Every fall, school starts for students who are living at the local family shelter. Very often, these students have few supplies and stand out right away. It is important that every student have a chance at education, and they need the proper supplies to get started.
Our middle school is quite diverse and our classes are filled with 500 students from every walk of life, from those living on the lake to those living in the family shelter.
We carry a respect with us that helps all our students strive to be the best student they can. I am choosing to focus on the 20-40 students who wake up in a shelter, or a car, and have to find a way to get ready to come to school to learn.
Every year, we generously get school supplies donated, but high cost and specialty items like big backpacks, large binders and PE clothes get missed in these donations. At school, we create an inclusive environment in which all students know they are here to learn, but it's hard for some students when there are no gym clothes or backpack and the binder is too small to fit what's needed for class. I would like our students who are homeless to start out like every other kid, so they can focus on learning, rather than worrying about not having all the necessary supplies.
My Project
Our students who are homeless will be able to take part in the adventure that has become back to school. They will have new items in a new backpack and they will have everything on the list that's needed. These students will now have large backpacks that not only have room for all their school supplies, but also have all the supplies they need to fully participate in every class, just like every other kid. They will be able to take their books back and forth to the shelter or where they are staying, so they can do their homework, just like every other student.
The students at our school, who are homeless, will have a brand new backpack that is theirs to use as needed and to take pride in. Many of our students without housing carry items with them, so they are not lost in the shelter or on the streets. It's an opportunity for students who are homeless to start school just like other students.
This project will improve our school because it will improve our students' ability to learn and participate in all classes.
Greater participation will allow for greater learning, which allows for a larger impact on a student's future. We all know that education is key, but we must have the needed tools to access this key. The backpacks and other items requested will allow many more students to open the door of their education regardless of where they live.
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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 Ms. S. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.