{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"PS 56 Louis DeSario School","outOfStateSupporters":22.9,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":4730420,"projectId":9513721,"letterContent":"Let there be light... Or rather, a light table in a pre-K classroom! We're so grateful for this wonderful addition to our classroom and all because of you! Now we have the light table as a center every single day. We studied apples first, and now we're counting with dice, used translucent letters, and now we are building with translucent blocks, which is fun and the kids talk about color, shapes, buildings, shadows, and so much more.\r\n The first time the kids saw the light table, they weren't sure what it would do. So first, we turned on the light. That seems exciting... And then we added something we could see through! Even more exciting! And the fun and learning went on!\r\n Now that it's holiday time, lights are everywhere. It's the perfect project to work on with the light table! We'll start with color changing and mixing with color paddles! Stay tuned... pre-K will have a great time lighting our classroom!","fullyFundedDate":1755725980330,"projectUrl":"project/let-there-be-light-table-in-pre-k/9513721/","projectTitle":"Let There Be Light (Table!) in Pre-K!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Netzel","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4730420_orig.png?crop=1169,1170,x0,y783&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1753817921810","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4730420"},{"teacherId":3551318,"projectId":9795869,"letterContent":"The cube chairs donated have very helpful for children at the carpet! They help support the children who need clear physical boundaries to stay focused.When seated in a cube chair, the small back and sides help them stay upright and maintain attention during group time.\r\n\r\nThe supportive sides and back help these children, especially those still developing core strength, sit in a comfortable and correct posture. It prevents slouching or constant movement that can be distracting.\r\n\r\nThe enclosed sides have created a \"cozy,\" secure feeling, especially for those children who are sensory-sensitive or need a bit of extra support to feel calm in group settings.\r\n\r\nThank you so much for your support!","fullyFundedDate":1762267447986,"projectUrl":"project/supporting-little-learners-one-cube-chai/9795869/","projectTitle":"Supporting Little Learners-One Cube Chair at a Time.","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Nicole","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3551318_orig.jpg?crop=1631,1631,x276,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755006257704","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/nicolecino"},{"teacherId":3551318,"projectId":9579284,"letterContent":"I am incredibly grateful for your generosity and support of my classroom through DonorsChoose. Because of your donation, we now have a color printer and a Tonies machine, as well as exciting new hands-on learning tools including the Numberblocks balance set and ocean animal manipulatives that we will use later in the year.\r\n\r\nThe color printer has already made such a difference in how I prepare engaging, visually rich materials for my students. From center activities and visual schedules to anchor charts and communication supports, having the ability to print in color allows me to create resources that truly capture my students' attention and support their learning in meaningful ways.\r\n\r\nThe Tonies machine has quickly become a favorite in our classroom. My students light up when they get to choose a Tonie and listen to stories during centers. It's helping build their listening comprehension, language skills, and love of storytelling—all while fostering independence and joy in reading.\r\n\r\nLater in the year, we'll be introducing the Numberblocks balance set to strengthen early math skills through hands-on exploration of number concepts, and the ocean animals will be used during our water unit. I know these resources will spark curiosity, encourage problem-solving, and help my students make real-world connections to what they're learning.\r\n\r\nYour kindness has made our classroom more vibrant, engaging, and full of opportunities for growth. Thank you for believing in my students and giving them the tools they need to thrive.","fullyFundedDate":1758824981911,"projectUrl":"project/play-learn-grow-empowering-preschool/9579284/","projectTitle":"Play, Learn, Grow: Empowering Preschool Minds!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Nicole","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3551318_orig.jpg?crop=1631,1631,x276,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755006257704","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/nicolecino"},{"teacherId":10066643,"projectId":9669044,"letterContent":"When our new printer arrived, my students were so excited to see how it would help bring our art classroom to life! I can now print colorful reference materials, learning standards, and visual examples that support each art lesson. This has made it so much easier for students to see what we're learning and stay engaged.\r\n\r\nOne of the first things I printed were visual art standards and artist examples for our paper sculpture unit. The students immediately noticed the bright images and said it helped them understand what we were creating. It's been wonderful watching them connect what they see to what they're making.\r\n\r\nThanks to your generosity, our classroom now feels more organized and visually inspiring. My next step is to continue building a library of printed resources—artist posters, rubrics, and step-by-step visuals—to help students grow in both creativity and confidence.","fullyFundedDate":1758636723405,"projectUrl":"project/art-seating/9669044/","projectTitle":"Art Seating","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Samantha Birch","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10066643_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755101650841","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrssamanthabirch"},{"teacherId":10080281,"projectId":9464616,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom rug and small-group table project! When my students first walked in and saw the new setup, their faces were filled with excitement. They immediately sat down on the rug, saying how cozy and colorful it felt. It has quickly become our favorite gathering spot for morning meetings, story time, and class discussions. The small-group table has also made such a difference during reading and math lessons — it allows me to meet with students in smaller groups, give extra support, and build their confidence.\r\n\r\nThese new additions have completely transformed our classroom into a more welcoming and engaging learning space. My students are more focused, comfortable, and eager to participate. Thank you for giving them a place where learning feels joyful and meaningful every single day. We are so grateful for your kindness and generosity!","fullyFundedDate":1753135385730,"projectUrl":"project/cozy-and-comfortable-learning-environmen/9464616/","projectTitle":"Cozy and Comfortable Learning Environment","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Deats","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10080281"},{"teacherId":10083363,"projectId":9476326,"letterContent":"Thanks to your incredible generosity, our classroom has truly transformed into a flexible, inviting, and engaging space for learning. The new seating options and floor cushions have completely changed the way my students learn, collaborate, and express themselves each day. What once felt like a traditional classroom has now become a vibrant learning environment where every student can find their perfect spot to focus, think, and create. Our next steps include using the flexible learning spaces for our upcoming inquiry projects, where students will research topics they're passionate about and present their findings in creative ways. I'm excited to see how these flexible spaces will continue to inspire innovation and deeper thinking.","fullyFundedDate":1753663254028,"projectUrl":"project/from-floor-to-focus-flexible-learning-s/9476326/","projectTitle":"From Floor to Focus: Flexible Learning Spaces","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Pesce","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10083363"},{"teacherId":5726596,"projectId":9329701,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, our classroom has taken a huge leap forward in connecting students with real-world, hands-on technology — and the results have been amazing!\r\n\r\nMany of you may use technology at home every day, but in our classroom, it's more than just a convenience — it's a tool for discovery, creativity, and deep learning. With the addition of our new robots and document camera, students are not only engaging with technology, they're learning *how it works* and how to make it work for *them*.\r\n\r\nOur students are already familiar with Scratch, a coding platform designed for young learners. But now, they're taking their skills to the next level by programming physical robots using the code they write. This connection between the digital and physical worlds has opened up a new layer of excitement and understanding. They're no longer just seeing their code on a screen — they're watching it come to life in front of them.\r\n\r\nThe most exciting part for our students? Watching their robot follow the commands *they* created. You can literally see the pride and wonder on their faces when their code makes the robot move, speak, or respond. It's learning through experimentation, trial and error, and success — all in one.\r\n\r\nThe document camera has also been a game changer for class instruction. I can now easily demonstrate tasks and show materials up close in real time, keeping every student engaged and allowing for a more interactive and inclusive learning experience.\r\n\r\nOne student in particular, who was previously hesitant to participate in coding lessons, has completely come out of their shell. The moment they saw the robot move based on their commands, something clicked. Now, they're one of the first to volunteer during tech time and have even started helping classmates troubleshoot their own programs.\r\n\r\nThese tools are not just enhancing education — they're inspiring a deeper love of learning, and showing students the real potential of technology in their futures.\r\n\r\nThank you for making this possible. You've not only brought tools into our classroom — you've brought opportunity, confidence, and joy!","fullyFundedDate":1746661347777,"projectUrl":"project/keeping-up-with-ai/9329701/","projectTitle":"Keeping up with AI","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Scalise","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp5726596_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1534706628134","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5726596"},{"teacherId":9871787,"projectId":9002456,"letterContent":"Thank you for donating to my bringing AI into the Classroom. My students have truly enjoyed learning about AI and the impacts it has on our lives. We have explored different areas of AI and have talked about how we can use it within our lives. We have discuss the positive and negative impacts of AI. They have truly enjoyed this experience.\r\n\r\nYour funding has helped me bring this all to my students and I look forward to continuing our explorations of Artificial Intelligence and how we can find the best uses of it within our lives.","fullyFundedDate":1743098217302,"projectUrl":"project/bringing-ai-into-the-classroom/9002456/","projectTitle":"Bringing AI into the Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hannah","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9871787"},{"teacherId":3551318,"projectId":9192633,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our \"Water Exploration\" project in Pre-K! Because of your generosity, our classroom is now filled with exciting new tools for hands-on, sensory-rich learning.\r\n\r\nThe spray bottles, sponges, and ice cube trays you helped provide have already become instant favorites among our little learners. Whether they're squeezing sponges, spraying water for art, or watching ice melt, our students are building important skills like fine motor development, cause-and-effect understanding, and cooperative play — all through the magic of water!\r\n\r\nThese materials have opened up so many opportunities for exploration, creativity, and joy. Thank you for believing in early childhood education and for helping us make learning both meaningful and fun.","fullyFundedDate":1742905763800,"projectUrl":"project/little-learners-big-waves-water-explo/9192633/","projectTitle":"\"Little Learners, Big Waves: Water Exploration for Pre-K\"","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Nicole","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3551318_orig.jpg?crop=1631,1631,x276,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755006257704","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/nicolecino"},{"teacherId":9573324,"projectId":8546913,"letterContent":"Your contributions, particularly the lamination pouches, have made a significant impact on the learning environment for my students. \r\nWith the lamination pouches, I have been able to effectively label my entire English as a New Language (ENL) classroom. This enhancement not only supports the organization of our materials but also ensures that all word wall words and flashcards can be reused throughout the years without the risk of damage. The durability provided by the lamination has been invaluable in maintaining engaging and accessible resources for all students. Your kindness and support play a crucial role in enriching the educational experience of the children in my classroom. I am truly grateful for your generosity and commitment to education. \r\nThank you once again for your thoughtful contribution. I look forward to sharing more updates on how these supplies have positively impacted my students' learning experience.","fullyFundedDate":1735265199660,"projectUrl":"project/sel-for-ells-2/8546913/","projectTitle":"Sel for ELLs #2","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Castellano","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9573324_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1718999661246","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9573324"},{"teacherId":2573089,"projectId":8771836,"letterContent":"For our students with special needs, social-emotional learning can be a complex journey. The use of colored materials has been proven to have a profound effect on learning and engagement. By utilizing color in visual aids, lesson materials, and emotional regulation tools, we can create a more stimulating learning atmosphere that appeals to our students' diverse sensory experiences. For example, using colors to represent different emotions—such as red for anger, blue for sadness, or green for calm—provides a tangible way for students to identify and articulate their feelings. This helps them to better navigate and manage their emotions effectively.\r\n\r\nHaving a colored printer has revolutionized the ways in which we present materials. Students are more engaged when the content is colorful and visually appealing. This technology allows us to create customized worksheets, social stories, and visual schedules tailored to individual learners' needs. The ability to instantly print engaging materials means we can swiftly adapt lessons based on real-time student feedback. Many students have responded positively to learning materials that are vibrant and multi-sensory, enhancing retention and understanding.\r\n\r\nParticularly, we have seen remarkable progress with students like ****and ****. ****, who previously found it challenging to express her emotions verbally, has embraced the use of color-coded emotion charts, which have allowed her to better communicate how she feels. The colorful, visual cues serve as a bridge for her to interact socially with peers and teachers. ***, who often struggled with concentration, has shown considerable improvement in his engagement levels when using color-coded task lists. The clarity and appeal of colored tasks have helped him remain focused and motivated throughout his work.\r\n\r\nIn conclusion, the addition of a colored printer has not only enriched our learning materials but has also nurtured the emotional growth and engagement of our special needs students. We are incredibly grateful for this opportunity, and we look forward to continuing to see the positive outcomes.\r\n\r\nThank you for your ongoing support in making a real difference in our students' lives.","fullyFundedDate":1733573200622,"projectUrl":"project/bring-some-color-to-special-needs-educat/8771836/","projectTitle":"Bring Some Color to Special Needs Education","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Elias","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2573089"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_1180","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":640,"numTeachers":48,"percentFrplEligible":41,"percentAsian":14,"percentBlack":1,"percentWhite":68,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":13,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"13.3:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":false,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":77.1,"schoolId":1180,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about PS 56 Louis DeSario School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"PS 56 Louis DeSario School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/new-york/new-york-city-dept-of-ed/ps-56-louis-desario-school/1180"}
Join the 223 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
PS 56 Louis DeSario School is
an urban public school
in Staten Island, New York that is part of New York City Dept Of Ed.
It serves 640 students
in grades K - 5 with a student/teacher ratio of 13.3:1.
Its teachers have had 52 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
Public School
Grades K - 5
640 Students
48 Teachers
250 Kramer AveContact info is sourced from our partners at MDR Education, and DonorsChoose updates our site ahead of each school year.
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DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. Each classroom request for funding was created by a classroom teacher and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
of students receive free or reduced price lunch
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
Source: the National Center for Education Statistics
28%
of students are Black, Latino, Native
American, or Asian
Data about school demographics comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. The numbers in this chart may not add up to 100% because of limitations in the available data.
PS 56 Louis DeSario School Support on DonorsChoose
Last updated Dec 4, 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.
PS 56 Louis DeSario School
$35,507
raised using DonorsChoose
52
projects
funded
18
teachers
funded
223
donors
1
project
for
basic supplies
10
projects for
technology
6
projects for
books
2
projects
for
art supplies
PS 56 Louis DeSario School has received support from
172 individuals from New York and
51 individuals out-of-state.