Donors Choose

I donated $100 via Donors Choose to support the AP Statistics class at Frederick Douglass Academy in Harlem taught by the Jaimita Escalante of NYC, Jane Viau (see: http://edreform.blogspot.com/2010/03/support-jane-viaus-class.html and http://edreform.blogspot.com/2010/02/guest-teacher-at-frederick-douglass.html), and got a very nice thank you with photos today .

 

May 7, 2010

Dear Whitney Tilson, 

Thank you sooooo very much for your kindness and generosity! The post its and erasers came in time for the AP exam so the students used the post-its to mark important pages in their review texts and notes for easily accessible study tools. The erasers were used during the actual exam for the multiple choice section.

The 2010-2011 academic planners came today and they are beautiful! The planners are very high quality and the students were thrilled when I handed them out. We've discussed time management a lot this year and they understand that managing their time wisely next year, when they are on their own in college, will be a challenge. I know that the planners that you provided gave them some added confidence.

Almost all of the students have selected the college that they will be attending next year. Here is a list of some of the selected schools:

• DePauw University
• Clarkson University
• SUNY Albany
• Syracuse University
• Babson College
• Nova Southeastern University
• Clark Atlanta University
• Ithaca College
• Carnegie Mellon University
• University of Pittsburgh
• Buffalo State
• William Patterson University
• Northeastern University
• Bates College
• Connecticut College
• Delaware State
• Stony Brook University
• Vassar College

Almost every one of these students will be the first generation in their family to attend an institute of higher learning. This is a big journey for them. You have helped provide additional motivation and support. Every little bit helps. Thank you for caring.

With gratitude,
Mrs. V.

Mrs. V. sent this note after the project was fully funded:

Apr 17, 2010

Dear Whitney Tilson, 

Wow! We made it! I am completely delighted that this project was funded! We have only 11 school days left until the May 4th AP Statistics exam. I can't wait to prepare these 'motivational gift packages' for my students with the materials you helped me acquire along with other items that I have been collecting over the past few months.

These students have been working extremely hard. Today, they reported to my classroom ON A SATURDAY and sat for a full 3-hour mock exam.

Although these students weren't necessarily ready for college level work when they entered my classroom, they are ready now. Together we have logged in about 98 additional instructional time outside of the regular school day. They are eager to learn and apply themselves.

I am extremely proud of them.

Thank you for enabling me to provide my students with the erasers that they'll need for the exam as well as post it notes for last minute studying. More importantly, thank you for providing the 2010-2011 calendars that my students can take with them to college. Study skills, organizational skills and time management skills are some of the tools that I have been trying to send these students off to college with. The calendars will help them continue the good practices that they've developed in my class to their freshman year in college.

With gratitude,
Mrs. V.