{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"PS993 @ PS208","outOfStateSupporters":35.6,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":2526539,"projectId":9511688,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom. Your generosity is truly making a difference for my students with significant learning needs. With the laminating sheets and Velcro you helped provide, we are now able to create durable, hands-on visual schedules and learning materials that my students rely on every single day.\r\n\r\nThese materials allow me to make individualized picture schedules, task cards, and communication supports that withstand constant handling. Many of my students depend on visual structure to understand routines, reduce anxiety, and build independence. Because the schedules are laminated and reinforced with Velcro, students can move pieces on their own, practice sequencing steps, and take ownership of their daily activities.\r\n\r\nThe backing paper and borders you helped fund have also made a meaningful difference. They allowed me to create a neutral, calm classroom environment that reduces visual distractions and helps students stay focused. A soothing and organized space is essential for my learners, and these simple materials go a long way in supporting their emotional regulation and engagement.\r\n\r\nIn addition, using the Teachers Pay Teachers gift card, I was able to purchase highly engaging activities that help my students practice the skill of fulfilling an order. This is not only an important functional life skill, but it also directly prepares them for working in our classroom's school store. The activities give students hands-on opportunities to read an order, gather items, and complete a task from start to finish—building confidence and independence.\r\n\r\nWhat might seem like simple supplies and resources actually gives my students access to the tools they need to thrive. You are helping them stay engaged, feel successful, and develop life skills that will support them far beyond our classroom.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in my students and investing in their growth. We are so grateful.","fullyFundedDate":1758899146028,"projectUrl":"project/real-life-begins-here/9511688/","projectTitle":"Real Life Begins Here","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Healy","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2526539_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1476985160555","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/2526539"},{"teacherId":9259619,"projectId":9309296,"letterContent":"The recent addition of new resources to my classroom has significantly transformed the way my students engage with music. We have begun to practice as a full ensemble, which has been an exhilarating experience for everyone involved. Many of my students haven't experienced performing alongside their peers. The glockenspiels have become a focal point of our music classes, this allows my students to explore the joy of making music together. The excitement in the room is unmatched as they discover the unique sounds they can create when playing in unison. Additionally, we have introduced the small Zippy piano into our activities, which has captured the hearts of my elementary students. The moment they laid eyes on this miniature grand-style piano, their faces lit up with excitement and curiosity. It was as if they could envision themselves as professional pianists, sitting at the keys, creating beautiful melodies for their audience. This new resource has not only enhanced their musical experience but has also ignited a deeper passion for music, opening up a world of possibilities for their creativity. To further celebrate this newfound enthusiasm, I am planning a small piano recital, where students can showcase their skills and share their love for music with their peers. This has allowed me to open my classroom doors to the parents of my elementary students to showcase their immense talents and give students the opportunity to spread music to their families and friends. \r\n\r\nIn the process of implementing these new resources, I faced some challenges, particularly with the replacement of certain items in my original order. However, I took this opportunity to select instruments that would foster a sense of ownership and responsibility among my students. One of the key additions was the request for ukulele cases, which serve a dual purpose. Not only do these cases protect the instruments, but they also instill a sense of accountability in the students. Previously, I encouraged them to handle the instruments with care, but the absence of cases made it difficult for them to do so effectively especially when packing and unpacking their instruments. With the generous donation that made this possible, my students now have the freedom to pack and unpack their instruments with ease, knowing they are taking steps to protect their musical instruments. This responsibility is crucial in helping them develop a deeper connection to their instruments and a greater appreciation for the music they create.\r\n\r\nAs we move forward with our current classroom projects, the impact of these new resources continues to resonate within our learning environment. The students are not only excited about the instruments but are also eager to explore various musical concepts and techniques. Our upcoming lessons will focus on collaborative compositions, where students will work together to perform pieces together on the glockenspiels and also choose a piece of music to perform solo on our new Zippy piano in preparation for our piano recital. This collaborative approach encourages teamwork and creativity, allowing students to express themselves while learning from one another. The support from our donors has been instrumental in making these experiences possible, and I am confident that they would be thrilled with the outcome they produce, especially with the addition of the gracious donation that way given to my classroom. Without donors like you we would not have been able to have this opportunity for collaboration and independence in my classroom. Thank you again for your donation to my classroom!!!!","fullyFundedDate":1752586549885,"projectUrl":"project/music-makes-the-world/9309296/","projectTitle":"Music Makes the World","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Linda","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9259619_orig.png?crop=799,799,x115,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1694038242920","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9259619"},{"teacherId":10035414,"projectId":9354763,"letterContent":"The iPad that was graciously funded has been an integral part of my therapy these past few months. I have been able to acquire 3 communication applications on it, which allows me to model longer sentences for them to imitate and learn on their own communication devices. \r\nThey have also enjoyed having two screens, so that one can be used to display materials while they still have access to their applications. \r\nLastly, having a tablet makes me more mobile, to provide access to communication across the school environment; as communication happens everywhere! \r\n\r\nThank you again!","fullyFundedDate":1747528896964,"projectUrl":"project/keeping-students-appy-with-ipad-to-mod/9354763/","projectTitle":"Keeping Students \"APPY\" with iPad to Model AAC Apps!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Liz","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10035414"},{"teacherId":2192463,"projectId":9426139,"letterContent":"When the new materials arrived, my students could hardly contain their excitement. They immediately wanted to open everything and start exploring. The bright, colorful money manipulatives and hands-on games captured their attention right away. For many of my students, learning can be challenging due to their speech, language, and cognitive delays, but when learning is interactive and sensory-based, it opens up a whole new world for them. Seeing their faces light up as they handled the new coins and began matching and sorting them was one of those moments that remind me why I love teaching.\r\n\r\nOur new \"Classroom Store\" has quickly become one of the most engaging parts of our school day. Each morning, the students practice identifying and counting coins as part of their math routine. They earn play money by completing classroom jobs, following directions, and engaging in their lessons. Then, during \"store time,\" they get to use their coins to purchase snacks that meet their sensory preferences. Many of my students are very selective eaters due to sensory sensitivities, so having snacks that accommodate their individual needs keeps them focused and happy throughout the day. It's incredible to see how motivated they've become to learn about money because it's tied to something that feels rewarding and meaningful to them.\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite moments so far was when one of my students, who typically struggles with attention and fine motor skills, proudly counted out his coins independently and handed them to me to \"buy\" his favorite snack. He had the biggest smile on his face and clapped his hands when I told him he got the amount exactly right. It may seem like a small thing, but for him, it was huge—a real moment of independence and success. Watching that kind of growth and pride in my students is what makes every effort worthwhile.\r\n\r\nThe manipulatives and games have made it possible for my students to understand abstract concepts like coin value and addition in a way that makes sense to them. They are tactile learners—touching, moving, and seeing the coins helps them make those important connections. The games have also encouraged social interactions and turn-taking, which can be difficult for my students with autism. During our \"store\" lessons, I often see them waiting patiently for their turn or helping a classmate count coins. These are such important social and emotional skills that go beyond academics.\r\n\r\nWhen my students first saw the new snacks and realized they could \"buy\" them, they were thrilled. Many of them have limited diets, so having familiar, sensory-friendly snacks available has made our mornings so much smoother. Instead of feeling hungry or distracted, they are energized and ready to learn. This project has not only supported their financial literacy goals—it has also improved their focus, attention, and overall well-being.\r\n\r\nOur next step is to expand the project by introducing paper bills and simple budgeting lessons. I want my students to begin thinking about saving and making choices about what they can afford to buy. These lessons are helping them build real-life skills that will serve them well beyond our classroom. My hope is that one day they will be able to use these skills in the community, like going to a store or café and buying something independently.\r\n\r\nI am deeply grateful to everyone who made this project possible. As a Special Education teacher, I see every day how much a small change can make a big difference. These materials have given my students the chance to learn important life skills in a way that feels fun, empowering, and achievable. Thank you for helping me create a classroom environment where my students can thrive, grow, and experience the joy of learning. Your generosity has truly touched our hearts and made a lasting impact on their education and confidence.","fullyFundedDate":1755522450076,"projectUrl":"project/improving-financial-literacy-by-using-mo/9426139/","projectTitle":"Improving Financial Literacy by Using Money to Buy Snacks","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Leah Dworkis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2192463_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1474128502547","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/leahdworkis"},{"teacherId":1465245,"projectId":9516784,"letterContent":"I'm so excited that part two of Glowforge Magic has been fully funded. However, we are still waiting for part 1, the Glowforge itself, to be fully funded. \r\n\r\nThe impact of this project is very different on my students. They do know that at some point, the Glowforge will be here. The interesting part is that they wanted to know what the Air filter would do. Since COVID, we have air filter systems in our classrooms. They wanted to know what the difference was. So, we are going to do a lesson on how to use the air filter and why we need to use it.","fullyFundedDate":1757003031330,"projectUrl":"project/glowforge-magic-part-ii/9516784/","projectTitle":"Glowforge Magic Part II","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Manley-Ryder","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1465245_orig.jpg?crop=1029,1029,x36,y194&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1588117433706","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/j-manley-ryder"},{"teacherId":1465245,"projectId":9362722,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting my classroom. We were disappointed that we did not receive the Glow Forge; there was an issue with it. But we did receive the plastic storage bins and the 4-tier storage cabinet. \r\n\r\nThe impact of what we received was amazing; the students were able to organize the items we needed for the cafe we will be starting up this year. They labeled everything, which allows them to find what they need without becoming frustrated when they need to get supplies. What also helps is that the organizer has clear doors, so if they are having a difficult time with reading words, they can visually see what they are looking for.","fullyFundedDate":1752503947612,"projectUrl":"project/lets-glow/9362722/","projectTitle":"Let's Glow!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Manley-Ryder","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1465245_orig.jpg?crop=1029,1029,x36,y194&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1588117433706","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/j-manley-ryder"},{"teacherId":1465245,"projectId":9345691,"letterContent":"I want to thank each and everyone of you that have supporting my classroom project through donors choose. My students have learned to use the computer to design and to take that design and use it print and cut. Their learning continued by taking their design and using put on tee shirts and bags; some of them even learned how to create a photo layout. The learning has been amazing. \r\n\r\nThe biggest impact is and continues to be is learning to measure. They have learned it is better to measure more than once so they wasted less of their time have to do it over again.","fullyFundedDate":1751390744588,"projectUrl":"project/what-are-your-measurements/9345691/","projectTitle":"What Are Your Measurements?","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Manley-Ryder","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1465245_orig.jpg?crop=1029,1029,x36,y194&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1588117433706","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/j-manley-ryder"},{"teacherId":1465245,"projectId":9326777,"letterContent":"Thanks to all the donors who supported my classroom with this project. My Students are learning new skills with the items we received. They love food (then again who doesn't) and learning to create their own meals and snacks. This project is all about learning the process. They will continue throughout the school year to learn how to use different appliances and utensils correctly while preparing for a meal. \r\n\r\nThe impact of their learning has gone beyond what I expected. With the right tools and knowledge my students will continue to learn lesson they will continue to use throughout their life.","fullyFundedDate":1746807963422,"projectUrl":"project/lets-learn-to-process-this/9326777/","projectTitle":"Let's Learn to Process This!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Manley-Ryder","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1465245_orig.jpg?crop=1029,1029,x36,y194&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1588117433706","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/j-manley-ryder"},{"teacherId":1465245,"projectId":9323766,"letterContent":"Over the summer we started our recycling program for bottles and glass. The students learned to sort the items, bag them. We learned to take the bus to the supermarket and how to use the recycling machines. They liked the sound of the glass breaking. \r\n\r\nThe impact of this project continued with their understanding to take the paper from the machine, which showed them how much they earned by recycling, and able to buy items they wanted. They learned that sometimes they needed more money, and other times they actually got some money back","fullyFundedDate":1747069499953,"projectUrl":"project/reduce-reuse-recycle/9323766/","projectTitle":"Reduce, Reuse, Recycle","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Manley-Ryder","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1465245_orig.jpg?crop=1029,1029,x36,y194&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1588117433706","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/j-manley-ryder"},{"teacherId":1465245,"projectId":9273389,"letterContent":"Thank each of you for helping in bringing this project to life for my kids. They were so excited to be able to create their make their own food from scratch. The impact of this project was amazing. My students are special needs and have a hard time retaining information. Using food to teach math and science skills made it so much easier for them to retain the information. \r\n\r\nThey learned life skills without even realizing they were life skills. They learned to read a recipe and make a list of ingredients needed. They learned to compare prices at the store to get the most for the money they had. How to measure using cups and spoons, how to set a timer and why timing is so important when making things. The list goes on and on.","fullyFundedDate":1746809232602,"projectUrl":"project/make-way-we-are-coming-in-to-cook/9273389/","projectTitle":"Make Way We Are Coming in to Cook!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Manley-Ryder","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1465245_orig.jpg?crop=1029,1029,x36,y194&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1588117433706","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/j-manley-ryder"},{"teacherId":1465245,"projectId":9273359,"letterContent":"Your support has made an amazing impact on my students' learning and understanding of how and why we recycle. They are more eager to use items to help protect planet Earth. \r\n\r\nWe are on our second trip to the store to recycle our bottles and use the money we have earned to go shopping and buy the ingredients we need to make healthy snacks in school. Their vocabulary and use of words has increased along with their money math skills. Because of this their behaviors have improved, and they are learning to work with each other in a safer and healthy environment.","fullyFundedDate":1746650725971,"projectUrl":"project/lets-set-up-our-space/9273359/","projectTitle":"Lets Set Up Our Space","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Manley-Ryder","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1465245_orig.jpg?crop=1029,1029,x36,y194&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1588117433706","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/j-manley-ryder"},{"teacherId":1465245,"projectId":9242973,"letterContent":"My students are learning so much thanks to you and your support for our classroom. They have learned how ice is made. The machine allows them to see the water run through the machine and create ice. They have been learning to read and follow recipes. Using ice from the machine, they make smoothies, ice coffee, and tea. \r\n\r\nWe have our cafe set up where they are learning to take orders and fill them in and deliver them to other classrooms. They are learning to take money and make change for the orders. The main thing that is happening is the amount of language they have been using verbally along with devices.","fullyFundedDate":1746624553060,"projectUrl":"project/ice-please/9242973/","projectTitle":"Ice Please!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Manley-Ryder","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1465245_orig.jpg?crop=1029,1029,x36,y194&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1588117433706","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/j-manley-ryder"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_2024","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":null,"numTeachers":null,"percentFrplEligible":89,"percentAsian":42,"percentBlack":5,"percentWhite":27,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":19,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"US Census Data for the surrounding geographic area","gradesServed":"Not specified","studentTeacherRatio":null,"demographicsDataSource":"Census ZCTA","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"UNCLASSIFIED","ncesMetroType":null},"inStateSupporters":64.4,"schoolId":2024,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about PS993 @ PS208 on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"PS993 @ PS208","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/new-york/district-75-city-wide-programs/ps993-ps208/2024"}
Join the 236 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
PS993 @ PS208 is
a public school
in Bellerose, New York that is part of District 75 City Wide Programs.
Its teachers have had 180 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
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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: US Census Data for the surrounding geographic area
66%
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.
PS993 @ PS208 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.
PS993 @ PS208
$80,940
raised using DonorsChoose
180
projects
funded
17
teachers
funded
236
donors
14
projects
for
basic supplies
30
projects for
technology
7
projects for
books
26
projects
for
art supplies
PS993 @ PS208 has received support from
152 individuals from New York and
84 individuals out-of-state.