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.
My Students
Like most middle school students, the students at my school are primarily 11, 12 and 13 year olds who are going through major changes socially, emotionally, and physically. However, when you walk through our doors, you can see right away that we are not like every other middle school. Our students are unique and special in that we are a diverse community of students coming from different cultural, religious and socio-economic backgrounds. Within our school, you can be introduced to a little part of every corner of the world. The diversity in our walls gives us, as educators, a crucial opportunity to teach our students about tolerance and acceptance.
Not only is our student body diverse, they are also talented!
We are a school of the arts. Many of our students come to us from disadvantaged backgrounds, being given the opportunity to cultivate whatever innate talent they may possess be it singing, dancing, theater, band, or the visual arts. Every year, our school puts on multiple performances that leave lasting impressions on the community. Many of our students go on to become professionals in the arts.
My Project
As 1 of 5 counselors in our school, I speak for all of us when I say that it is our goal to not only help out students be successful in school, but to also help our students be successful in life. In order for us to help our students fulfill their full potential as people, we must first be able to provide them with a sense of safety, belonging, and high self-esteem.
According to theory, NONE of this is possible unless an our students' most basic human needs are adequately fulfilled.
These needs include food and water, sufficient rest, clothing and shelter, and overall health. I know these needs may seem like a given for most, but for many, they are not.
Many of our students come from low socio-economic homes and they do not come to school with these needs having been met. Other students may be having a less than average day, week, month, or year. Whatever the case, when they show up to school, it then becomes our job to fill in the gaps present within their hierarchy of needs if we want to be able to motivate our students. Sometimes, this is as simple as being able to offer a student food or drink. Other times, it is more involved than that.
Ultimately, when we counselors can maintain that school IS in fact, a safe and consistent place in which students KNOW they can rely on, we can then set our students up to gain the education necessary to excel in life.
More than three‑quarters of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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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. Buttacavoli and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
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