{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"PS 261 Zipporiah Mills","outOfStateSupporters":26.9,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10164160,"projectId":9848124,"letterContent":"Our new dollhouse furniture, pose-and-play families, and doll clothes have already made such a meaningful impact in our classroom! The children were immediately excited when they first saw the new materials. As soon as I introduced them, they gathered around with big smiles, eager to explore, touch, and begin playing. Many of them excitedly pointed out the family members, the tiny furniture, and the different doll outfits, and they couldn't wait to start creating their own stories.\r\n\r\nWe have mostly used these materials in our dollhouse and Dramatic Play area, where children can act out real-life experiences and develop their social-emotional skills through play. They use the families and dollhouse furniture to create home routines like cooking dinner, putting babies to sleep, getting ready for school, and caring for one another. The doll clothes have added even more excitement, because the children love dressing and undressing the dolls while talking about clothing choices, family roles, and daily routines. These hands-on experiences have been especially helpful during our classroom discussions and play connected to families, homes, and clothing.\r\n\r\nOne special moment was seeing a small group of children work together to set up the dollhouse as a family home. They carefully arranged the furniture, chose which family members would live there, and created conversations between the dolls. It was wonderful to hear them using kind language, problem-solving together, and making connections to their own lives. These materials have encouraged so much imagination, cooperation, and meaningful conversation.\r\n\r\nThe children's reactions have been full of joy and curiosity. They were so proud and excited to have new classroom materials that felt real and familiar to them. Several students immediately started sharing stories about their own families, who lives in their home, and how they help take care of younger siblings. The materials made our classroom feel even more welcoming and engaging for them.\r\n\r\nOur next steps are to continue using these resources to support current classroom studies and expand children's pretend play, language development, and social skills. We will keep encouraging the children to tell stories, act out family experiences, and explore routines through play. We also plan to use the materials to support conversations about community, relationships, caring for others, and the different ways families live and spend time together. These resources are helping create rich learning experiences that feel meaningful and personal for our Pre-K students.","fullyFundedDate":1764731059806,"projectUrl":"project/multicultural-families/9848124/","projectTitle":"Multicultural Families","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sam","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10164160_orig.jpg?crop=1295,1295,x133,y428&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1754778117758","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10164160"},{"teacherId":119729,"projectId":10125966,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your extremely generous donation! My students absolutely adore the book, The Buffalo Fluffalo! We had our author visit today. We learned about how the author created the book, what inspired the book, how she came up with the words, and the process of working with an illustrator. My students were overjoyed when I told them that they were receiving their very own copy of the book! Thank you for helping my student to build their home libraries. We appreciate your support. Thank you again!","fullyFundedDate":1772426524860,"projectUrl":"project/first-graders-need-a-funny-picture-book/10125966/","projectTitle":"First Graders Need A Funny Picture Book!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Melissa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp119729_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1688956535285","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/melissafarran"},{"teacherId":3225854,"projectId":9774388,"letterContent":"We are so thankful to our donors for providing our new classroom carpet. It has truly transformed our learning space. We use the carpet every single day for morning meetings, read-alouds, small group lessons, and class discussions. One special moment that stands out was during a recent read-aloud. As we gathered together on the carpet, students were fully engaged—leaning in, turning and talking to partners, and sharing thoughtful predictions about the story. Having a comfortable, welcoming space where everyone can sit together has made our discussions more meaningful and helped build a stronger sense of classroom community.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the new rug, their faces lit up with excitement. They immediately noticed the colorful buttons and immediately related the carpet to one of our favorite Pete the Cat stories-they couldn't wait to sit on it. One student even said, \"It feels like our classroom is brand new!\" They understood right away that this was something special just for them, and they were so proud of their updated learning space.\r\n\r\nThanks to our generous donors, the carpet is now the heart of our classroom. As we move forward with our current lessons, we'll continue using it for collaborative projects, partner work, and class meetings. Our next steps include working on our light and clothing unit where we will collaborate for read alouds and interactive writing lessons on our new learning space! This space allows them to feel connected, comfortable, and ready to learn. We are incredibly grateful for your support—it has made a lasting difference in our classroom community.","fullyFundedDate":1760362547361,"projectUrl":"project/pre-k-students-need-a-cozy-colorful-rug/9774388/","projectTitle":"Pre-K Students Need a Cozy Colorful Rug!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lopez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/lopezm"},{"teacherId":119729,"projectId":9359461,"letterContent":"Thank you for your extremely generous donation. We had our first virtual bird lesson last week. We learned all about pigeons. My students were captivated! We are now able to differentiate between blue-bar and checkered pigeons! We now know that both male and female pigeons make crop milk to feed their babies. We learned that pigeons make their nests on top of buildings. We learned not to chase pigeons. We are going to have more lessons about migration patterns and nests. Thank you for helping my students learn more about birds. We appreciate your generosity!","fullyFundedDate":1748466933736,"projectUrl":"project/help-first-graders-soar-with-virtual-bi/9359461/","projectTitle":"Help First Graders Soar With Virtual Bird Lessons!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Melissa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp119729_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1688956535285","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/melissafarran"},{"teacherId":10356596,"projectId":9908706,"letterContent":"It's been three months with all of our new supplies and things have never been better in our classroom! Being able to print in the classroom has significantly cut down on my prep time, which has allowed me to spend my prep communicating with families and adapting the curriculum to meet my kids where they are. \r\n\r\nOur classroom is now filled with visuals that reflect the identities and needs of my students. I have been able to create incentive charts that reflect the special interests of the students, visuals that really clearly help them understand the flow of their day (which really reduces anxiety in our classroom), and lots of social stories (books that help the kids learn safe behaviors and social skills) that feature real photos of the students. \r\n\r\nThank you again for your support!","fullyFundedDate":1764295597246,"projectUrl":"project/adapt-our-classroom-for-the-kids-in-it/9908706/","projectTitle":"Adapt Our Classroom for the Kids in It!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Nina","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10356596"},{"teacherId":119729,"projectId":10059180,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generous donation. The pigeon stickers were a huge hit last week when we had a virtual lesson all about pigeons! Students were really excited to see which students had the same sticker. I put stickers on completed homework packets each week. Parents have commented that the sticker is motivating for their child. Thank you for helping me \"jazz\" up the packets with stickers! I know that my students are really going to like the other bird stickers since we love birds in our class! Thank you again for all your support!","fullyFundedDate":1770232888733,"projectUrl":"project/first-graders-need-stickers-and-supplies/10059180/","projectTitle":"First Graders Need Stickers and Supplies!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Melissa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp119729_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1688956535285","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/melissafarran"},{"teacherId":119729,"projectId":9872055,"letterContent":"Thank you for your extremely generous donation! My students were overjoyed to make these puppets! We decorated paper plates to create the shell. We glued strips of paper to create legs. Then we added eyes to a the strip of paper that had a head and tail. The plates were then stapled together. The body strip of paper can be slid back so the turtle can tuck its head into its shell. These simple puppets really brought us a lot of joy and it was easy for us to follow the directions over Zoom! We appreciate your generosity!","fullyFundedDate":1764629311490,"projectUrl":"project/first-graders-would-love-a-puppetry-work/9872055/","projectTitle":"First Graders Would Love a Puppetry Workshop!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Melissa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp119729_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1688956535285","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/melissafarran"},{"teacherId":3225854,"projectId":9774473,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, our classroom has been buzzing with curiosity, creativity, and confidence. Students have been actively using the new toddler science center to explore cause-and-effect, make observations, and ask thoughtful questions during hands-on investigations. The kid-safe appliances and sturdy hardwood side table have become part of our dramatic play area, where students practice real-world skills, collaborate with classmates, and use language to act out everyday experiences.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the materials, their excitement was immediate. They were eager to explore the new tools and couldn't wait to touch, try, and experiment. The play dough materials including rollers, design wheels, and assorted cutters, quickly became favorites, giving students new ways to strengthen fine motor skills while expressing creativity. The classroom labeling pockets have also helped students take more ownership of their space by keeping materials organized and easy to identify.\r\n\r\nBecause of these new resources, students are continuing to build skills through meaningful, play-based learning. Our next steps include expanding our current lessons by combining science exploration with sensory and dramatic play. Students will continue using the materials to work together, solve problems, and apply what they are learning in new and engaging ways. Your support has truly enhanced our classroom environment and made a lasting impact on our students' learning experiences.","fullyFundedDate":1759849202390,"projectUrl":"project/pre-k-needs-supplies-for-center-activiti/9774473/","projectTitle":"Pre-K Needs Supplies for Center Activities!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lopez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/lopezm"},{"teacherId":119729,"projectId":9958113,"letterContent":"Thank you for your very generous donation. My students absolutely love these books! What If You Had Animal Feet teaches kids about the amazing variety of feet in the animal kingdom and their specialty functions! We learned about cheetahs' fast feet, mountain goats' nimble climbing hooves, and to flies' sticky feet! Our favorite nose to learn about in What If You Had An Animal Nose, was the saiga. Thank you for helping my students learn more about animals! This series is extremely popular in our classroom! We appreciate your generosity!","fullyFundedDate":1767121023377,"projectUrl":"project/first-graders-need-more-animal-books/9958113/","projectTitle":"First Graders Need More Animal Books!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Melissa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp119729_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1688956535285","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/melissafarran"},{"teacherId":119729,"projectId":9949634,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generous donation! Thanks to you, my students now have a book showing illustrations of creative and unique snowmen. My students will be inspired for snow days to come! One student made a snow turtle! Thank you for ensuring that my students have their very own copies of this special book! I know that my students will cherish this book! We also love that there are birds on many of the pages! We appreciate your generosity and your kindness. Donors like you are our heroes! Thanks again!","fullyFundedDate":1765192873100,"projectUrl":"project/first-graders-want-to-make-stupendous-sn/9949634/","projectTitle":"First Graders Want to Make Stupendous Snowmen!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Melissa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp119729_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1688956535285","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/melissafarran"},{"teacherId":119729,"projectId":9929105,"letterContent":"Thank you for your very generous donation. Thanks to you, my students will be able to practice their lowercase and upper case letter formation while having fun. My students really love using dry erase boards! Even my students who have excellent handwriting enjoy using these boards. It is a calming activity. Thank you for supporting my students. We appreciate all of your help! Thank you for recognizing the importance of supporting students with basic skills. Donors like you are our heroes! Thanks again!","fullyFundedDate":1764686487842,"projectUrl":"project/first-graders-need-handwriting-practice/9929105/","projectTitle":"First Graders Need Handwriting Practice!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Melissa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp119729_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1688956535285","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/melissafarran"},{"teacherId":119729,"projectId":9888365,"letterContent":"Thank you for your very generous donation. My students absolutely adore learning about animals. These books are full of fascinating facts. Three of our favorite animals that we learned about are archerfish, blue-footed boobies, and horned lizards. We loved learning about the blue-footed booby mating dance. We learned that archerfish spit at bugs on branches. The bugs then fall in the water and archerfish can eat them. Horned lizards squirt blood from special sacs in their eyes. They squirt the blood on predators. Thank you for helping my students learn more about animals. We appreciate your generosity!","fullyFundedDate":1763554782015,"projectUrl":"project/first-graders-want-books-about-animals/9888365/","projectTitle":"First Graders Want Books About Animals!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Melissa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp119729_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1688956535285","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/melissafarran"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_593","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":563,"numTeachers":57,"percentFrplEligible":31,"percentAsian":5,"percentBlack":15,"percentWhite":48,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":19,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"9.9:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":false,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":73.1,"schoolId":593,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about PS 261 Zipporiah Mills on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"PS 261 Zipporiah Mills","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/new-york/new-york-city-dept-of-ed/ps-261-philip-livingston/593"}