Belle Sherman Elementary School in Ithaca, New York on DonorsChoose

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I made multiple copies of the pages in the books I received from the donations, and added them into the binder so then the coloring pages can be enjoyed multiple times by multiple students! The students have really loved being able to color the same pages as their classmates and friends.\r\n\r\nWhen the students saw all of the new games and cushions, they became SO excited. The cushions were a big hit and continue to be! Students love being able to have a cushion to sit on when they are reading a book, and my intervention groups loved being able to share the couches with one another while they took turns reading their books and talking about them. They even began to use them during snack time when I would do class read alouds. They also noticed the book shelf almost immediately! They enjoyed being able to take books right off of it instead of searching through the class library. It is also incredibly beneficial, because we are able to present the books we are reading throughout our curriculum!\r\n\r\nAs I continue to watch them using these items, especially the games and toys, it makes me realize how much children crave having hands on activities to play with. Taking time away from technology has shown me that students can find ways to interact with one another and come together without even realizing it; they just need the resources. I am hoping to come up with a more organized way to present their games, and continue allowing them that space and time to try new toys and bond more often. \r\n\r\nChildren know how to be children, as long as we can give them the proper tools and time to do so, which is what you have done. Thank you for keeping the Sun Room shining.","fullyFundedDate":1756416422230,"projectUrl":"project/screen-free-and-comfy-as-can-be/9600106/","projectTitle":"Screen-Free and Comfy as Can Be","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Cookie","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9989720_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1764549024811","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/sunshine-with-mscookie"},{"teacherId":5434970,"projectId":9637329,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donations to our classroom! Because of your kindness, we now have an amazing collection of math-themed board games that make learning both fun and engaging.\r\n\r\nMy students are absolutely thrilled to play these games during small groups and math centers. It's incredible to see how excited they get when practicing their math skills through play—rolling dice, solving problems, and working together as teams. These games have turned math time into one of the most joyful parts of our day!\r\n\r\nThe hands-on, collaborative activities help my students strengthen their number sense, problem-solving, and strategy skills while also building teamwork and communication. For many of them, these games make math click in a way that pencil-and-paper practice never could.\r\n\r\nYour support has brought so much joy and confidence to our classroom. Thank you for believing in my students and investing in their love of learning. We are so grateful for your generosity and for helping make math come alive!","fullyFundedDate":1757550760789,"projectUrl":"project/unplugged-math/9637329/","projectTitle":"Unplugged Math","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Millspaugh","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp5434970_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1527637785822","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5434970"},{"teacherId":5434970,"projectId":9201521,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom with these much–needed supplies! While simple, the items you provided make a big difference in the daily life of our students. With a new classroom broom and wipes, students are taking real ownership of our shared space. They are learning responsibility by helping clean up after themselves and care for the classroom environment we all share.\r\n\r\nThe cardstock and laminating sheets have been just as impactful. They allow me to create durable center activities and games that can be used again and again. Students love working at centers, and now we have materials that hold up to daily use and let us practice important skills in a fun and engaging way.\r\n\r\nTogether, these supplies make our classroom feel more welcoming, organized, and cared for. Students take pride in knowing they play a role in keeping it that way, while also benefiting from new learning tools that support their growth.\r\n\r\nWe are so grateful for your generosity in supporting the small things that have such a big impact on our classroom community. 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About this school

Belle Sherman Elementary School is an urban public school in Ithaca, New York that is part of Ithaca City School District. It serves 347 students in grades Pre-K - 5 with a student/teacher ratio of 12.4:1. Its teachers have had 13 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades Pre-K - 5

347 Students

28 Teachers

501 Mitchell St

Ithaca, NY 14850 View local requests

http://www.ithacacityschools.org

Evidence-based impact

Inspire teachers to stay in the classroom and boost student achievement.¹

Give to this school

Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

Kindergarten teacher at PS81 - Robert J. Christen School in Bronx, NY

Belle Sherman Elementary School Teachers on DonorsChoose

Ms. Bowman

Ms. Cookie

Mrs. Millspaugh

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Belle Sherman Elementary School Demographics

65%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

40%

of students are Black, Latino, Native American, or Asian

Schools in districts that mainly serve students of color receive substantially less state and local support than similar districts that serve primarily White students. Learn more about this gap, why it exists, and how you can help close it.

Belle Sherman Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 4, 2025

DonorsChoose makes it easy for anyone to help a teacher in need, moving us closer to a nation where students in every community have the tools and experiences they need for a great education.