Ms. Modesitt's 2020-21 Hybrid Classroom!
Donation protected
Hi family, friends, and supporters!
First of all- thank you for the support you all have likely extended me during my first year in the classroom. Whether you donated to send my kids to events at the Schomburg Center (they STILL talk about it), helped me out with classroom supplies, or provided me with texts, calls, conversations, or handwritten notes of support...I appreciate you so deeply.
This year all educators face an unprecedented challenge. I have had my share of low moments and *almost* panic attacks about distance learning, school re-opening plans, and the well-being of my kiddos. To be honest, it did occur to me that I could just walk away and say, "this isn't what I signed up for."
But, I have been too inspired by the educators and school administrators around me who have risen to the occasion. Now is the time to really do the work. I'm asking for your help to make distance learning and school-reopening as SAFE, and JOYFUL as possible for my 8th graders and the rest of the students at Democracy Prep Charter Middle School.
My campus is set to open 10/19/2020 with a hybrid model and 50% capacity. While we're required to submit a re-opening plan and have it approved by the state, there's not adequate funding to open safely while maintaining the level of community and rigor we want at our school. All teacher pay has been frozen and benefits have also been cut in order to start to meet the bare minimum.
As many of you know, I teach and live in what remains a low-income, primarily Black, Dominican, and Puerto Rican neighborhood in NYC. Harlem is beautiful and resilient, but it has also been disproportionally effected by this pandemic and the resulting economic recession. The "COVID slide" is expected to drastically widen the achievement gap- disproportionately setting black and brown back several grade levels.
In addition to my role teaching this year, I have also been selected as our campus's Civics Coordinator. Democracy Prep (our network) is on a mission to help our scholars not only get an excellent education, but become active citizens in their communities. I'll be planning programming to help students understand and debate current events, participate in GOTV, complete service projects, and affirm their identities through events like Diaspora Day, National Coming Out Day, Women's Herstory Month, Latinx Heritage Month, and Black History Month. Usually these events take place in-person and in large numbers. Your donation will help me ensure that Civics Education at my school doesn't suffer because of the pandemic- we're getting creative!
How your money will be spent:
- PPE for students and teachers (gloves, masks, face shields)- plus extra to send home with scholars for family members
- Hand sanitizer and cleaning products for school and to send home with scholars
- Air purifiers for classrooms ($100-$200 each) because of outdated ventilation systems
- Supplies and postage to send at-home art projects to kiddos to increase scholar joy
- BOOKS and postage to send kids independent reading books until we are allowed access to our library
- Transportation costs for socially-distanced home visits for scholars that need extra emotional support
- Social-emotional learning curriculum and resources, as needed
- A rental car for me (and likely some children) to drive around Harlem & the Bronx and collect cans for our Canned Food Drive (because we still gotta give back!)
- Postage and supplies for letter writing campaigns (part of our Civics education)
- Incentives and prizes for participation in Civics events and to increase scholar joy
- Student Council swag
First of all- thank you for the support you all have likely extended me during my first year in the classroom. Whether you donated to send my kids to events at the Schomburg Center (they STILL talk about it), helped me out with classroom supplies, or provided me with texts, calls, conversations, or handwritten notes of support...I appreciate you so deeply.
This year all educators face an unprecedented challenge. I have had my share of low moments and *almost* panic attacks about distance learning, school re-opening plans, and the well-being of my kiddos. To be honest, it did occur to me that I could just walk away and say, "this isn't what I signed up for."
But, I have been too inspired by the educators and school administrators around me who have risen to the occasion. Now is the time to really do the work. I'm asking for your help to make distance learning and school-reopening as SAFE, and JOYFUL as possible for my 8th graders and the rest of the students at Democracy Prep Charter Middle School.
My campus is set to open 10/19/2020 with a hybrid model and 50% capacity. While we're required to submit a re-opening plan and have it approved by the state, there's not adequate funding to open safely while maintaining the level of community and rigor we want at our school. All teacher pay has been frozen and benefits have also been cut in order to start to meet the bare minimum.
As many of you know, I teach and live in what remains a low-income, primarily Black, Dominican, and Puerto Rican neighborhood in NYC. Harlem is beautiful and resilient, but it has also been disproportionally effected by this pandemic and the resulting economic recession. The "COVID slide" is expected to drastically widen the achievement gap- disproportionately setting black and brown back several grade levels.
In addition to my role teaching this year, I have also been selected as our campus's Civics Coordinator. Democracy Prep (our network) is on a mission to help our scholars not only get an excellent education, but become active citizens in their communities. I'll be planning programming to help students understand and debate current events, participate in GOTV, complete service projects, and affirm their identities through events like Diaspora Day, National Coming Out Day, Women's Herstory Month, Latinx Heritage Month, and Black History Month. Usually these events take place in-person and in large numbers. Your donation will help me ensure that Civics Education at my school doesn't suffer because of the pandemic- we're getting creative!
How your money will be spent:
- PPE for students and teachers (gloves, masks, face shields)- plus extra to send home with scholars for family members
- Hand sanitizer and cleaning products for school and to send home with scholars
- Air purifiers for classrooms ($100-$200 each) because of outdated ventilation systems
- Supplies and postage to send at-home art projects to kiddos to increase scholar joy
- BOOKS and postage to send kids independent reading books until we are allowed access to our library
- Transportation costs for socially-distanced home visits for scholars that need extra emotional support
- Social-emotional learning curriculum and resources, as needed
- A rental car for me (and likely some children) to drive around Harlem & the Bronx and collect cans for our Canned Food Drive (because we still gotta give back!)
- Postage and supplies for letter writing campaigns (part of our Civics education)
- Incentives and prizes for participation in Civics events and to increase scholar joy
- Student Council swag
Organizer
Katie Modesitt
Organizer
New York, NY
