Dear GEO Foundation,

As the new high school teacher for the 2009-2010 school year, it was a wonderful surprise to walk into a classroom with a full set of scientific calculators! Your generosity last year has carried over, and will for many years to come as students use these calculators in class every day.

Most of our students come from poverty and unstable living situations. Resources are often scarce, and the $20 they need for a calculator is often low priority, and if they lose the one they own, it can't be replaced quickly. Knowing that we have them available at school allows me to lesson plan with fewer limitations, and allows us as a school to be competitive with students outside of our district.

Your impact is important, and we thank you for it. I especially appreciate this gift, as I'm not the teacher who wrote the grant. I, like my students, am just reaping the rewards.

With gratitude,
Ms. B.

Dear GEO Foundation,

I cannot even begin to express to you how thankful I am for your donations. You have helped me achieve something I never thought possible- having a classroom library full of books that my students are excited about and WANT to read. Last week, when I shared with my students how close I was to getting these books, they were beyond excited. Just imagine their faces when the actual books arrive!

You have not only helped me achieve a dream of mine, but you have helped countless children see just how joyful reading can be. That alone is something amazing. Thank you so much for your generous donations, and I will be sure to capture the faces of my students when the books arrive so that you can see just how much of a difference you have made!

With Much Thanks,
Ms. G

Dear GEO Foundation,

It is with gratitude that I share our experiences at Indiana Repertory Theatre's production of The Heavens Are Hung in Black.

Students spent an entire class block before the show covering materials sent by the education department at IRT. Thus, they went into the show with knowledge of the characters, time period, and basic plot of the production.

Upon return to the school, we quickly covered expectations for the play review and discussed opinions regarding the trip. Students expressed that they were impressed by the set, acting and costumes. They appreciated the after-show session with the actors.

In addition, one of the actors (who is a former student of mine) commented on how well behaved the students were.

All in all, a positive experience made available only by you generosity. Thanks again.

Sincerely,
Nancy Ewing

Dear GEO Foundation,

A great education should not depend on a student's neighborhood, the part of town in which he lives, or on which "side of the tracks" her zip code falls. Thank you for helping to level the playing field.

Geometer's Sketchpad is a wonderful program which allows students to manipulate (in both two and three dimensions) images and "play around" with the basic elements of geometry. Many of our students come to school without the types of experiences which allow them to easily envision geometry in 2-D and 3-D. Despite this, and even without computers in many homes, this generation is digitally native; they understand and relate to the computer program, and can translate what they do and see on the screen into the concepts and understandings that they need to be successful.

This program will be available to all of our geometry and advanced algebra students, and will help for many years to come. Thank you for your generosity, and thank you for believing in what we can do.

With gratitude,
Ms. B.