This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
My Project
My school is a Title I school in East Harlem serving students in 3K-2nd grade. As the school librarian, I have many goals for my students, both in terms of academics and social emotional skills. My primary goal, however, is to connect students with reading material that can serve as a refuge for them. I aim to inspire them to see the library as a place that is open to all people that will always be there to give them books so that they can cope more easily with the many difficulties in their lives. The library is a safe space in which students can relax and be themselves while reading and exploring the world.
Unfortunately, the majority of the students in the PS 112 community are living in difficult circumstances.
During the 2021-2022 school year, over 86% of our students were living at or below the poverty level and more than 28% were living in temporary housing. During the 2022-2023 school year, we had a huge influx of refugees. Many of our families are unable to spend the time needed to bring their children to the public library on a regular basis and both of the local public libraries were closed for renovations during the summer of 2023. By and large, our students do not have access to books outside of school and rely on the school library to provide them with books they can read for pleasure.
This is why, as the school librarian I work hard to create a warm, inviting, and comfortable library space. The library should be a place of wonder, excitement, and joy as well as relaxation and an escape from the difficulties of daily life. Please help us get additional furniture and a beautiful rug to make this dream a reality!
More than three‑quarters of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Feldstein-Gardner and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
