two-fold and long reaching. First, because the project will provide healthy snacks for them every day when they are staying after school to work, it will provide for an immediate need. They will be working on full stomachs and will therefore be more productive and learn more. Second, it is letting them know that people from all over the country are literally helping them achieve their goals and that people are wanting them to be successful. I didn't fully realize this until I started telling them that people were donating money so that they could learn more. The neighborhood surrounding the school is littered with trash and graffiti and run-down houses. These things provide strong societal expectations for them - and expectations are powerful. I work hard to maintain high expectations in everything we do, but your donations have provided something I could not; the students feel that people "out there" expect success from them as well. Why else would you be compelled to donate?! This project will provide for the immediate need of food and drinks for some awesome students who have already demonstrated the commitment to hard work. It also will serve to encourage all of us, including the students, to keep working hard and to attain their goals. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
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Christine V. (volunteer)
on Sep 10, 2009
