“Education is the civil rights issue of our generation. If you care about promoting opportunity and reducing inequality, the classroom is the place to start. Great teaching is about so much more than education; it is a daily fight for social justice.” US Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan
We are a multicultural an multilingual school filled with 460 spirited, engaged and joyful learners.
94% of our students qualify for free/reduced lunch, 65% are English Learners, and 16% have designated special needs. They come from loving and resilient families and they deserve to have every advantage that children from more affluent communities enjoy.
We identify as a Community School, which is a strategy for organizing community resources around student success. We subscribe to a holistic view of our students and employ an integrated focus on academics, socio-emotional supports, and family engagement activities that lead not only to improved student learning, but also to stronger families and healthier communities.
Our Community School approach is rooted in a strong belief in the power of relationships between students, families, staff, and our larger community.
My Project
I am requesting basic yard equipment: balls, hula hoops and jump ropes for our students. We don't have enough discretionary funding to keep replenishing the basic supplies our students need to have a fun recess. We start the year with tons of balls and jump ropes, but like socks in the laundry, they seem to simply disappear!
We are looking at a holistic approach to recess. One that promotes inclusive play, responsibility, a lot of physical activity and most of all fun! Many of the items in my request will promote creative play - balance beams, plastic "stones" that kids can jump on like river stones and more.
We want our students "free time" to be as engaging as their time in the classroom. When there aren't enough materials on the playground our students sometimes engage in less positive activities - such as arguing and bullying. We want them to be having so much fun, that there isn't any time for anything negative to happen.
Creating a positive school climate is a necessary precursor to making significant academic gains.
Creating a positive environment at recess, with ample equipment and options for activities is another critical way for us to ensure our students' success.
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
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. Eldred and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.