{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"PS 261 Zipporiah Mills","outOfStateSupporters":26.7,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10164160,"projectId":9831487,"letterContent":"The sand table has become one of the most exciting spots in our Pre-K classroom. Right now, we are using it with sand, and the children love digging, scooping, pouring, and building every day. One day, a group of children worked together to make a \"sand city\" with roads and tunnels. They talked about their ideas, shared tools, and helped each other when the sand fell apart. It was wonderful to see so much teamwork, problem-solving, and learning happening through play.\r\n\r\nWhen the children first saw the table, their faces lit up. They rushed over and couldn't wait to touch the sand and explore. Some said it felt like the beach, and others said it was like digging at a park. Even children who are usually quiet or unsure jumped right in and started playing and talking with friends.\r\n\r\nIn April, we will change the table from sand to water, and the children are already so excited about it. They will explore pouring, filling, floating, and sinking, and learn how water moves in different containers. This table will keep supporting curiosity, hands-on learning, and joyful exploration all year long. Because of your generosity, our Pre-K students have a special place where they can learn, play, and discover together every day.","fullyFundedDate":1760837909432,"projectUrl":"project/water-explorers/9831487/","projectTitle":"Water Explorers","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":10164160,"projectId":9786557,"letterContent":"Our classroom has truly come alive with curiosity and excitement thanks to these new science and sensory resources. The children have been using the mini water sensory table every day to pour, scoop, measure, and experiment with what happens when materials move, mix, sink, or float. They talked through their ideas, made predictions, and adjusted their plans when things didn't work the way they expected, this was real science in action.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the materials, they gasped, cheered, and immediately asked, \"Can we use it now?\" The magnifiers, motion tubes, and sensory tubes quickly became favorites. Children were especially excited to look closely at leaves, seeds, and classroom objects using the jumbo magnifiers and science viewers. They were amazed by how different things looked up close and proudly shared their discoveries with friends. The microscope slides were another big hit; students took turns observing insects and plants and describing what they noticed, using new vocabulary like \"lines,\" \"patterns,\" and \"tiny pieces.\"\r\n\r\nThese materials are now a core part of our science time and learning centers. We're using the weighing station and sorting sets to explore measurement and comparison, while the droppers, scoops, and magnetic wands strengthen fine motor skills alongside science exploration. The nonfiction science books have become go-to read-alouds and are helping students connect hands-on experiences to real-world science concepts.\r\n\r\nNext, students will use these tools to dive deeper into our current investigations, such as measuring, observing, predicting, and recording what they see. We will soon begin a new inquiry where children will explore how materials change, how living things grow, and how scientists use tools to learn more about the world. Because of your generosity, my students are not just learning about science; they are truly becoming scientists. Thank you for giving them the chance to explore, wonder, and discover every single day.","fullyFundedDate":1760804794984,"projectUrl":"project/pre-k-little-scientists/9786557/","projectTitle":"Pre-k Little Scientists","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":3225854,"projectId":9733861,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for providing our classroom with a laminator. This simple piece of technology has already made a big difference in how my students learn and engage with materials.\r\n\r\nBecause we can now laminate resources, students are able to reuse learning tools instead of treating them as one-time papers. We've laminated task cards, math games, reference sheets, and writing organizers, which allows students to practice skills again and again using dry-erase markers. This has helped them focus more on learning and less on worrying about making mistakes. It has also made lessons more interactive and hands-on.\r\n\r\nWhat excites my students most is that their work feels more \"official\" and important. When they see their charts, flashcards, or group activities laminated, they take pride in using them and caring for them. They love knowing that something they use today will still be around tomorrow and throughout the year.\r\n\r\nSome students have especially connected with this new technology, particularly those who struggle with confidence or fine motor skills. Being able to erase and try again has reduced anxiety and encouraged them to participate more freely. I've also seen students who need extra repetition benefit from laminated practice materials they can use independently or in small groups.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has helped create a more engaging, supportive, and sustainable learning environment for my students. Thank you for investing in our classroom and in their success.","fullyFundedDate":1758898735552,"projectUrl":"project/pre-k-students-need-a-laminator/9733861/","projectTitle":"Pre- K Students Need a Laminator!","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":9685197,"letterContent":"Thank you for donating these bird cards! My students were absolutely overjoyed to receive them as a holiday gift. These cards will help my students learn more about birds! The cards describe their nests, where they live, and what they eat. They include a QR code so students can listen to their calls. Thanks to you, I was able to give my students a special, but also educational gift. My students will deepen their love of birds with this gift! It will also provide them with some more screen free activities! Thank you for supporting my students!","fullyFundedDate":1757502768512,"projectUrl":"project/first-graders-want-to-learn-about-birds/9685197/","projectTitle":"First Graders Want to Learn About Birds!","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":9492660,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation! Thanks to you, I was able to create math material kits for my students to use at home. I was able to give them double-sided counters, dry erase markers, socks to use as erasers, foam dice, and a deck of math cards. The dry erase markers and socks will be used to play math games. I gave the kits out on Thursday and on Friday morning, many students told me that they used some of the materials! Thank you for helping my students deepen their math skills. We appreciate your generosity!","fullyFundedDate":1757820434172,"projectUrl":"project/first-graders-need-math-materials/9492660/","projectTitle":"First Graders Need Math Materials","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":9713835,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation! Thanks to you, I was able to create math material kits for my students to use at home. You donated plastic sleeves and I used them for math games. You also donated double-sided dry erase number line boards. My students were especially excited about the boards!\r\nI gave the kits out on Thursday and on Friday morning, many students told me that they used some of the materials! Thank you for helping my students deepen their math skills. We appreciate your generosity!","fullyFundedDate":1757902491782,"projectUrl":"project/first-graders-need-math-materials/9713835/","projectTitle":"First Graders Need Math Materials!","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":9919516,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generous donation! I used the Ziploc bags as storage for math materials in math kits that I put together for my class. The copy paper will come in handy for printing materials and for making birthday books. I need post it notes for when I am putting in for copies. We use dry erase markers a lot, and we are always in need of more! I am going to use the birthday certificates when I run out of my current batch of certificates. Thank you for helping my class run smoother with these supplies!","fullyFundedDate":1764686416383,"projectUrl":"project/first-graders-need-basic-supplies/9919516/","projectTitle":"First Graders Need Basic 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":9807525,"letterContent":"Thank you for your extremely generous donation! Thanks to you, I was able to purchase math and literacy resources from Teachers Pay Teachers. I was able to buy math bundle that corresponds to our new math curriculum. These sheets are more kid friendly than the worksheet pages. I have been assigning pages for homework.\r\nToday, we used one of the sheets for a class assignment. I also purchased literacy materials. Creating homework packets can be a time consuming task. These resources help immensely! We appreciate your generosity!","fullyFundedDate":1760713511527,"projectUrl":"project/first-graders-need-math-materials/9807525/","projectTitle":"First Graders Need Math Materials!","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":9480651,"letterContent":"Thank you for donating towards my color printer. Unfortunately, it was broken and I had to return it. I used the funds to buy copies of a beautiful book of bird poems called, \"Backyard Birds\". My students absolutely adore this book! The poems are short and kid friendly. The illustrations are stunning. The birds mentioned in the book are East Coast birds, so it's a perfect way for my students to deepen their knowledge about local birds. We are so grateful for your support. Learning about birds has brought a lot of joy to my class! Thank you again!","fullyFundedDate":1753997597708,"projectUrl":"project/first-graders-need-color-copies/9480651/","projectTitle":"First Graders Need Color Copies!","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":9883532,"letterContent":"Thank you for your extremely generous donation! My students absolutely adored this folktale when I read it to them and they were overjoyed when they received their very own copy! We love the multiple morals, the fantastic illustrations and the opportunity to do funny high and low voices. Thank you for helping to build my students' home libraries. Thank you for helping them fall in love with books by providing them with a book that they adore. We appreciate your generosity and kindness. Donors like you are our heroes!","fullyFundedDate":1762775656946,"projectUrl":"project/first-graders-want-a-hilarious-book/9883532/","projectTitle":"First Graders Want a Hilarious 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":2961481,"projectId":7036352,"letterContent":"Thank you again for funding our class iPads! Thank you for providing me with the tools to teach my students coding. My students have had many successes using the iPads for coding and learning to program robots using a variety of apps; allowing my students the ability to control their robots movements and sounds. \r\n\r\nIn addition, the iPads have been wonderful with my ENL students who require translating. The iPads have helped me communicate with my students in their own language and translating my lessons to the students. \r\n\r\nThank you for being PHENOMENAL!!!","fullyFundedDate":1675809394697,"projectUrl":"project/ipads-for-science/7036352/","projectTitle":"iPads for Science","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Algamoos","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/khadija"},{"teacherId":119729,"projectId":9668782,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generous donation. Thanks to you, I have been able to provide fig bars and crackers to students whose families did not pack snack. Their favorite fig bar flavor is blueberry. My students especially like the crackers. Thank you for making sure that my students are able to eat a filling snack with their classmates. Thank you for ensuring that my students are not going hungry. Your support means the world to us! We appreciate your generosity. Thank you for caring about my students.","fullyFundedDate":1760703077659,"projectUrl":"project/first-graders-need-snacks-and-supplies/9668782/","projectTitle":"First Graders Need Snacks 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"}],"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":73.3,"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"}