{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Ponus Ridge Steam Academy","outOfStateSupporters":36.7,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":199251,"projectId":10201663,"letterContent":"At Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy, we are turning everyday school kitchen waste into an opportunity for learning and environmental stewardship. Instead of sending food scraps to the trash, students can help collect organic materials and transform them into nutrient-rich compost that can return to our school garden.\r\n\r\nComposting gives students a hands-on way to understand decomposition, nutrient cycles, soil health, and sustainability. As food scraps break down, students can observe how microorganisms transform waste into a valuable soil amendment. This real-world experience connects classroom science to the food students eat and the environment they share.\r\n\r\nThe impact extends far beyond our garden. By composting school food waste, Ponus Ridge can reduce the amount of organic material sent to landfills while creating a resource that supports future plant growth. What begins as a discarded food scrap can become healthy soil, nourishing plants, fresh produce, and a stronger culture of environmental responsibility throughout our school community.","fullyFundedDate":1777043019711,"projectUrl":"project/from-school-waste-to-great-compost/10201663/","projectTitle":"From School Waste to Great Compost","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Giandurco","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp199251_orig.jpg?crop=480,480,x0,y49&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1648262886979","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mr-giandurco-ponus"},{"teacherId":199251,"projectId":10247711,"letterContent":"At Ponus Ridge, we believe that something small can lead to something extraordinary. A single seed may seem insignificant, but with soil, water, sunlight, and care, it can grow into a thriving plant that provides food, beauty, and life to our community.\r\n\r\nOur students experience this transformation firsthand through our school garden. From planting seeds and caring for seedlings to harvesting the final produce, students learn about germination, plant needs, ecosystems, and sustainable agriculture. Each stage provides an opportunity to investigate, ask questions, collect data, and discover the science behind plant growth.\r\n\r\nThe power of a seed also represents the power of our students. Just as a seed needs the right conditions to thrive, students flourish when given opportunities, encouragement, and meaningful experiences. At Ponus Ridge, we are planting seeds of curiosity, knowledge, responsibility, and environmental stewardship—helping our students grow into tomorrow's scientists, innovators, and community leaders.","fullyFundedDate":1778000350227,"projectUrl":"project/from-seeds-to-pollination-to-produce/10247711/","projectTitle":"From Seeds to Pollination to Produce","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Giandurco","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp199251_orig.jpg?crop=480,480,x0,y49&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1648262886979","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mr-giandurco-ponus"},{"teacherId":199251,"projectId":10199813,"letterContent":"At Ponus Ridge, our garden is becoming more than a place to grow plants—it is becoming a living laboratory! Through Mr. Giandurco's \"Power of Pollination\" project, students will investigate the important relationship between plants, pollinators, and our environment.\r\n\r\nStudents will create and care for pollinator habitats while observing bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. They will use butterfly habitats and insect hotels to observe living organisms, collect data, and investigate how these tiny creatures contribute to healthy ecosystems and food systems.\r\n\r\nThis project puts students at the center of environmental stewardship. By designing, planting, observing, and caring for their pollinator pathway, Ponus Ridge students will become scientists, gardeners, and environmental advocates—helping create a healthier and more sustainable school community.","fullyFundedDate":1777581958584,"projectUrl":"project/the-power-of-pollination/10199813/","projectTitle":"The Power of Pollination","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Giandurco","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp199251_orig.jpg?crop=480,480,x0,y49&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1648262886979","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mr-giandurco-ponus"},{"teacherId":8705266,"projectId":10161731,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for contributing books to our school library! As the books have been coming in, students have already been excitedly asking me when they can check them out. New students have exclaimed in delight to see their favorites added to our library for them to read. I have been working hard to create a library collection that students are excited about and build a culture of readers in our school and your contribution helped so much!\r\n\r\nYour contribution helps me keep the students reading by providing fresh, engaging books to start the school year. These are books students will use for silent and recreational reading as well as sustained silent reading times in their classroom. \r\n\r\nThank you so much for putting books in middle school students' hands, books that are now available to every student in the school to read and enjoy!","fullyFundedDate":1781809125975,"projectUrl":"project/an-updated-library-to-excite-middle-scho/10161731/","projectTitle":"An Updated Library to Excite Middle School Readers!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Marsillio","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8705266_orig.jpg?crop=2527,2527,x956,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1728007268717","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8705266"},{"teacherId":9755599,"projectId":10099922,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generous support of our project, \"Become a Pro with Podcasting and Journalism Kits.\" Your donation has had an immediate and meaningful impact on my students and our classroom learning environment.\r\n\r\nFrom the moment the podcasting and recording equipment arrived, student engagement soared. The opportunity to work with real-world recording technology transformed what could have been a traditional classroom assignment into an authentic, hands-on learning experience. Students were excited to use professional-quality equipment and took great pride in creating their own audio content.\r\n\r\nYour generosity allowed students to interact directly with recording and podcasting tools on demand, giving them valuable experience with technology that many had never used before. Through this process, students deepened their understanding of the recording process, explored the growing medium of podcasting, and developed important communication, collaboration, and critical thinking skills.\r\n\r\nBeyond the technical aspects, students gained a greater appreciation for how podcasting and journalism can be used to inform, educate, and share stories with others. Many students discovered talents and interests they did not know they had, and several expressed interest in pursuing podcasting, broadcasting, or media-related opportunities in the future.\r\n\r\nThe excitement and enthusiasm generated by this project were truly remarkable. The equipment you provided helped create an engaging learning environment where students felt empowered to be creators, storytellers, and communicators.\r\n\r\nOn behalf of my students and myself, thank you for investing in their education and helping bring these opportunities to life. Your generosity has made a lasting difference, and we are incredibly grateful for your support.","fullyFundedDate":1771243328462,"projectUrl":"project/become-a-pro-with-podcasting-and-journal/10099922/","projectTitle":"Become a pro with Podcasting and Journalism kits","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Yaccarino","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9755599_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1727970616023","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/joseph-yaccarino"},{"teacherId":8080399,"projectId":9700847,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping my students and donating to the projects. We are incredibly grateful for your generous donation of LEGO materials to our classroom. Your contribution provided students with a hands-on, creative way to bring their learning to life. Using the LEGO pieces, students were able to design and build detailed composting models, helping them better understand how organic matter breaks down and cycles back into the environment. This tangible experience made a complex scientific process more accessible, engaging, and memorable.\r\n\r\nBecause of your support, students were not only able to explore scientific concepts, but also collaborate, problem-solve, and think critically as they constructed their models. The excitement and pride they showed in their work was truly inspiring. Your donation made a meaningful impact on their learning experience, and we deeply appreciate your commitment to supporting education and innovation in the classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1763671732716,"projectUrl":"project/legos-models/9700847/","projectTitle":"Legos Models","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Steiner","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8080399"},{"teacherId":199251,"projectId":9987664,"letterContent":"I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for your generous support of our recent DonorsChoose project. Because of your kindness, our students now have access to guitars, golf equipment, and a camera—resources that are already making a meaningful impact in our classroom.\r\n\r\nThese materials are opening up exciting new opportunities for creativity, skill-building, and engagement. Students are exploring music through hands-on practice with guitars, developing coordination and confidence through golf activities, and capturing their learning and perspectives through photography. Your support is helping us create a more dynamic and inclusive learning environment where every student can discover new interests and talents.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in our students and investing in their growth. Your generosity truly makes a difference, and we are incredibly grateful.","fullyFundedDate":1770066932861,"projectUrl":"project/steam-sports-and-music/9987664/","projectTitle":"STEAM, Sports and Music","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Giandurco","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp199251_orig.jpg?crop=480,480,x0,y49&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1648262886979","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mr-giandurco-ponus"},{"teacherId":8705266,"projectId":9902298,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for providing these amazing books for our school library! The students were so excited to see me unbox the books they requested, especially the manga, which they have been begging me for all year. Books like this help foster a culture and a habit of reading which, in turn, can impact a child for their entire life. Seeing these books, one of the students sighed happily and said \"You are so good at picking out new books!\" but half of that battle is letting the students have a say in what new books come into the library. Through this work and because of the generosity of people like you, our book circulation has nearly doubled this year compared to last year. What that means is more students are checking out books and more students are reading. Students are enjoying their books and coming back for more!\r\n\r\nAdditionally, the selection of books included texts that support our school curriculum by making it more accessible to all students. Having graphic novel versions and Spanish language versions of texts help students access and understand the texts they are learning in their language arts classes. For English language learners and students with special needs especially, it provides much needed context, vocabulary, and visuals to help them be successful in their classes. Using supports like this helps all students feel included but also helps them to be able to access more sophisticated texts and even enjoy them.\r\n\r\nYour support made it possible for my entire school to have access to these resources and for that, I am so grateful, as are my students! Thank you for bringing access to literacy to my library and school community! It's a gift that so many will enjoy and appreciate.","fullyFundedDate":1767215455445,"projectUrl":"project/a-library-too-meet-the-needs-of-all-stud/9902298/","projectTitle":"A Library Too Meet the Needs of ALL Students!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Marsillio","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8705266_orig.jpg?crop=2527,2527,x956,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1728007268717","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8705266"},{"teacherId":7356229,"projectId":9831734,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, my middle school students have been fully immersed in hands-on STEM exploration. We've been using the circuit materials—alligator clips, diode lights, foil tape, squishy circuits, clay, and conductive thread—to design and test their own functional creations.. Students have been exploring logic, energy transfer, and engineering design through structured challenges and open-ended builds.\r\n\r\n When the materials first arrived, the excitement was immediate and contagious. Students gasped when they saw the Ozobot and Dash robot kits, and I heard, \"We get to use real robots?!\" all around the room. Even students who are typically hesitant to participate were eager to jump in. The headphones have also made a big difference, allowing students to focus during coding tutorials and collaborative design time. The Tapple game has become a favorite for reinforcing academic vocabulary in a fast-paced, engaging way—it's amazing to see how quickly their confidence grows when learning feels like play. They'll apply what they've learned about closed circuits, logic, and computational thinking to create functioning prototypes. Your support has not only provided materials—it has sparked curiosity, collaboration, and a deeper belief in their ability to think like engineers and innovators. Thank you again for your support of my classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1769025194144,"projectUrl":"project/circuits-strategy-and-robots/9831734/","projectTitle":"Circuits, Strategy, and Robots","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Nealon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7356229_orig.jpg?crop=1976,1976,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1599089561903","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-nealon-gt"},{"teacherId":7356229,"projectId":9831030,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, our classroom has transformed into a vibrant game design studio focused on protecting animal habitats. Students are actively using the materials to research ecosystems like coral reefs, wetlands, forests, farms, and the African Serengeti, then designing original board games that teach players how human choices impact wildlife. One powerful moment was watching a group redesign their game after realizing their rules didn't protect the habitat enough—students chose to revise their mechanics to better reflect conservation and responsibility.\r\n\r\nWhen the materials arrived, students were thrilled. Seeing the game boxes, animal tokens, blank cards, and crafting tools made the project feel real and exciting. Many immediately began sketching ideas, sorting materials, and discussing how to turn their research into playable learning experiences. The supplies sparked creativity, collaboration, and a strong sense of ownership. Thank you!","fullyFundedDate":1761770623398,"projectUrl":"project/protecting-animals-through-play/9831030/","projectTitle":"Protecting Animals Through Play","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Nealon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7356229_orig.jpg?crop=1976,1976,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1599089561903","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-nealon-gt"},{"teacherId":199251,"projectId":9894861,"letterContent":"On behalf of our entire community, thank you for your incredibly generous purchase of a pallet of Miracle-Gro soil for our community garden. This donation will have an immediate and lasting impact, providing the foundation needed to support healthy plant growth and a successful growing season for all involved.\r\n\r\nYour support goes far beyond soil—it helps cultivate learning opportunities, teamwork, and a shared sense of pride among students, families, and community members who actively participate in the garden. The improved quality and quantity of soil will allow us to expand our planting efforts, increase yields, and ensure that the garden remains a welcoming and productive space for everyone.\r\n\r\nWe are truly grateful for your commitment to supporting community-based initiatives and sustainable projects like ours. Your generosity plays a vital role in helping our garden thrive, and we look forward to sharing the fruits (and vegetables!) of this work with the community. Thank you again for making such a meaningful difference.","fullyFundedDate":1766277721399,"projectUrl":"project/miracle-grow-miracle-garden/9894861/","projectTitle":"Miracle Grow, Miracle Garden","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Giandurco","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp199251_orig.jpg?crop=480,480,x0,y49&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1648262886979","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mr-giandurco-ponus"},{"teacherId":8698019,"projectId":9746653,"letterContent":"The \"Snacks for Student Success\" project has made a noticeable difference in our school counseling office. Having healthy snacks available helps students refocus, manage stress, and feel supported when they come in for help. Many students visit the office hungry or overwhelmed, and offering a simple snack often makes it easier for them to regulate their emotions and return to class ready to learn.\r\n\r\nThis project has created a welcoming, comforting space where students feel cared for both emotionally and physically. Thank you for helping us meet their basic needs so they can thrive at school.","fullyFundedDate":1759359605481,"projectUrl":"project/hungry-to-learn/9746653/","projectTitle":"Hungry to Learn","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Douglas","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8698019_orig.jpg?crop=1138,1138,x216,y575&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1679076375445","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8698019"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_43530","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":647,"numTeachers":56,"percentFrplEligible":66,"percentAsian":4,"percentBlack":15,"percentWhite":9,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":66,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":3,"gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"11.6:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":63.3,"schoolId":43530,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Ponus Ridge Steam Academy on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Ponus Ridge Steam Academy","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/connecticut/norwalk-public-schools/ponus-ridge-middle-school/43530"}