My project needs several lab setups (equipment and research resources) in order to build the first science olympiad junior varsity team at our school.
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. H.'s classroom raised $1,016
This project is fully funded
Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month
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.
I am a sixth grade language arts teacher who is dying to get my school involved in the Science Olympiad program in North Carolina. I teach in a low income "Focus" school on the East side of the Charlotte Mecklenburg school district.
This summer, I took three of my students to the Science Olympiad interest camp. We represented the only group of non-white students at the competition. All three of my students took home medals in the three challenges. It was almost embarrassing to see the faces on the other adults, (parents and teachers) who were shocked to see my kids come in in big baggy clothes and t-shirts (stereotyped immediately) and pull out three different wins at a mock competition.
Our kids are so smart, but never get a chance to participate in the programs offered at higher income schools where the teachers are supported by funds and PTA programs. We are one of the few Focus middle schools in Charlotte who have registered to compete in the Science Olympiad process. I have no experience in the coaching aspect of the team, but I majored in science in college, with a minor in Language Arts. I applied for a science position, but the need was in LA. Science is my passion, and I begged to start a Science Olympiad team at our school because of the students I have worked with the past four years. They are extremely bright, yet don't always get a chance to shine because of their home situations(taking care of siblings, parents working at all hours, etc.)
My principal has allowed me to run science Olympiad during the school day, giving all students who want to participate a chance. The reason why I am writing this proposal is because our school only has funding for the registration of the team and to send me to training. I believe that in order for my students to be able to compete at the same level as the other middle schools in the CMS district, they need the tools to prepare. We need to be able to set up labs for the students to do pre-competition practicals. We need science equipment and research guides so that my students can work on the areas of science that they will be competing in in February. If my children have the tools, they will be driven to succeed.
This will be our first year as a team, and I am not at all concerned about winning;I am about exploring and confidence building. The majority of these students(like the three I took to competition this summer) have no idea that they have the potential to build rockets and solve forensic crimes. When given opportunity and tools, they realize the potential they have as young adults. Our students believe they have only a few paths after graduating school; sports, music, crime. They have no idea that they can be genetic engineers, architects, or marine biologists. If they have the experience, they may find the gifts that they have been given, but never had an opportunity to use.
This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.
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. H. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
