{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Dwight Bellizzi School","outOfStateSupporters":43.3,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9077143,"projectId":9900348,"letterContent":"I wanted to reach out and share the incredible impact your recent play dough donation has had on our classroom.\r\n\r\nAs I shared in our project update, the materials have transformed how my students approach literacy and fine motor tasks. From the moment they saw the vibrant colors, their engagement skyrocketed. We are currently moving into our \"Community Garden\" project, where your gift is helping students prototype 3D models of sustainable urban spaces.\r\n\r\nAttached, you'll find a few photos of our \"Creature Creation\" workshop where the students' imaginations truly came to life. We couldn't have done this without your support. Thank you for investing in our students' creativity","fullyFundedDate":1773104052295,"projectUrl":"project/play-dough-for-my-students/9900348/","projectTitle":"Play Dough for My Students","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Reyes","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9077143_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1728743120941","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9077143"},{"teacherId":9077143,"projectId":9841624,"letterContent":"On behalf of my students and I, I would like to sincerely thank you for your generous donation of art and office supplies. Your contribution of sharpeners, pencils, tape, and colored pencils is exactly what we needed to keep our projects moving forward.\r\n\r\nThese tools do more than just fill a supply closet; they provide the means for our students to express their creativity and stay organized. We are so grateful for your support of our mission.\r\nIn today's world, we recognize that there are many worthy causes competing for your attention. The fact that you chose to invest in our student leaders speaks volumes about your commitment to our community and your belief in the power of education and creativity. It is because of supporters like you that we can continue to provide a high-quality, supportive, and resource-rich environment for everyone who walks through our doors.","fullyFundedDate":1772032458828,"projectUrl":"project/pencils-and-materials-for-students/9841624/","projectTitle":"Pencils and Materials for Students","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Reyes","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9077143_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1728743120941","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9077143"},{"teacherId":8655821,"projectId":9874779,"letterContent":"I want to express my deepest thanks for bringing \"Graphic Novels Help Students Love Reading!\" to life in our classroom. These books have completely transformed what reading looks like for my students. Before these arrived, many of my developing readers felt overwhelmed by dense pages of text and would often drift away during independent reading time. Now, the room is filled with a focused, excited energy. Graphic novels provide essential visual scaffolding that helps students master complex skills like inferencing, understanding character motivation, and following multi-layered plot structures without feeling intimidated.\r\n\r\nThe impact on specific students has been particularly moving. I have several \"reluctant\" readers who now race to the library nook as soon as they enter the room to grab the latest installment of their favorite series. By blending high-interest storytelling with sophisticated vocabulary and art, these books have given my students the confidence to call themselves \"readers.\" You haven't just provided books; you have provided the spark that is turning my students into lifelong lovers of literature.","fullyFundedDate":1764713408421,"projectUrl":"project/graphic-novels-help-students-love-readin/9874779/","projectTitle":"Graphic Novels Help Students Love Reading!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Bardeguez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8655821_orig.png?crop=398,398,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1721852865672","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/xbardeguez"},{"teacherId":8655821,"projectId":9874951,"letterContent":"It is wonderful that your project, \"Creating Readers, One Book at a Time With Graphic Novels!\", was funded! Here is a draft you can use for your impact letter, tailored to the prompts on your DonorsChoose page.\r\n\r\nImpact Letter Draft\r\nDear donors,\r\n\r\nI cannot thank you enough for bringing these graphic novels into our classroom. For many of my students, opening one of these books was the first time they truly felt like \"readers.\" These texts do so much more than just provide entertainment; they bridge the gap between visual literacy and complex storytelling. In our classroom, reading now looks like a room full of focused, smiling faces, with students eagerly pointing out character expressions and subtle plot points hidden in the artwork. These books have introduced essential skills like inferencing and understanding dialogue through context, making high-level literary concepts accessible to everyone.\r\n\r\nThe impact has been most visible with my reluctant readers and English Language Learners. Students who previously felt overwhelmed by dense pages of text are now the first ones to head to the bookshelf during independent reading time. They are gaining the confidence to tackle longer narratives and are participating in class discussions with newfound enthusiasm. You haven't just provided books; you've provided a \"win\" for students who needed to see that reading can be both challenging and incredibly fun.","fullyFundedDate":1764702306685,"projectUrl":"project/creating-readers-one-book-at-a-time-wit/9874951/","projectTitle":"Creating Readers, One Book at a Time With Graphic Novels!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Bardeguez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8655821_orig.png?crop=398,398,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1721852865672","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/xbardeguez"},{"teacherId":8655821,"projectId":9781322,"letterContent":"I cannot thank you enough for your incredible generosity in supporting our project, \"Help Us Keep Our Recess Toys and Equipment Organized.\" When the new storage bins and additional recess equipment arrived, the excitement in the classroom was electric! My students were thrilled to see shiny new balls, jump ropes, and hula hoops, but they were equally intrigued by the sturdy new \"homes\" we now have for all our gear. \r\n\r\nWe have been using these resources daily to transform our transition to and from the playground. Before, our equipment was often scattered or difficult to carry, leading to lost items and a frantic cleanup. Now, we have a specific student \"Equipment Manager\" role each week. The students take great pride in ensuring every ball is nested in its bin and every rope is coiled correctly.\r\n\r\nYour support has truly streamlined our school day and brought a new level of joy to our outdoor time.","fullyFundedDate":1762266243761,"projectUrl":"project/help-us-keep-our-recess-toys-and-equipme/9781322/","projectTitle":"Help Us Keep Our Recess Toys and Equipment Organized","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Bardeguez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8655821_orig.png?crop=398,398,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1721852865672","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/xbardeguez"},{"teacherId":8655821,"projectId":9551628,"letterContent":"The arrival of \"Exploring Reading While Journeying Around The Globe\" has transformed our classroom into a gateway to the world. These new texts have introduced my students to diverse cultures and perspectives that were previously out of reach. In our daily reading blocks, I see students who used to struggle with engagement now eagerly diving into stories about different lands.\r\n\r\nThese books have allowed us to practice critical reading skills—like comparing themes and analyzing character journeys—through a global lens. Specifically, my more hesitant readers have found a new spark, often sharing facts they've learned about other countries with their peers. Thank you for opening these doors for my students and fostering a true love for global literacy.","fullyFundedDate":1762266256122,"projectUrl":"project/exploring-reading-while-journeying-aroun/9551628/","projectTitle":"Exploring Reading While Journeying Around The Globe","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Bardeguez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8655821_orig.png?crop=398,398,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1721852865672","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/xbardeguez"},{"teacherId":7529554,"projectId":9634391,"letterContent":"On behalf of our kindergarten students, I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks for your generous donation of writing tools. Your kindness and support are already making a positive difference in our classroom.\r\n\r\nBecause of you, our young learners now have the materials they need to practice their letters, express their creativity, and build confidence in their early writing skills. These simple tools open the door to imagination, storytelling, and foundational learning that will support them for years to come.\r\n\r\nYour generosity not only supplies materials but also inspires excitement and a love of learning in our students. We are truly grateful for your commitment to supporting early education and helping our children grow.\r\nThank you again for making such a meaningful impact.","fullyFundedDate":1763134709840,"projectUrl":"project/essential-materials-to-use-imagination-t/9634391/","projectTitle":"Essential Materials to Use Imagination to Draw and Write","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rosell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7529554_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1746642518950","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7529554"},{"teacherId":9077143,"projectId":9865087,"letterContent":"On behalf of the students and I, I am writing to express my profound gratitude for your incredibly thoughtful donation of playdough and educational manipulatives. While these may appear to be simple tools of play, in the context of our Spanish immersion classroom, they represent a vital bridge between emotional well-being and linguistic fluency.\r\n\r\nLearning a second language is a courageous act. For many of our students, the process of navigating a new grammar system and unfamiliar vocabulary can occasionally feel overwhelming or intimidating. This is where your donation becomes transformative. The playdough you provided serves as a powerful \"sensory anchor.\" When a student feels the frustration of a difficult conjugation or the hesitation of speaking in front of peers, having a tactile outlet allows them to ground themselves. It lowers their anxiety, or what we call the \"affective filter,\" which is scientifically proven to be the biggest barrier to language acquisition. When a child's hands are busy creating, their minds are more open to absorbing the beautiful nuances of the Spanish language.\r\n\r\nThe manipulatives you donated are equally essential to our daily curriculum. In a world that is increasingly digital, the value of physical, \"hands-on\" learning cannot be overstated. We use these tools to turn abstract concepts into concrete realities. Whether students are using blocks to represent sentence structures or figures to act out a dialogue in Spanish, they are engaging in a multi-sensory experience that cements their learning. These items allow us to move beyond the textbook and into a space of active exploration. By physically moving objects as they speak, students are building neural pathways that connect physical action with Spanish vocabulary, making the language a living, breathing part of their lives.\r\n\r\nFurthermore, these supplies are instrumental in supporting our students' emotional intelligence. We often use the playdough as a medium for students to express feelings they may not yet have the Spanish vocabulary to describe. \"How are you feeling today?\" becomes a much more accessible question when a student can sculpt an emoji, a shape, or a color that represents their inner state. Your gift provides them with a safe, creative language that transcends words, ensuring that every student feels seen, heard, and supported regardless of their current level of fluency.\r\n\r\nYour generosity does more than just fill our shelves; it fosters an environment of joy and safety. It tells our students that their education—and their emotional comfort—is valued by the community. We are so fortunate to have a partner like you who understands that a successful classroom is one that nurtures both the head and the heart.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in our students' futures and for helping us make the Spanish language accessible, tactile, and fun. We look forward to sharing stories of the creative masterpieces and linguistic breakthroughs your donation has made possible.","fullyFundedDate":1772032454372,"projectUrl":"project/materials-for-classroom/9865087/","projectTitle":"Materials for Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Reyes","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9077143_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1728743120941","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9077143"},{"teacherId":8771670,"projectId":9325364,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our DonorsChoose project. Your generosity is already having a big impact on our classroom and our students' learning.\r\n\r\nWith the new headphones, every student can access technology-rich lessons, multimedia resources, and focused independent work without distraction. The extra pencils mean no one has to wait to practice skills, take notes, or complete quick writes — small supplies that keep learning moving. The mounting tape is making our bulletin boards sturdy and reliable so we can proudly display student work and create a classroom that celebrates learning all year long. And the fidget chair desk bands give students a simple, flexible way to stay comfortable and engaged during lessons — a small change that helps many learners focus and participate more fully.\r\n\r\nThese materials help us create a more accessible, organized, and student-centered classroom. Thank you for investing in our students' success and for helping us provide a classroom where every child can learn and thrive.","fullyFundedDate":1746785432495,"projectUrl":"project/ready-to-learn/9325364/","projectTitle":"Ready to Learn","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Anderson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8771670_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1771516287085","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8771670"},{"teacherId":8771670,"projectId":8264564,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our DonorsChoose project. Your generosity is already making a real difference for our 6th grade students in Hartford. Because of your gift, our classroom now has new headsets, a comb binding machine, and fresh dry erase markers — items that will be used every day across subjects to boost engagement, collaboration, and learning.\r\n\r\nWith the headsets, students can complete focused research and create multimedia projects in ELA without distraction. The comb binding machine lets us produce polished student publications and portfolios that celebrate writing and research. And the dry erase markers keep our collaborative math work on dry erase desks smooth and accessible, helping students solve problems together and learn from one another. These tools help us create more dynamic lessons and meaningful, hands-on learning experiences.\r\n\r\nWe are excited to watch students grow in confidence and skills as they use these materials. Your support helps us soar into our curriculum this year, giving every student the tools they need to succeed across all subjects.","fullyFundedDate":1710366498451,"projectUrl":"project/6th-grade-soars-into-learning/8264564/","projectTitle":"6th Grade Soars Into Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Anderson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8771670_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1771516287085","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8771670"},{"teacherId":6109381,"projectId":6854929,"letterContent":"On behalf of our entire volleyball program, I want to extend my deepest gratitude for your generous support. Your contributions have directly enhanced our daily training environment, providing our athletes with the specialized tools they need to grow both individually and as a cohesive unit. It is inspiring to see our community come together to invest in our students' athletic development and personal growth.\r\n\r\nWith the new equipment now in use, the team has been able to significantly elevate their technical skills. Specifically, the addition of the training gloves and the hook system has revolutionized our practice sessions. Our players are using the gloves to refine their finger positioning and hand discipline during bumping and setting drills, while the hook has become an essential tool for perfecting the mechanics of spiking and serving. These resources allow for the kind of high-repetition, targeted practice that builds the muscle memory necessary for competitive play.","fullyFundedDate":1668829410700,"projectUrl":"project/bump-set-spike/6854929/","projectTitle":"Bump, Set, Spike!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. LaForest","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6109381_orig.jpg?crop=353,353,x29,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1616687158333","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6109381"},{"teacherId":8629356,"projectId":9451993,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting our project, Dog Man Wants to Speak Spanish: Comic Books to Engage. These comic books motivated students to read in Spanish with enthusiasm and confidence. The humor, visuals, and familiar characters helped students strengthen comprehension, vocabulary, and fluency while enjoying the reading process. Because of these materials, I was able to engage reluctant readers, support bilingual development, and create meaningful discussions around texts. Your generosity fostered creativity, joy, and a deeper love for reading in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1763569607820,"projectUrl":"project/dog-man-wants-to-speak-spanish-comic-bo/9451993/","projectTitle":"Dog Man Wants to Speak Spanish: Comic Books to Engage","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Marrero","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8629356_orig.jpg?crop=2378,2379,x0,y261&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1717210444043","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8629356"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_43692","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":651,"numTeachers":40,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":2,"percentBlack":12,"percentWhite":2,"percentIndigenous":1,"percentLatinx":79,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"16.3:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":56.7,"schoolId":43692,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Dwight Bellizzi School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Dwight Bellizzi School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/connecticut/hartford-public-school-district/dwight-elementary-school/43692"}