This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
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.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mr. Pumphrey and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
