DSLR Cameras for Middle School Kids

I'm a 3D art and Textiles teacher at da Vinci Arts Middle School, in Portland, Oregon. I love the idea of students using digital SLR cameras as part of the creative process. Our school doesn't have a digital photography program, but I would LOVE to have several digital SLR cameras in my 3D art and textiles studios so that 8th grade capstone (advanced) students could learn how to document their work for their online portfolios. I also think that digital cameras could be used by ALL of my visual arts students as part of the creative process. Currently I use my personal digital SLR camera to document student artwork for their online digital portfolios, but this makes it challenging for me to teach them how to use a DSLR camera to document their own work. In addition to documentation, contemporary artists often use digital cameras as part of the art making process as well, and I would love to be able to add elements of digital photography to my current 3D art and Textiles curriculum!  For example, we could use the cameras to document inspiration, create blog posts, and as an art form in itself.  Plus: For teacher appreciation week, GoFundMe is offering $100 toward campaigns that benefit a teacher or a classroom. I just need to raise over $100 comprised of at least five (5) different campaign donors by May 13th, 2016, and they will give us $100 toward the campaign. Want to help us buy a few DSLR cameras? It would mean so much to us! You can also check out the following link to my website, if you'd like to see what we are up to in the studio! https://vanpattenartclass.wordpress.com/
And here is our school website too: 
http://www.pps.k12.or.us/schools/davinci/
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