Chapel Street Elementary School in Stratford, Connecticut on DonorsChoose

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Students selected plants based on sunlight needs and growth patterns, created care schedules, and even self reflect about how tending to something living made them feel. Our classroom windowsills are now lined with greenery, and students take pride in watering, observing, and sharing updates on their plants' progress. These plants were then transitioned to the entrance of our school, which creates a vibrant and uplifting atmosphere. Students also went outside to clean and beautify our Vicki Soto Sandy Hook monument.\r\n\r\nOne particularly powerful moment came when a student who often struggles with focus and regulation asked to be the \"plant monitor.\" This role has given him a sense of responsibility and calm. He would start each day by checking on the plants and recording their growth, which became a grounding ritual.\r\n\r\nNext, we plan on expanding this project beyond a school-wide initiative. Students are will plan and prepare for a \"Green Day\" where students will help plant flowers in common areas around the school. They'll also be designing plant care posters to educate peers on sustainability and stewardship.\r\n\r\nThis project has not only beautified our space, it's cultivated pride, ownership, and a deeper connection to our school community. Thank you for helping our students grow, in every sense of the word.","fullyFundedDate":1746739026716,"projectUrl":"project/beautifying-our-school-community-one-p/9176963/","projectTitle":"Beautifying Our School Community, One Plant at a Time","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Duckworth","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9237798_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1694279347627","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9237798"},{"teacherId":9237798,"projectId":9096804,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support through DonorsChoose. 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About this school

Chapel Street Elementary School is a suburban public school in Stratford, Connecticut that is part of Stratford Public Schools. It serves 290 students in grades K - 6 with a student/teacher ratio of 7.4:1. Its teachers have had 11 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades K - 6

290 Students

39 Teachers

380 Chapel St

Stratford, CT 06614 View local requests

http://chapelstreet.stratfordk12.org/

Direct, proactive support

Empower teachers at Chapel Street Elementary School to request what their students need.

Give to this school

Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

Kindergarten teacher at PS81 - Robert J. Christen School in Bronx, NY

Chapel Street Elementary School Teachers on DonorsChoose

Mrs. Daniel

Mrs. Duckworth

Mrs. Stemmler

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Chapel Street Elementary School Demographics

38%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

63%

of students are Black, Latino, Native American, or Asian

Schools in districts that mainly serve students of color receive substantially less state and local support than similar districts that serve primarily White students. Learn more about this gap, why it exists, and how you can help close it.

Chapel Street Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 18, 2025

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