{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Columbia Secondary School","outOfStateSupporters":19.5,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":1683058,"projectId":7513989,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, this school year has become one of the most engaging, energizing, and truly hands-on years my students have ever experienced in science. The new laboratory materials you helped fund have transformed my classroom into a space where students do not just learn biology—they experience it. I want to share how meaningful this transformation has been and how your support has directly shaped student learning every single day.\r\n\r\nThe moment the boxes arrived, my students immediately knew something exciting was about to happen. As we unpacked micropipettes, microtubes, agar, dialysis tubing, safety equipment, and other essential tools, the room buzzed with a mixture of curiosity and disbelief. Several students said things like, \"Wait—this is what real labs use!\" and \"We get to do this for ourselves?\" For many of them—especially those who have never stepped into a university or professional lab—this was their first time holding authentic biotechnology tools. Their faces lit up as they realized they would no longer be limited to diagrams or videos: they would actually get to do real science.\r\n\r\nOne moment that stands out happened during our unit on cell transport. In previous years, students learned osmosis using demonstrations or pre-prepared images. This year, because of your support, students conducted a full osmosis and diffusion investigation using dialysis tubing, sucrose solutions, and mass-change calculations. They recorded data, created graphs, compared predictions with outcomes, and debated why some samples gained mass while others lost it. Several students took out their phones to photograph their setups—not because it was required, but because they were proud of what they had created with their own hands. One student told me quietly, \"I feel like a real scientist.\"\r\n\r\nAnother highlight was our enzyme catalysis and cellular respiration lab series. Using the new materials, AP Biology students were able to design and carry out full inquiry-based labs that used to be impossible due to lack of equipment. Instead of watching videos of spectrophotometry, students used safe color-change indicators and timed reactions themselves. Rather than reading about experimental design, they built their own procedures, tested variables, revised trials, and justified claims using evidence. These are the moments that help students not only understand complex content, but also see themselves as capable problem-solvers and future STEM professionals.\r\n\r\nThe impact of your donation has extended far beyond a single assignment or class period. Students are now consistently using the equipment in every major unit—whether preparing DNA models, conducting osmosis investigations, working with gel simulations, using micropipettes to build essential lab skills, or gathering quantitative data for CER (Claim-Evidence-Reasoning) writing. Having access to reliable, high-quality tools has raised the rigor of our labs and has allowed students from all backgrounds—including English language learners and students with special needs—to access learning in more meaningful, hands-on ways.\r\n\r\nRight now, students are preparing for an even more advanced project: our DNA fingerprinting and gel electrophoresis simulation. Because of your support, they have already practiced micropipetting techniques and understand the safety protocols required for real molecular biology work. Their next steps will include analyzing \"crime scene\" DNA samples, interpreting gel results, and modeling biotechnology careers. These are experiences that build confidence, spark curiosity, and open doors.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has ensured that my students—many of whom aspire to careers in medicine, nursing, research, engineering, and public health—are getting the kind of laboratory experiences that prepare them for those futures. You have given them a classroom where science feels alive, empowering, and exciting.\r\n\r\nOn behalf of my students and myself, thank you for believing in them. Thank you for supporting hands-on learning. And thank you for making it possible for us to transform a regular classroom into a true laboratory of discovery.","fullyFundedDate":1699647569062,"projectUrl":"project/biology-hands-on-lab-materials-for-2023/7513989/","projectTitle":"Biology Hands-On Lab Materials for 2023-2024","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Bulalang","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1683058_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1478725330788","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ibulalang"},{"teacherId":4189569,"projectId":9506144,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for the incredible supplies for my students in Writing Revolution. When we had our first class, the students were quite withdrawn and hesitant to participate. I introduced an icebreaker of hexagonal thinking: having students describe themselves and then find areas of matching interest and connect the hexagons. When the students saw the colorful pens and pencils they lit up and dove into the project. This created an immediate sense of community and trust within the class - an essential for students to begin to write.\r\n\r\nEach time we meet, the students come up to our pens container to choose which pen they will use. They then grab the composition notebooks and begin to write. One student requested an extra notebook, so she can jot down her ideas for writing poetry. I also will write in my composition notebook as they are writing. The students say they are beginning to feel like real writers - a real coup for students who have struggled to write in the past. It is interesting how something so simple as having the writer's notebooks and special pens brings joy to the students.\r\n\r\nLearning to write is not an easy task. Being able to create a sense of community and having my students feel as if they have access to special supplies has helped them to begin the hard work of developing this essential skill. Thank you for making this possible!","fullyFundedDate":1753985489296,"projectUrl":"project/writing-revolution-giving-students-tool/9506144/","projectTitle":"Writing Revolution: Giving Students Tools They Need to Communicate Effectively","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Crawford","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4189569"},{"teacherId":8530486,"projectId":9613224,"letterContent":"Thank you for helping to fund the tools for my engineering classes! When my students learned that a group of people donated to give them these resources, they were really touched. In my class, students explore design thinking and engineering. They use digital tools to create 3-D models and create prototypes of their designs.\r\n\r\nThese tools help my students see their ideas come to life. I want my students to have the chance to engage in hands-on learning while being safe. Students operating 3-D printers must wear gloves and safety glasses. And cutting or drilling activities can now be done with the proper tools.\r\n\r\nWe are looking forward to using all of these tools throughout the year. I am in awe of my students' creativity and I can't wait to see what they create next!","fullyFundedDate":1755715235859,"projectUrl":"project/keeping-safe-in-the-engineering-classroo/9613224/","projectTitle":"Keeping Safe in the Engineering Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Hagen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8530486_orig.jpg?crop=885,885,x169,y370&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1751324524116","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-g-hagen"},{"teacherId":8530486,"projectId":9601617,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting my classroom. The new thermometers funded through this project were vital to thermodynamics experiments. My students used them in our Thermodynamics unit in AP Physics 2. They allowed students to take precise measurements and see what we were learning come to life.\r\n\r\nIn one lab, students used the new thermometers to measure temperature and calculate the heat transfer between two samples of liquid. This experience allowed them to demonstrate the conservation of thermal energy experimentally.\r\n\r\nThe Boyle's lab materials also helped students to see the relationship between pressure and volume. This helped them make connections to the ideal gas law.\r\n\r\nYour support made these connections possible. From my AP Physics 2 students and I, thank you!","fullyFundedDate":1755377074174,"projectUrl":"project/exploring-thermodynamics-in-harlem/9601617/","projectTitle":"Exploring Thermodynamics in Harlem","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Hagen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8530486_orig.jpg?crop=885,885,x169,y370&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1751324524116","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-g-hagen"},{"teacherId":1683058,"projectId":8924566,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, my students were able to experience the Rat and Pig Hands-On Dissection Lab, an unforgettable opportunity to explore anatomy in a tangible and meaningful way. With the dissection kits and supplies you helped provide, students worked in small groups to carefully examine real specimens, connecting what they've learned in textbooks to real-life biological structures. They were able to see for themselves how organs are organized, how systems interact, and how structure relates to function—something no diagram alone could ever fully capture.\r\n\r\nThe excitement in the classroom was incredible the day the materials arrived. Many students had never participated in a real dissection before, and their curiosity and sense of wonder were clear from the start. Some were nervous at first, but quickly grew confident as they worked with their lab partners and asked thoughtful questions. One student exclaimed, \"This is like being a real scientist!\"—a moment that highlighted how these resources helped transform passive learning into active discovery.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, these labs are laying the foundation for our upcoming lessons on human body systems and comparative anatomy. The hands-on experience is helping students make deeper connections between classroom theory and real biological processes, while also building teamwork and laboratory skills. Your support made it possible for them to engage in this authentic scientific investigation, and it has sparked an enthusiasm for science that will carry into future projects and learning experiences.","fullyFundedDate":1731683857197,"projectUrl":"project/experiential-learning-rat-and-pig-hands/8924566/","projectTitle":"Experiential Learning: Rat and Pig Hands-On Dissection Lab","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Bulalang","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1683058_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1478725330788","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ibulalang"},{"teacherId":8398871,"projectId":9211726,"letterContent":"Because of your donations, we were able to fund the purchase of the percussion, organization and transportation of our music equipment. Thank you!!\r\nThis was so important because our students do not just learn music—they live it. From jazz band to rock band, from middle schoolers finding their rhythm to high schoolers shredding their solos, our music program gives students in grades 6-12 the chance to create, perform, and grow as musicians.\r\n\r\nYou have helped our kids with some basic necessities for percussion, and for organizing, protecting, and carrying our equipment around the school, and beyond!\r\nWhether it is Black History Month, the Pride Month Showcase, AAPI Heritage Celebration, the Garden Summer Equinox performance, fundraisers, or, of course, our annual school musical, live music helps bring our community together and make these events come alive.\r\n\r\nWhat makes our students special is their relentless enthusiasm, their love of performing, and their commitment to one another as artists and teammates. We believe that when students feel proud of their instruments, they play with more confidence, more heart, and more joy.\r\n\r\nWith your help, we were able to give them the tools they need to keep the beat going strong and share it with our entire school.","fullyFundedDate":1744393593156,"projectUrl":"project/equipment-for-css-music-programs/9211726/","projectTitle":"Equipment for CSS Music Programs","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Hewitt","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8398871"},{"teacherId":385938,"projectId":9271789,"letterContent":"On behalf of the entire CSS community, we want to extend our deepest gratitude for your generous support of our event, \"Where Science Meets Splash: Bath Bomb Science – Fizz, Fun, and Chemistry!\"\r\n\r\nThanks to your donations, over 165 sixth and seventh graders students were able to explore the exciting world of chemistry in a hands-on, creative, and engaging way. Students learned how acids and bases react, measured the pH of their custom bath bombs, and even got to enjoy the relaxing results of their hard work.\r\n\r\nThis unforgettable experience not only brought science to life, but also taught important skills like teamwork, following procedures, and scientific inquiry. And the best part? They now have the knowledge and instructions to recreate this experiment at home—spreading the love of STEM beyond our classroom walls.\r\n\r\nWe couldn't have done it without your support. From all of us at CSS—thank you for investing in our young scientists!\r\nNext Steps is to teach them how to make soaps and lotions.\r\n\r\nWith heartfelt appreciation,","fullyFundedDate":1746569226704,"projectUrl":"project/where-science-meets-splash-bath-bomb-sc/9271789/","projectTitle":"Where Science Meets Splash. Bath Bomb Science: Fizz, Fun, and Chemistry!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Migdalia Sanabria","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp385938_orig.jpg?crop=960,960,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1602518142424","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/385938"},{"teacherId":4189569,"projectId":9202998,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our unit on sustainable ecosystems through modeling. When I opened the box with my students they were so excited to see all the endangered species and plants they could use to create their models! For the students to see that they had this resource was so inspiring to them - they immediately started to brainstorm what they could create and how it would look. Having the actual animals brought the project from being an abstract to discussion, to a concrete reality which they could wrap their minds around. One of my students told me, \"I have always wanted to animals like this!\" Your gift was exciting and inspiring to my students, and their excitement was inspiring to me!\r\n\r\nThis gift allowed my students to create their culminating project for the unit: a zoo exhibit which featured a sustainable ecosystem for an endangered species. All their exhibits were a part of a showcase where other faculty and parents came. The students were articulate in describing their work, and did so with great pride and confidence. This was all enabled by your generosity!","fullyFundedDate":1742915024440,"projectUrl":"project/building-understanding-by-creating-model/9202998/","projectTitle":"Building Understanding by Creating Models: Sustainable Ecosystems","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Crawford","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4189569"},{"teacherId":9827099,"projectId":8927477,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for bringing the \"Fish Tank for Fintastic Students\" project to life! The day the tank arrived, students crowded around with wide eyes and questions flying—\"What's going in it? Can I help set it up? How do we test the water?\" From that moment on, it became more than just a classroom feature—it became our tank, a shared space of curiosity, care, and science in action.\r\nWe've used the tank to launch a student-led water quality and animal care program. Students test pH, ammonia, salinity, and temperature, recording data and adjusting conditions just like real marine biologists. They've researched ideal tank mates, created care schedules, and even presented mini-projects on brackish vs. freshwater habitats. One group is working on designing signage to explain the tank's ecosystem to visiting students and staff—an effort to make marine science accessible and exciting for everyone.\r\nThanks to you, students are developing hands-on lab skills, growing their confidence, and seeing science as something they do, not just read about. Our next step is integrating the tank into our upcoming unit on ecosystems and symbiosis, where students will make real-time connections between textbook content and the life unfolding right in front of them. You didn't just fund a tank—you helped build a learning experience that's meaningful, memorable, and alive.","fullyFundedDate":1736803195851,"projectUrl":"project/fish-tank-for-fintastic-students/8927477/","projectTitle":"Fish Tank for Fintastic Students","teacherDisplayName":"Mx. Carter","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9827099_orig.png?crop=470,470,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1730914916438","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9827099"},{"teacherId":385938,"projectId":9211882,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our \"Bounce into Physics: Where Bubbles Meet Science!\" program. Because of you, our students had the amazing chance to explore the fascinating world of bubbles and uncover the science behind their magic.\r\n\r\nThey learned how sugar decreases the evaporation of bubbles, making them last longer and bounce better. We also dove into the science of bouncing bubbles — discovering how surface tension, a property of liquids caused by the cohesive forces between molecules, acts like an elastic skin on the bubble's surface. This elastic skin allows the bubble to maintain its perfect spherical shape and resist external forces like impact.\r\n\r\nWhen a bubble bounces off a surface, it temporarily deforms, squishing slightly. Then, surface tension pulls it back into its original round shape, causing the bubble to rebound or \"bounce.\" Plus, students explored how sugar and Dawn soap work together to create stronger, longer-lasting bubbles.\r\n\r\nOne fun hands-on detail: students wore gloves to protect the bubbles from the oils and dirt on our hands that can cause bubbles to pop too soon. This little step helped keep those bubbles bouncing just a bit longer!\r\n\r\nYour kindness made this hands-on learning possible and sparked curiosity that will keep bubbling up for a long time to come. We're so grateful to have you as part of our community, helping us bring science to life in such a fun and memorable way.","fullyFundedDate":1746572344314,"projectUrl":"project/bounce-into-physics-where-bubbles-meet/9211882/","projectTitle":"\"Bounce into Physics: Where Bubbles Meet Science!\"","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Migdalia Sanabria","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp385938_orig.jpg?crop=960,960,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1602518142424","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/385938"},{"teacherId":9044952,"projectId":7378692,"letterContent":"I want to sincerely thank you for your generous donation that provided copies of The Hate U Give for my 8th grade English Language Arts classroom. Your support brought more than just books into our room—you brought us a powerful story that opened hearts, ignited voices, and deeply impacted the way my students see literature, the world, and themselves.\r\n\r\nBefore receiving these books, many of my students struggled to connect with the traditional texts in our curriculum. Some were reluctant readers, while others were simply tired of stories that didn't reflect their realities or speak to the issues that matter to them. The Hate U Give changed that dynamic almost instantly. From the moment we began reading, my students were hooked. Angie Thomas's compelling narrative, authentic characters, and unapologetic voice drew them in, and they weren't just reading—they were invested.\r\n\r\nThe themes of identity, justice, racism, and activism resonated strongly with my students. Starr's voice felt real and familiar to them. Her struggles and bravery led to rich classroom discussions that often spilled over into lunch breaks and after-school conversations. Students talked about community, police violence, code-switching, and the power of speaking out. These weren't easy conversations, but they were necessary, and your donation gave us a safe and meaningful entry point to have them.\r\n\r\nOne of the most powerful moments came during a Socratic seminar where students led a discussion on Starr's transformation throughout the novel. They debated whether she had truly found her voice, and many reflected on their own experiences feeling silenced or misunderstood. One student said, \"This book helped me see that our stories matter, even if they're uncomfortable for other people to hear.\" That moment captured everything I hoped this book would bring to our classroom.\r\n\r\nBeyond discussion, The Hate U Give inspired some of the strongest student writing I've seen all year. We used it as a foundation for argumentative essays on social justice, literary analyses on character development, and personal narratives that connected students' lives to the themes in the book. Students who once hesitated to write began producing thoughtful, passionate work. One student, who had struggled with engagement all year, wrote a three-page personal reflection on what it means to \"speak truth to power,\" tying it directly to Starr's journey. That same student later told me, \"This book made me want to read more stories like this. Stories that are real.\"\r\n\r\nThe Hate U Give did more than meet a standard or check a box. It opened eyes, sparked dialogue, and helped my students find both empathy and empowerment. It gave them a sense of validation—proof that their voices, perspectives, and lives are worthy of being represented and explored through literature.\r\n\r\nBecause of your donation, my students experienced a novel that made reading feel relevant and powerful. You gave them more than a book—you gave them a mirror, a window, and a voice. On behalf of my entire class, thank you for believing in the importance of diverse, thought-provoking literature in the hands of young people.","fullyFundedDate":1684797664924,"projectUrl":"project/give-the-love-of-learning-with-the-hate/7378692/","projectTitle":"Give The Love of Learning with The Hate U Give!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Reilly","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9044952_orig.png?crop=638,638,x0,y74&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1748439691007","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9044952"},{"teacherId":385938,"projectId":8807130,"letterContent":"The \"Knitting – Using Textiles with Yarn to Make Art\" project has greatly supported students' social-emotional growth by offering a calm, creative break during the school day. Students are still working on their scarves and will move on to knitting hats next. Due to its popularity and benefits, I will extend the class from 1 hour to 2 hours next year to give students more time to relax, create, and build skills. All my students are so happy and proud of their hard work.\r\nCurrently, all students are still working hard to finish their scarves for this semester. Their dedication to their work has been inspiring to see, and the pride they take in their progress is clear. Once the scarves are complete, we will move on to our next project: knitting hats. Students are already excited about this new challenge, and it will continue to build their skills while giving them new opportunities for creativity and personal growth.\r\n\r\nOverall, this project has proven to be a valuable and meaningful addition to our school day, supporting students' emotional well-being, creativity, and sense of community.","fullyFundedDate":1733232941955,"projectUrl":"project/knitting-using-textiles-with-yarn-to-ma/8807130/","projectTitle":"Knitting- Using Textiles With Yarn to Make Art","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Migdalia Sanabria","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp385938_orig.jpg?crop=960,960,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1602518142424","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/385938"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_94736","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":714,"numTeachers":47,"percentFrplEligible":46,"percentAsian":10,"percentBlack":20,"percentWhite":27,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":35,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"6 - 12","studentTeacherRatio":"15.2:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":80.5,"schoolId":94736,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Columbia Secondary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Columbia Secondary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/new-york/new-york-city-dept-of-ed/columbia-secondary-school/94736"}