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Ms. Ratkovich from Pittsburgh PA is requesting art supplies through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. Ratkovich is requesting

Cultivating Young Minds Through Clay Work

Help me give my students the new art materials necessary for them to grow emotionally and socially.

  • $687 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Celebrate Black Teachers and Students

This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.

My Project

OCA is a full time emotional support school in the Pittsburgh Public School District that services students in grades 3-12. The vast majority of students have a diagnosis of ADHD, in addition to other behavioral health challenges.

Our students thrive with access to hands on art materials to promote emotional regulation, improve focus, and increase engagement in both academic, related arts, and therapeutic activities.

Art is a very important avenue for students to express themselves and has many therapeutic benefits. The clay and glazes will be used to create ceramic bowls and sculptures. We will also learn how to glaze properly by glazing the bisque mugs included on my list. We often use choice-based learning at our school since it is a full time emotional support school. Therefore I included canvas panels for students to create paintings that may not be too fond of using clay. And lastly I included a mini basket ball hoop that will be used for my younger students to give a sometimes needed physical break.

Working with clay can help children to develop hand and eye coordination and assist with finger and hand muscle movements. It teaches creative skills, textures, shapes, forms, and lastly is a great benefit to the development of socialization skills.

Sadly, due to budget cuts our clay supply is running low. I would love for our students to have the opportunity to continue to create beautiful art in many different forms. At the end of the school year we have an art show called FUSION where students have the opportunity to display their beautiful art. This is a wonderful community event that we take pride in. Your donation would do wonders to help our students!

Ms. Ratkovich
Grades 6-8

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Blick Economy Cotton Canvas Panel Classroom Pack - 16 x 20, Class Pack of 24 • Blick Art Materials $88.76 2 $177.52
Blick Talc-Free White Clay - 50 lb • Blick Art Materials $24.72 7 $173.04
Earthenware Bisque - Pkg of 4, 4 1/4 x 3 1/2, Mugs • Blick Art Materials $14.58 6 $87.48
SKLZ Pro Mini Basketball Hoop with Ball, Standard (18 x 12 inches) • Amazon Business $29.99 1 $29.99
Blick Economy Posterboard - 22 x 28 x 5 Ply, White • Blick Art Materials $0.74 20 $14.80
Amaco Celadon Glazes - Sky, Pint • Blick Art Materials $12.52 1 $12.52
Amaco Celadon Glazes - Obsidian, Pint • Blick Art Materials $12.52 1 $12.52
Amaco Celadon Glazes - Lavender, Pint • Blick Art Materials $12.52 1 $12.52
Amaco Celadon Glazes - Jade, Pint • Blick Art Materials $12.52 1 $12.52
Amaco Celadon Glazes - Cobalt, Pint • Blick Art Materials $12.52 1 $12.52

Materials cost

$545.43

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$8.18

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$583.61

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$102.99

Total project goal

$686.60

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $686.60

11 Donors

-$444.47

Donations toward project cost

-$430.60

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$13.87

match offer

-$242.13

Match offer toward project cost

-$205.81

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$36.32

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$7.35

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $62.13

Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.

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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. Ratkovich and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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