{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"New Beginnings Family Academy","outOfStateSupporters":36.3,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":6817870,"projectId":9620793,"letterContent":"October 9, 2025\r\n\r\nDear General Motors (GM),\r\n\r\nOn behalf of Mr. Hudson's 4th-grade class at New Beginnings Family Academy, we extend our sincerest gratitude for your incredible donation of educational STEM technology. The arrival of the Artie 3000, Artie Max, and Sphero robots, along with individual student headphones and a sound mixer, has completely transformed our learning environment this quarter.\r\n\r\nWe understand that many donors may use technology primarily for everyday tasks and may not be familiar with how it's applied in a 4th-grade setting. These tools are helping our students in ways that traditional pencil-and-paper work often cannot.\r\n\r\nHow Technology is Helping Our Students Learn\r\n\r\nThe most profound impact of this donation is the way it translates abstract concepts into tangible results. When students are learning math or sequencing in language arts, those skills can feel distant. However, when they use the Artie robots to code a geometric shape or program the Sphero to navigate a maze, they are instantly applying those same skills to make something move. This immediate feedback teaches computational thinking and debugging—essential problem-solving skills—because they must find and fix the mistake (or \"bug\") in their code to get the desired outcome. The process turns passive knowledge into active creation, making learning exciting and relevant.\r\n\r\nThe headphones are also crucial; they provide a focused environment for online learning modules, and the sound mixer has allowed us to integrate music composition and sound design into our transition times. Creating their own playlists for movement breaks fosters student ownership and a deeper appreciation for audio production.\r\n\r\nWhat is Most Exciting to Our Students?\r\n\r\nWhile the entire package is fantastic, the Artie Max robot is currently the source of the most intense excitement. The students were immediately drawn to its versatility—the ability to draw with markers based on their code, or use its lights and sounds to create small, programmable shows. This combination of creative art and logic-based coding allows them to express themselves while mastering complex functions like loops and conditional statements. We often hear shouts of glee when a student's complex code executes perfectly, causing Artie Max to draw a perfect spiral or dance across the desk.\r\n\r\nParticular Students Who Have Warmed to the Technology\r\n\r\nThe technology has been especially impactful for students who thrive with kinesthetic learning. For example, one student, often struggles with reading comprehension and focusing during large group lectures. However, when he gets his hands on the Sphero, his focus is laser-sharp. He spent an entire afternoon meticulously mapping out the timing needed for the Sphero to weave through three chair legs. He had to calculate distance, speed, and angle—integrating high-level math without even realizing it was \"math homework.\" His success with the Sphero has boosted his confidence significantly, which we are seeing transfer back into his engagement with other subjects.\r\n\r\nThank you once again for investing in our classroom and in the future of our students. Because of your generosity, these 4th graders are already thinking and creating like innovators.\r\n\r\nSincerely,\r\n\r\nMr. Hudson\r\nNew Beginnings Family Academy","fullyFundedDate":1755555045586,"projectUrl":"project/technology-and-listening-station-for-low/9620793/","projectTitle":"Technology and Listening Station for Low Socioeconomic Urban 4th Graders","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Hudson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6817870_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y443&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1575331914950","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6817870"},{"teacherId":9454576,"projectId":8185032,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support through DonorsChoose, my students are now holding the keys to unlocking the world of reading—decodable books designed specifically to meet them right where they are on their learning journey. These books aren't just stories; they're stepping stones. For many of my students, they represent the first time reading feels achievable—empowering instead of intimidating.\r\n\r\nIn our classroom, we celebrate every new word decoded, every sentence read aloud with pride, and every story understood. Your donation has transformed our reading corner into a space of confidence and possibility. It's a beautiful thing to witness a child light up with understanding and know that someone believed in their potential enough to make it happen.\r\n\r\nFrom all of us—thank you for making a tangible, lasting difference. You haven't just given books... you've given belief, opportunity, and hope.","fullyFundedDate":1707077369572,"projectUrl":"project/yay-books-i-can-read/8185032/","projectTitle":"Yay! 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New Beginnings Family Academy

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About this school

New Beginnings Family Academy is an urban public school in Bridgeport, Connecticut that is part of Connecticut Department of Education. It serves 431 students in grades Pre-K - 6 with a student/teacher ratio of 20.5:1. Its teachers have had 70 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades Pre-K - 6

431 Students

21 Teachers

184 Garden St

Bridgeport, CT 06605 View local requests

http://www.nbfacademy.org

Evidence-based impact

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

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Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

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

New Beginnings Family Academy Teachers on DonorsChoose

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New Beginnings Family Academy Demographics

81%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

97%

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.

New Beginnings Family Academy Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 5, 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.

New Beginnings Family Academy

$44,392

raised using DonorsChoose

projects funded

teachers funded

215

donors

projects for basic supplies

projects for technology

projects for books

projects for art supplies

New Beginnings Family Academy has received support from 137 individuals from Connecticut and 78 individuals out-of-state.

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season! Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.

New Beginnings Family Academy

About this school

Equity Focus School

New Beginnings Family Academy Teachers on DonorsChoose

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New Beginnings Family Academy Demographics

New Beginnings Family Academy Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 5, 2025

New Beginnings Family Academy

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season!
Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.