{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"PS255Q @ PS397","outOfStateSupporters":53.9,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":660143,"projectId":9540937,"letterContent":"Thanks to your donations, my students with autism were able to engage in a meaningful, hands-on activity that blended creativity, cultural learning, and social connection. The kids designed their own bracelet patterns, measured and cut colorful string, made the bracelets using a Loopdeloo machine, and learned about friendship and aspects of Native American/Indigenous craftsmanship and tradition. Each student thoughtfully selected a friend for whom they would create a bracelet, packaged their gift in a small bag, and added a personalized label before exchanging it during a friendship ceremony. I also sent home notes to families describing the project and celebrating what their children accomplished.\r\n\r\nYour contribution made possible an experience that was so much more than an arts and crafts project, it was a chance for my students to practice fine-motor skills, communication, decision making, and kindness in a way that felt joyful and empowering. They were incredibly proud to see their peers wearing the bracelets they made, and their excitement has inspired us to keep the momentum going. The students are now going to make bracelets as holiday gifts for the staff who support them each day. \r\n\r\nThank you once again for helping create moments of joy, learning, and connection that they will remember. Your support truly makes a difference.","fullyFundedDate":1760730361520,"projectUrl":"project/threads-of-friendship/9540937/","projectTitle":"Threads of Friendship","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. S. Lopez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp660143_orig.jpg?crop=653,653,x0,y165&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1683609112717","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/srlopez"},{"teacherId":3121941,"projectId":8800829,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, the Alphabet Teaching Tub Rack has brought new excitement and organization to our classroom. We use the tubs during small-group literacy centers, where students explore each letter through hands-on objects and matching activities. \r\n\r\nThe rack keeps all 26 tubs visible, accessible, and neatly stored, allowing students to independently find what they need and return it to the right spot. It has greatly improved our classroom storage and encouraged students to take responsibility for keeping materials organized.\r\n\r\nTheir initial reaction when they first saw the tubs on the rack was priceless—wide eyes, big smiles, and instant curiosity. The tubs felt like treasure boxes to them, and the beautifully organized rack made everything feel brand new and exciting.","fullyFundedDate":1727372912771,"projectUrl":"project/fun-with-phonics-part-2/8800829/","projectTitle":"Fun with Phonics Part 2","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lopez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3121941_272x272.png?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1480564449279","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/yubis-lopez"},{"teacherId":3539800,"projectId":8248786,"letterContent":"When our \"Little Chefs\" materials arrived, my students' faces absolutely lit up. Several of them gasped when they saw the aprons and chef hats, and one student proudly announced, \"I'm a real chef now-just like my dad!\" From that very first moment, the classroom was buzzing with excitement. The students immediately wanted to explore the new cooking tools, and their enthusiasm set the tone for our very first Fun Friday cooking lesson.\r\n\r\nWe've already begun using the materials across multiple skills. During our first cooking activity, students used the Learning Resources measuring kit to practice identifying fractions and measuring out ingredients for a simple snack mix. It was incredible to see students who typically struggle with math become fully engaged because the learning felt meaningful and hands-on. As they poured, mixed, and stirred, they were not only strengthening their fine motor skills but also working together by taking turns, communicating politely, and encouraging one another. One of my favorite moments was hearing a student that doesn't usually talk to other students, say, \"You stir, your turn\" Their teamwork and pride in their creations were truly heartwarming.\r\n\r\nThanks to your generosity, our Fun Fridays now serve as an opportunity for students to grow more independent in their daily living skills. Our next steps include introducing simple recipes that require multi-step directions, allowing students to build confidence and autonomy each week. We can't wait to continue exploring new foods, new math concepts, and new social experiences as our Little Chefs program grows. Your support has created meaningful learning opportunities that my students will carry with them far beyond the classroom. Thank you for making this possible!","fullyFundedDate":1713102026840,"projectUrl":"project/little-chefs-learn-through-cooking/8248786/","projectTitle":"Little Chefs Learn Through Cooking","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Barone","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3539800_orig.jpg?crop=1440,1440,x0,y288&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1686658618668","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3539800"},{"teacherId":9722499,"projectId":9709280,"letterContent":"hank you so much for supporting this project and for recognizing the profound impact it has on my students. In an equity-focused school where many children face economic hardship, something as simple as providing a snack can make an extraordinary difference. Your generosity helps meet a basic need that directly affects students' ability to focus, regulate their emotions, and stay engaged throughout the school day. For many of my learners—including those with autism who benefit from predictable sensory and emotional support—having access to a snack can be calming, grounding, and essential for meaningful participation.\r\n\r\nYour support also strengthens the positive, encouraging environment I strive to create. Snacks often serve as reinforcement during one-on-one or small-group sessions, helping students celebrate small victories, build motivation, and develop confidence in themselves. By ensuring that every child has access to these supports, you are removing barriers that can stand in the way of learning and connection. Most importantly, you are helping students feel seen, valued, and cared for.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in the potential of every child and for investing in their well-being. Your kindness has a real, lasting impact on their daily experiences and their journey toward success.","fullyFundedDate":1763995215057,"projectUrl":"project/fueling-focus-providing-snacks-for-stud/9709280/","projectTitle":"Fueling Focus: Providing Snacks for Students with Autism","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Trish","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9722499_orig.jpg?crop=609,609,x326,y427&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1725136778021","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-trish-ot"},{"teacherId":3310742,"projectId":9763601,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous contributions to my project. Because of your support, my students now have access to noise cancelling headphones which have already made a noticeable difference in their daily learning. Many of my students are easily overwhelmed by background noise, which can make focusing, participating and feeling comfortable in school incredibly challenging. These headphones provide them with a sense of calm and control, allowing them to stay grounded and engaged throughout the school day.\r\n\r\nThe impact has been immediate and meaningful. Students who once struggled to remain attentive during lessons are now able to tune out distractions and stay connected to the activities around them. The headphones have also helped increase participation during speech and language tasks, giving students the confidence and focus they need to communicate more effectively. Your kindness has created a learning environment where my students feel supported, regulated and ready to learn.\r\n\r\nThank you again for believing in my students and investing in their success. Your generosity is making a real, lasting difference in their experiences at school.","fullyFundedDate":1760104932799,"projectUrl":"project/helping-students-with-autism-quiet-their/9763601/","projectTitle":"Helping Students With Autism Quiet Their Minds With Noise-Cancelling Headphones","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Christina","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3310742_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1700276599581","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mschristina-nycdoe-d75"},{"teacherId":8048342,"projectId":9861264,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our \"Kindness in Action\" project. My students with autism thrive when they can engage in meaningful, hands-on activities, and this project has given them a wonderful way to connect with others while practicing social-emotional and creative skills. Using Shrinky Dinks and cardstock, they have been making small kindness tokens with positive messages and colorful illustrations, an activity that lets them express themselves and take pride in their work.\r\nMy favorite moment was watching a student who usually avoids writing eagerly choose a message and draw his picture. When we delivered the kindness tokens around the school, staff and students lit up, helping my students see how their actions make a difference. Thank you for helping my students build communication, confidence, creativity, and a stronger sense of community.","fullyFundedDate":1762882470850,"projectUrl":"project/shrinky-dink-kindness-tokens/9861264/","projectTitle":"Shrinky Dink Kindness Tokens","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Michalina","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8048342_orig.jpg?crop=1860,1860,x0,y80&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1630898960817","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-michalina"},{"teacherId":8048342,"projectId":9766860,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my project and helping bring Instant Math Centers into our classroom. The moment I opened the box, my students immediately gravitated toward the colorful centers. One of my students, who typically hesitates to start math activities, sat right down and began matching shapes with a huge smile. Another student was excitedly counting and sorting pieces without any prompting. Seeing their confidence grow so quickly was truly heartwarming.\r\nWe are now using the Instant Math Centers daily during our math center rotations. These activities allow us to practice foundational math skills in a fun, hands-on, and meaningful way. My students are more engaged, focused, and willing to try new tasks because of these materials. Thank you for giving them the tools they need to shine.","fullyFundedDate":1762275764273,"projectUrl":"project/hands-on-math-fun-for-every-learner/9766860/","projectTitle":"Hands-On Math Fun for Every Learner!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Michalina","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8048342_orig.jpg?crop=1860,1860,x0,y80&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1630898960817","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-michalina"},{"teacherId":5728371,"projectId":9815978,"letterContent":"The functional classroom supports project has helped my students in so many ways! First, we are now able to keep all of the students one to one work neat and organized as well as easily accessible. This keeps downtime very low and students engaged in the lesson with the teachers!\r\nAlso we are now able to show the students now to sit properly with feet down in appropriate seating while still giving students the sensory input they need throughout the day. \r\nYour donations have greatly impacted my school and classroom while giving my students access to materials they may not have had.","fullyFundedDate":1762267710889,"projectUrl":"project/functional-classroom-supports/9815978/","projectTitle":"Functional Classroom Supports","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Gebert","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp5728371_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1534900962485","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/jackieg"},{"teacherId":8048342,"projectId":9471674,"letterContent":"I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for your generous contribution to our classroom project. Thanks to your support, we now have a collection of high quality wooden puzzles that will make a world of difference for my students. The puzzles have quickly become a favorite part of our afternoon centers. One of my favorite moments so far was watching two of my students work together on a shape puzzle. They took turns placing pieces, named the colors as they worked, and even helped each other rotate pieces to make them fit. This small moment captured so many of our goals: communication, cooperation, and confidence all happening naturally through hands-on learning.\r\nBefore your donation, our classroom was lacking enough sturdy, age-appropriate puzzles that could withstand daily use. But now, with your help, my students have the tools they need to explore, learn, and build confidence at their own pace. Thank you for making this possible and for helping us create a classroom full of opportunities for hands-on learning. Your generosity is truly making a difference in their lives, and I couldn't be more grateful.","fullyFundedDate":1762266409418,"projectUrl":"project/hands-on-learning-with-wooden-puzzles-fo/9471674/","projectTitle":"Hands-On Learning With Wooden Puzzles for Students With Autism","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Michalina","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8048342_orig.jpg?crop=1860,1860,x0,y80&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1630898960817","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-michalina"},{"teacherId":1751148,"projectId":9767008,"letterContent":"Thank you very much for funding this project! We were all so excited to receive these wonderful assorted arts and crafts stationery kids gift sets! We used these for our goody bags for Family Fun Night with our students with Autism! They were so excited to each receive a goody bag! We loved seeing their smiles and their eyes wide with excitement! \r\n Our school hosts Family Fun events for our students in the evenings! This is a fun evening where students and their families come together with school staff to enjoy an evening of meaningful connections, and fun events! Sometimes these events are overwhelming for our students, who are used to daily routines. Calming toys/goody bags help to relieve their anxiety and give them something to focus on and fidget with in their hands. Thanks to your kindness, our students each received a goody bag filled with wonderful items that our students loved! This helped our students remain at the event with their families, make meaningful connections, and enjoy an evening with staff!\r\n Thank you for providing wonderful goody bags for our students during our Family Fun event! We are grateful for your support! You are amazing!","fullyFundedDate":1760105205372,"projectUrl":"project/fall-family-engagement-fun/9767008/","projectTitle":"Fall Family Engagement Fun!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kelly","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1751148_orig.jpg?crop=1776,1776,x0,y165&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1613407324836","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1751148"},{"teacherId":5728371,"projectId":9477801,"letterContent":"Finally my classroom is color coded! We could not thank you enough for your generosity in helping color code my classroom. Now, we have color coded centers and children each have their own designated color to transition to throughout the day. \r\nChildren with Autism are visual learners, therefor they require visual cues and stations of their own to help organize the flow of the day. \r\nWith the use of your donations, these bins are now assigned to each child and each child is able to transition independently! Thank you so very much!","fullyFundedDate":1753917379563,"projectUrl":"project/organization-by-color/9477801/","projectTitle":"Organization By Color","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Gebert","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp5728371_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1534900962485","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/jackieg"},{"teacherId":5728371,"projectId":9704128,"letterContent":"Your generosity has given my children something to play with on their much deserved breaks! \r\nSensory input is so important for learners with Autism. There are not many items that my students enjoy and find motivating other than sensory items. Play dough, squishy toys, pop tubes and pop tubs are so motivating for my learners. \r\nDaily, we put the pictures of the items you sent the children on a choice board. The students choose the items, and then we put them on a first/ then board or a token board. The students then choose the items and work for these items. We thank you so so much!","fullyFundedDate":1757981276818,"projectUrl":"project/play-dough-squishies-and-more/9704128/","projectTitle":"Play Dough, Squishies, and More!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Gebert","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp5728371_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1534900962485","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/jackieg"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_18707","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":null,"numTeachers":null,"percentFrplEligible":89,"percentAsian":14,"percentBlack":2,"percentWhite":55,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":24,"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":46.1,"schoolId":18707,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about PS255Q @ PS397 on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"PS255Q @ PS397","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/new-york/district-75-city-wide-programs/ps255q-ps151q/18707"}