{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Felix Festa Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":23.8,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10315304,"projectId":9836385,"letterContent":"Research and practice show that binging small animals into lessons creates concrete, everyday opportunities for students to practice Social Emotional Learning (SEL) skills. These encounters strengthen students' ability to empathize, regulate their emotions, and take responsibility. These skills improve classroom climate and support academic learning across subjects.\r\n A few specific ways this has helped in my classroom is by increasing empathy and perspective. Observing and caring for fish and hermit crabs helps students notice needs and emotional cues. As they learn to recognize signs of stress, comfort, or curiosity in the animals, students make emotional connections that transfer to better understanding their peers. Self‑awareness and emotion regulation are skills that are discussed as students reflect on how their behavior affects a living creature. When an animal reacts to loud noise or gentle handling, learners identify their own emotional responses and practice calming and regulating strategies so they can interact more thoughtfully. Regular care routines (feeding, habitat checks, and observations) build a consistent practice of responsibility.\r\n Students grow more respectful of life and of classroom expectations because they see the direct results of their actions. Confidence and social skills are built upon as Hands‑on activities give students chances to lead, to support each other, and to overcome small fears.\r\n Successfully caring for an animal boosts self‑esteem and encourages collaborative problem solving.","fullyFundedDate":1760985353444,"projectUrl":"project/integrating-science-and-social-emotional/9836385/","projectTitle":"Integrating Science and Social Emotional Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Cazes","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10315304"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_22819","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":1880,"numTeachers":50,"percentFrplEligible":27,"percentAsian":12,"percentBlack":7,"percentWhite":47,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":29,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"37.6:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":false,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":76.2,"schoolId":22819,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Felix Festa Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Felix Festa Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/new-york/clarkstown-central-school-district/felix-festa-middle-school/22819"}
Join the 21 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Felix Festa Middle School is
a suburban public school
in West Nyack, New York that is part of Clarkstown Central School District.
It serves 1,880 students
in grades 6 - 8 with a student/teacher ratio of 37.6:1.
Its teachers have had 7 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
Public School
Title 1
Data about Title 1 status comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education.
Grades 6 - 8
1,880 Students
50 Teachers
30 Parrott RdContact info is sourced from our partners at MDR Education, and DonorsChoose updates our site ahead of each school year.
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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: the National Center for Education Statistics
48%
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.
Felix Festa Middle 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.
Felix Festa Middle School
$4,488
raised using DonorsChoose
7
projects
funded
6
teachers
funded
21
donors
2
projects for
technology
Felix Festa Middle School has received support from
16 individuals from New York and
5 individuals out-of-state.