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This teacher needs your help!

Mrs. DeStefano from New Windsor, NY is requesting classroom basics through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mrs. DeStefano is requesting

STEAM Backpacks to Foster Family Involvement

Help me give my students STEM backpacks filled with hands-on engineering and science activities that they can take home to provide opportunities for engaging family fun and learning.

FULLY FUNDED! Mrs. DeStefano's classroom raised $545

This project is fully funded

Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

Celebrate Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

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 Students

Our school is a high need, low socioeconomic, Title I school. The students come to school from various backgrounds and receive free breakfast and lunch. They are smart, amazing children who enjoy learning. Our goal is not only to teach these amazing children, but it is also our job to keep them safe in the unstable world we live in today.

Our students enjoy coming to school every day, where they can learn to become critical thinkers, leaders, and collaborative learners in a safe environment.

We have a diverse community of dedicated teachers who will do anything to see that our students succeed. This project is a way to engage parents in their child's education.

My Project

We want to create STEAM backpacks for every classroom. The students in each class will take turns bringing home a backpack that contains supplies to create a design to solve a given problem using the engineering design process. Each grade level will have a different design problem and each backpack will be labeled using a luggage tag, and restocked before the next student takes it home. The students will then work through the design problem with their family, recording their data.

The backpacks are an important step to include families in their child's STEAM education and encourage involvement, foster meaningful conversations, and make connections to their child's education.

The backpacks for kindergarten and first grade will include a picture book related to the topic to better connect science to literacy skills. Every backpack will include performance expectations, procedures, safety notes, extensions, online and local resources, materials for that activity, a student recording sheet, and a feedback form. The reusable sheets will be laminated and attached to a binder ring.

Our students use the engineering design process across all subject areas in the classroom through STEAM (Engineering, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math). Now we want to further engage families in helping their students to develop the 21st century skills that are necessary for their success.

Mrs. DeStefano Vails Gate High Technical Magnet Elementary School Grades 3-5

Equity Focus

This project directly supports students at a historically underfunded school. Learn more about our Equity Focus.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

New Windsor, NY View local requests

Nearly all 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

600 students impacted 19donors

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TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Everest Junior Backpack, Rustic Orange, One Size • Amazon Business $8.06 30 $241.80
14 Pack TravelMore Luggage Tags For Suitcases, Flexible Silicone Travel ID Identifier Labels Set For Bags & Baggage - Multi Color Pack • Amazon Business $13.99 3 $41.97
Mini Pizza Box, Mini Square Cardboard Pizza Box, Disposable Pizza Box - Kraft Brown - 3.5" - 100ct Box - Restaurantware • Amazon Business $31.49 1 $31.49
Westcott Kids Plastic Handle Pointed Scissors with Anti-Microbial Protection, 5-Inch, 12-Pack (14872) • Amazon Business $15.67 2 $31.34
Goldilocks and the Three Bears | Ricitos de Oro y los tres ojos (Keepsake Stories, Bilingual) • Amazon Business $3.99 6 $23.94
Scotch Thermal Laminating Pouches, 200-Pack, 8.9 x 11.4 inches, Letter Size Sheets, Clear, 3-Mil (TP3854-200) • Amazon Business $21.03 1 $21.03
M-D Building Products 50150 Pipe Insulation & Tape, Black, 50 • Amazon Business $13.83 1 $13.83
Chenille Kraft Natural Wood Craft Sticks, Jumbo Size, 6 x 3/4, Wood, Natural Wood, 500/Box (3776-01) • Amazon Business $8.48 1 $8.48
Zannaki 2 Inch (25 Pack) Loose Leaf Binder Rings, Nickel Plated Steel Binder Rings, Keychain Key Rings, Metal Book Rings, Silver, for School, Home, or Office • Amazon Business $6.72 1 $6.72
SNUG Fasteners (SNG562) 25 Qty 1/4" x 1" 304 Stainless Steel Fender Washers • Amazon Business $5.51 1 $5.51

Materials cost

$426.11

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$6.39

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$462.50

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$81.62

Total project goal

$544.12

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $544.12

16 Donors

-$0.00

Donations toward project cost

-$0.00

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$0.00

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $544.12

Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.

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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 Mrs. DeStefano and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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