{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Dwight Bellizzi School","outOfStateSupporters":43.6,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8655821,"projectId":10478301,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom project, \"Silencing Distractions: A Quieter Space for Learning.\" When the box of pre-cut tennis balls arrived, my students were so excited to unpack them and help fit them onto the legs of our classroom chairs. Their faces lit up seeing how a simple change could make such a huge difference, and they were thrilled to know that generous donors like you made it happen.\r\n\r\nInstalling the tennis balls on our chair legs has completely transformed our classroom environment. Transitions between activities used to be filled with the loud, jarring scrape of metal chair legs against the floor, which often disrupted student focus and created unnecessary sensory overload. Now, students can push back their chairs, stand up, and move around the room smoothly and quietly. During a recent independent reading block, several students moved to group work stations without making a single sound, allowing everyone else to stay deeply focused on their books.\r\n\r\nMoving forward, this peaceful environment is helping us maintain momentum as we begin our upcoming group research projects and math problem-solving workshops. Being able to transition between tasks without disruptive noise allows my students to maintain their concentration and take full ownership of their learning. We are deeply grateful for your generosity and belief in our classroom!","fullyFundedDate":1787595574282,"projectUrl":"project/silencing-distractions-a-quieter-space/10478301/","projectTitle":"Silencing Distractions: A Quieter Space for Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Bardeguez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8655821_orig.png?crop=398,398,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1721852865672","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/xbardeguez"},{"teacherId":8655821,"projectId":10360564,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity in supporting \"Tech, Tools, and a Welcoming Classroom!\" The addition of these new tech tools has completely transformed our daily classroom environment. Technology in school goes beyond playing games—it allows my students to collaborate interactively, access differentiated learning software, and express their creativity in ways that traditional pencil-and-paper assignments simply cannot match.\r\n\r\nMy students were thrilled when the new tools arrived. The most exciting part for them was seeing how modern, organized, and inviting our learning space became once we integrated these resources. A few of my students who were previously hesitant to participate or struggled with traditional tasks have truly warmed up to learning through these tools. Having hands-on access to engaging technology gives them a fresh sense of ownership and excitement each day.\r\n\r\nThank you for making our classroom a place where students feel welcomed, valued, and empowered to succeed!","fullyFundedDate":1785331506742,"projectUrl":"project/tech-tools-and-a-welcoming-classroom/10360564/","projectTitle":"Tech, Tools, and a Welcoming Classroom!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Bardeguez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8655821_orig.png?crop=398,398,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1721852865672","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/xbardeguez"},{"teacherId":8655821,"projectId":10335340,"letterContent":"Letter to Donors\r\n\r\nDear donors,\r\n\r\nThank you so much for supporting our classroom and helping us start the school year on such a bright note! When the boxes arrived filled with new pencil pouches, pencils, name strips, and notebooks, my students were absolutely thrilled. Their eyes lit up as we unboxed everything together, and you could feel the immediate shift in energy—they were eager, proud, and ready to dive straight into learning.\r\n\r\nHaving these fresh materials made a huge difference right from day one. Every student was able to set up their desk with personalized name strips and organize their supplies in their brand-new pencil pouches. We used the new notebooks immediately to kick off our writing journals and daily math warm-ups. Knowing they had their own complete set of tools gave my students a sense of ownership, confidence, and dignity that truly set a positive tone for our entire classroom environment.\r\n\r\nAs we move forward into the school year, these supplies will continue to be the foundation of our daily lessons. Our next big step is starting our first narrative writing unit, where students will use their notebooks to brainstorm, draft, and illustrate their own stories. Thank you for giving my students the tools they needed to start the year fresh, focused, and inspired!","fullyFundedDate":1785693059982,"projectUrl":"project/comenzando-el-ao-como-nuevo/10335340/","projectTitle":"Comenzando El Año, Como Nuevo!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Bardeguez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8655821_orig.png?crop=398,398,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1721852865672","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/xbardeguez"},{"teacherId":8655821,"projectId":10309868,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity in supporting our project, \"More Graphic Novels, More Reading Superpowers!\" These new graphic novels have completely transformed our daily reading routine. In our classroom, reading time has become one of the most anticipated parts of the day. Students eagerly head to our classroom library, grab a book, and immediately dive in, captivated by the rich visual storytelling and engaging characters.\r\n\r\nGraphic novels have provided a wonderful bridge for all types of readers in our room. Beyond building reading stamina and vocabulary, these books help teach critical comprehension skills like analyzing character expressions, inferring tone, understanding story arcs, and context clues. For many of my reluctant readers, having image-supported text builds the confidence they need to tackle complex narratives without feeling overwhelmed. Seeing students who used to hesitate during independent reading now eagerly sharing book recommendations with their peers has been incredibly inspiring. Thank you for making this possible!","fullyFundedDate":1781569742668,"projectUrl":"project/more-graphic-novels-more-reading-superp/10309868/","projectTitle":"More Graphic Novels, More Reading Superpowers!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Bardeguez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8655821_orig.png?crop=398,398,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1721852865672","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/xbardeguez"},{"teacherId":8655821,"projectId":10328870,"letterContent":"Main Donor Impact Letter\r\n\r\nDear donors,\r\n\r\nThank you so much for your incredible support of our classroom project, \"Leveling Up Our Learning!\" Thanks to your generosity, I was able to purchase a Teachers Pay Teachers gift card, which opened up a world of engaging, high-quality educational resources tailored directly to my students' unique needs. In modern classrooms, technology allows us to move beyond standard textbooks and deliver interactive, differentiated lessons. Using this digital gift card, I brought interactive reading materials, targeted math practice, and creative hands-on activities straight to our classroom screens and small-group learning stations.\r\n\r\nWhat excites my students most is how fresh and vibrant these materials are. Instead of repetitive worksheets, they are now working through colorful, game-based learning tasks and interactive digital activities that feel like play while building critical skills. A few of my students who typically struggle to stay engaged or feel overwhelmed by traditional instruction have completely turned a corner. Having access to visual, step-by-step digital resources has built their confidence tremendously—they actively raise their hands and eagerly ask to lead small-group activities now. Your support has truly transformed our daily learning environment!","fullyFundedDate":1784534258751,"projectUrl":"project/leveling-up-our-learning/10328870/","projectTitle":"Leveling Up Our Learning!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Bardeguez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8655821_orig.png?crop=398,398,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1721852865672","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/xbardeguez"},{"teacherId":8655821,"projectId":10328868,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredible generosity in supporting our project, \"Chasing Rainbows: Celebrating Every Success and Birthday!\" Because of your kindness, I am now able to make sure that every single child in my classroom receives a special gift on their birthday. When the packages first arrived and the students saw all the wonderful items, their eyes lit up with joy. They were so excited knowing that our classroom now has a dedicated way to celebrate each of them individually throughout the school year.\r\n\r\nHaving these birthday gifts ready has already made a huge difference in our classroom culture. For many of my students, having their birthday acknowledged with a thoughtful gift makes them feel deeply seen, valued, and cherished by their school community. Recently, when we celebrated our first birthday of the term, the student was beaming with happiness while opening their gift, and the whole class joined in to make them feel extra special. It created a warm, joyous moment that brought everyone closer together.\r\n\r\nAs we move through the school year, we will continue honoring each child on their special day, ensuring that every student gets their moment to shine. Your support provided much more than just physical gifts—it gave my students unforgettable memories and a true sense of belonging. Thank you for bringing so much joy into our classroom!.","fullyFundedDate":1784687932195,"projectUrl":"project/chasing-rainbows-celebrating-every-succ/10328868/","projectTitle":"Chasing Rainbows: Celebrating Every Success and Birthday!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Bardeguez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8655821_orig.png?crop=398,398,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1721852865672","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/xbardeguez"},{"teacherId":2788872,"projectId":10267830,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for funding this project! I have brought the art materials in to Summer School and all the students are enjoying using the art materials during their brain break. The students were creating beautiful art pieces with the chalk markers and tempera sticks. They loved the ease of the chalk markers and tempera sticks and there was little mess to clean up-from the tables or hands.\r\n\r\nThis project has already inspired my summer school students to develop into artists who are able to express themselves through their art and I cannot wait for my Kindergarten students in August to use these amazing art materials.\r\nThank you again for allowing my students to have access to different art materials because of your generosity!","fullyFundedDate":1783504085128,"projectUrl":"project/a-piece-of-art/10267830/","projectTitle":"A Piece of Art","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Almon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2788872_orig.png?crop=398,398,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1602869060180","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-almon"},{"teacherId":8629356,"projectId":10074556,"letterContent":"Thank you for making this project possible. Your generosity allowed me to recognize and celebrate my students' hard work and growth in reading. Throughout the school year, my students explored many different books, strengthening their reading skills, confidence, and love of literature. At the end of the year, students who demonstrated outstanding growth and dedication in reading were proudly rewarded with books from the Magic Tree House series to add to their personal libraries. Seeing their excitement as they received their own books was truly unforgettable. Your kindness celebrated their achievements, encouraged them to keep reading, and created lasting memories that will continue to inspire them for years to come. Thank you for believing in my students.","fullyFundedDate":1771686994562,"projectUrl":"project/celebrating-reading-success-with-a-magic/10074556/","projectTitle":"Celebrating Reading Success with a Magical Book Series Reward #2!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Marrero","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8629356_orig.jpg?crop=2378,2379,x0,y261&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1717210444043","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8629356"},{"teacherId":8629356,"projectId":9432638,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generosity and for supporting my classroom. Because of your donations, my students had the tools they needed to stay organized, motivated, and ready to learn every day. The pencil boxes, folders, report covers, and name holders helped students take responsibility for their materials and build independence. The reward stickers and prizes encouraged positive behavior and celebrated their hard work throughout the year. The books about Ellen Ochoa and Ruby Bridges inspired meaningful conversations about perseverance, courage, and leadership. Your kindness helped create an engaging classroom where students felt prepared, confident, and excited to grow. Thank you for making a lasting difference in their learning journey.","fullyFundedDate":1756489677283,"projectUrl":"project/organized-inspired-and-ready-to-learn/9432638/","projectTitle":"Organized, Inspired, and Ready to Learn!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Marrero","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8629356_orig.jpg?crop=2378,2379,x0,y261&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1717210444043","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8629356"},{"teacherId":8629356,"projectId":9432800,"letterContent":"Thank you for your incredible generosity and support. Because of your donations, my dual language classroom became a more organized, welcoming, and motivating place for every student. The organizational tools, classroom materials, motivational stamps, and cultural decorations helped create an environment where students felt valued, confident, and excited to learn every day. Throughout the school year, my students grew academically, socially, and emotionally while developing pride in their bilingual abilities and respect for different cultures. Your kindness provided much more than supplies—it created meaningful learning experiences and lasting memories. Thank you for believing in my students and investing in their future. We are deeply grateful!","fullyFundedDate":1755724372478,"projectUrl":"project/an-organized-inclusive-and-motivating/9432800/","projectTitle":"An Organized, Inclusive, and Motivating Dual Language Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Marrero","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8629356_orig.jpg?crop=2378,2379,x0,y261&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1717210444043","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8629356"},{"teacherId":8629356,"projectId":9209092,"letterContent":"Thank you for your incredible generosity and support throughout this school year. Because of your kindness, my students had access to the classroom materials they needed to learn, create, and succeed every day. The crayons, pencils, organizers, sharpeners, labels, and other supplies helped create a classroom where students felt prepared, confident, and excited to learn.\r\n\r\nThroughout the year, I watched my students grow academically, socially, and creatively. They developed new skills, gained confidence in their abilities, and embraced every learning opportunity with enthusiasm. These materials allowed us to stay organized, spend more time learning, and focus on meaningful activities that inspired curiosity and collaboration.\r\n\r\nYour generosity reached far beyond providing school supplies—it showed my students that there are people who believe in them and care about their education. Thank you for investing in their future and for helping make our classroom a place where every child had the tools to thrive. Your support made a lasting difference, and we are deeply grateful.","fullyFundedDate":1751907990061,"projectUrl":"project/learning-starts-with-the-right-tools/9209092/","projectTitle":"Learning Starts with the Right Tools","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Marrero","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8629356_orig.jpg?crop=2378,2379,x0,y261&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1717210444043","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8629356"},{"teacherId":8771670,"projectId":10269988,"letterContent":"With these art supplies, my students developed foundational skills in figure drawing that build confidence and creative expression. The wooden drawing models provided essential visual references that help students understand human proportions and anatomy, while the quality pencils, erasers, and paper enabled them to practice and refine their techniques without frustration. In this enrichment class, students who might not otherwise have access to professional-grade art materials got to experience authentic artistic practice—sketching, erasing, experimenting, and improving. \r\n\r\nThese supplies transformed figure drawing from an abstract concept into a tangible, achievable skill, empowering middle schoolers to see themselves as artists and to discover a passion for visual art that may shape their creative futures. The kids were beyond grateful for materials that helped them to bring their artistry to the next level. We deeply appreciate the interest and support in our creative endeavors.","fullyFundedDate":1778101643035,"projectUrl":"project/figure-drawing-101/10269988/","projectTitle":"Figure Drawing 101","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Anderson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8771670_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1771516287085","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8771670"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_43692","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":616,"numTeachers":40,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":13,"percentWhite":3,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":79,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":1,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"15.4:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":56.4,"schoolId":43692,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Dwight Bellizzi School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Dwight Bellizzi School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/connecticut/hartford-public-school-district/dwight-elementary-school/43692"}