Deed 15: Taking Care of Pets

Richard Allen Preparatory School

Dayton, OH

We purchased hands-on materials--including plush animals, carrier bags, dog chew toys, leashes, ID collars, and books about responsible pet care--for kindergarten students at Richard Allen Prep, where nearly all students come from low-income households.

Ms. Watson writes that these materials will give her students the opportunity to learn and explore about pets and their proper care. They'll be able to practice how to handle and care for animals, what they look like, and the how to make sure they have the proper food, play toys, travel necessities, and places to sleep.  Ms. Watson also wants her kids to learn about empathy and caring for others.

Constitution High School

Philadelphia, PA

We stocked Ms. Panetta's classroom food pantry so that students who come to school without having had breakfast and/or who might not have lunch do not go through the school day on an empty stomach.

Ms. Panetta writes that this food pantry is available to all students in need but often runs low on stock. The process is kept anonymous for students who request items. She tries to select healthy snack options, along with snacks that students have historically gravitated towards, so that everyone finds something.

Penrose Elementary School

Philadelphia, PA

We purchased beanbag chairs for pre-K students in the autistic support program at Penrose Elementary, where nearly all students come from low-income households. Ms. M. writes that these chairs will offer students a quiet, comfortable spot to help regulate themselves throughout the day.

Students can use these chairs to relax and help prevent over-stimulation. They also help students learn self-control and benefit other students in the classroom by limiting the amount of interruptions.

Constitution High School

Philadelphia, PA

We helped purchase warm-up tops for the varsity girls' basketball team at Constitution High School, where nearly all students come from low-income households and there is no annual budget for athletics.

These tops will replace older, worn-items and will be used to travel in and wear while warming up. Having new warm-up gear will boost the girls' self-confidence and get them mentally ready to compete.

West Philadelphia High School

Philadelphia, PA

We helped purchase supplies--including printer ink, copy paper, and a dry-erase board--for high school students to create a press office at their school.  Ms. Dixon writes that a dedicated planning/working space for the student-led press team will help the school's fledgling newspaper, website, blog, podcast, and video series get off the ground.

The press office will provide a designated plan for students to collaborate plan, and write/record the world around them. They will develop brainstorming, project management, and idea development skills. Better yet, these resources will increase school, parent, and community involvement and reinforce that the voices of these students matter.

Grandview Elementary School

Morrisville, PA

We helped purchase a 'A Place for Everyone' classroom carpet for K-2 special needs students at Grandview Elementary. Mrs. Mason writes that the carpet will assist students with learning to understand personal space and provide a comfortable gathering space for morning meetings and shared reading time.

As a learning tool, the new carpet will help students practice meeting expectations so that their classroom time is productive. The carpet displays bold, colorful squares separated by dark lines. These visual cues are so important for learners working on being in their own learning area.

Franklin D Roosevelt Middle School

Bristol, PA

We purchased books, mini post-its, spiral notebooks, and reading posters (including Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan inspirational posters!) for seventh grade students at FDR Middle School. 

Ms. Kowalick writes that she hopes to instill a love of reading in her students by expanding their classroom library.

Ms. Kowalick wants her students to discover reading for the fun of it. She is building a classroom library that inspires students to pick up books because they want to, not because it is required. These new books are more relatable to her students and will offer more exciting choices.

Emerson Academy of Dayton

Dayton, OH

We purchased fidget toys, fuzzy socks, and arts and crafts supplies so that students at Emerson Academy can make care packages for  long-term patients at the local children's hospital. Ms. Bass writes that her students have benefitted from the kindness of others and want to give back; however, they lack the spare resources.

This project will enable students to engage in local community service. Students will make homemade cards and put together care packages, complete with a pair of socks and a fidget toy.  Ms. Bass writes that these young patients love getting mail and hopes that the packages will brighten their upcoming holiday season during this difficult time.

Constitution High School

Philadelphia, PA

We purchased uniform pants for the boys varsity baseball team at Constitution High School, where nearly all students come from low-income households. Mr. Moore writes that the school has no annual budget for athletics and heavily relies on donations and fundraising for any type of uniform or equipment.

These uniforms will provide a boost to players' mental focus, especially as they compete with schools in the surrounding area that have budgets for athletics.

Mayfair School

Philadelphia, PA

We funded teachers at the Mayfair School in Philadelphia so they can enroll in Breathe for Change, a wellness, yoga, and social-emotional learning training that helps educators teach students valuable coping skills. Breathe for Change has been shown to enhance educator well-being and retention, foster student social-emotional learning, and develop a school-wide culture of SEL and wellness.

Ms. Wilson writes that she has used mindfulness in her own classroom in the past few years to help students navigate life stressors and the pandemic, and she wants to be able to offer students more resources to help them cope with the trauma caused by ongoing gun violence in the city.

Westhill High School

Stamford, CT

We purchased thermometers, frying pans, measuring cups and spoons, and kitchen scales for students with disabilities at Westhill High School, where more than half of students come from low-income households.

Ms. Nicole writes that the population of students with disabilities is growing and getting older, so she wants to make sure they have the same day-to-day life skills as their peers. She created this project so that her students can learn cooking, organization, and schedule  keeping to become more independent, work on their fine motor skills, and follow instructions.

Furthermore, learning about cooking will teach Ms. Nicole's students how to make healthy and delicious meals for themselves and develop organizational skills to maintain structure and order. Students can even practice math and reading while following recipes!

Thomas Jefferson Middle School

Rockaway, NJ

We purchased seeds, gardening supplies for kids, and books about building healthy bodies for middle school students at Thomas Jefferson Middle School.

Students will build a school community garden, relying upon hydroponics, or growing plants without soil. The garden project will focus on the nutritional aspect of gardening, and students will partner with a local food pantry. TJMS students will even learn from a nutritionist at the food pantry about how kids can grow and choose healthy foods at home.

Lewis Elkin Elementary

Philadelphia, PA

We purchased easels, sponges, and paint for Ms. Graves-James's kindergarten class at Lewis Elkin Elementary, where nearly all students come from low-income households.

Ms. Graves-James writes that some of her students are special needs and will be especially excited to explore sensory activities that touch their five senses. She plans to do watercolor painting, traditional painting, and finger painting. She will encourage her students to stand up while painting to bring a different sensation, especially for those students who often hide during class activities. She hopes that these materials will allow students to share their feelings and expand their boundaries through exploratory learning. 

Happy painting!

Science Leadership Academy

Philadelphia, PA

We purchased portable practice equipment for Ms. Siswick's high school students. Ms. Siswick's school does not have access to on-site soccer fields, and nearly all of her students come from low-income households. She writes that her students often have to get creative in identifying practice space that is accessible via public transportation.

Ms. Siswick requested portable goals and pinnies to mimic game play during their intra-squad scrimmages, as well as scrimmages with other schools. She also asked for a volley net to allow players to work on ball control and team building.All of this equipment can be folded and stored.

We are so proud to support Ms. Siswick  and her students!

Dr. Charles E. Brimm Medical Arts High School

Camden, NJ

Ms. Borrelli-Luke's students are part of a veterinarians-in-training program at their school, where more than half of students are from low-income households. The school seeks to prepare students for carrers in the medical field and has local vets that come in and demonstrate how to execute wellness exams on guinea pigs, cats, and dogs.

Ms. Borrelli-Luke requested crates, pee pads, flea/tick preventatives, poop bags, and a play-pen for their training classroom so they can assist a local rescue with the care of puppies during the school day.

We are so proud to support Ms. Borrelli-Luke and her students!