Our students struggle with coming to school on a daily basis. They all have challenges at home and in the community.
Our students are in High School, attending Alternative School, where they have been removed from a regular school and this is their last stop before just getting a GED.
Most of these students have been through trauma and faced many challenges in their lives. They come from homes with single parents or are being raised by grandparents or older siblings. Additionally, most of them have struggled through school and have academic difficulties. Coming to school is sometimes an escape for our students. Our students have a daily struggle with how to survive in their neighborhoods. They have gangs, drugs, guns on their streets some even in their homes. School is a safe place for them, as long as the streets don't come in to the school as well. Our district and especially our school is a low performing, low income district. We receive 100% free or reduced lunches.
Unfortunately, we struggle with developing a strong sense of community and connection at school. There is not a strong sense of pride in themselves or their school.
My Project
We are requesting a t-shirt press and t-shirts to allow us to make school shirts for all of our students. The goal is to be able to provide all current students with a school shirt as well as all new students entering through the school year. The t-shirt logo will be designed by a current student which will help that student feel a sense of accomplishment.
Our students don't feel good about attending an alternative high school and we want them to experience pride in themselves and pride in their school.
The hope is that by having a school shirt, they will want to represent their school by wearing those shirts. This can help with improving the school culture and climate by helping students feel like they are part of a community.
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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 Mrs. Zilberleyt and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
