{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"PS255Q @ PS397","outOfStateSupporters":53.9,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":7186070,"projectId":9561989,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support and belief in my students. Because of you, our classroom now has a 3D printer, and it has truly transformed the way my students with autism learn, communicate, and engage with the world around them.\r\nThe 3D printer has had a powerful impact on communication. Many of my students are motivated by seeing their ideas turn into real objects. They are requesting specific items, choosing colors, and describing how they want their creations to look. This natural motivation has encouraged them to use spoken words, expand their vocabulary, and engage in meaningful conversations with peers and adults. For some students, it has been the first time they have eagerly initiated communication in the classroom.\r\nBeyond academics and speech, the printer has fostered pride and independence. Students light up when they see something they helped design come off the printer, and they love sharing their creations with others. These moments build confidence, social interaction, and a sense of ownership over their learning. Your kindness has given my students more than just a piece of technology—you have given them a voice, confidence, and new ways to connect with the world. Thank you for making such a lasting difference in our classroom and in the lives of my students.","fullyFundedDate":1758898983868,"projectUrl":"project/bringing-ideas-to-life-a-3d-printer-for/9561989/","projectTitle":"Bringing Ideas to Life: A 3D Printer for Our Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sottile","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7186070"},{"teacherId":660143,"projectId":9490433,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support in providing my classroom with folders, markers, glue sticks, erasers, batteries, magnetic displays, and a felt board. Because of you, my students were able to take an active role in organizing their supplies by color coding, sorting and placing erasers, markers, pencil sharpeners, and glue sticks into our classroom pencil cases. The folders and newly stocked pencil cases are now neatly stored in the seat sacks on student chairs, giving every child consistent access to the tools they need to stay focused and ready to learn.\r\n\r\nYour donation has already made a meaningful impact on how our classroom functions each day. Class rules and learning outcomes are displayed in the magnetic pocket charts, helping students clearly understand expectations and goals, while I continue organizing materials into magnetic storage bags for instructional use. These systems are especially important for my student with autism, ensuring materials are accessible, predictable, and supportive of structured learning. I am truly grateful for your kindness and investment in my classroom, which allows me to create an environment where all my students can learn with confidence and success.","fullyFundedDate":1765471849808,"projectUrl":"project/betcha-we-need-some-classroom-basics/9490433/","projectTitle":"Betcha We Need Some Classroom Basics","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":1751148,"projectId":9787825,"letterContent":"Wow! What a lovely surprise! Thank you very much for supporting this project! My students were so excited to see the wonderful resources you sent our way! They could hardly wait to begin their work! \r\n Learning foundational skills is important for all students. My students are currently learning to identify, sound out, trace, and write the alphabet. When learning these skills, it is helpful to have different material to practice these skills in a variety of ways. Thanks to your generosity, my students now have two wonderful additions to our classroom - a Color Changing Board to write our letters on and an Alphabet Mystery box with assorted mini manipulatives to use for identification, beginning letters, and letter sounds!\r\n My students are doing a great job of focusing on task, identifying letters and letter sounds, and matching object to beginning letter and letter sound! \r\n The Color-Changing Touch Board is a great tool to help my students write their upper and lower case letters! They squeal with delights as they write their letters and see the colors change on the board! This is so motivating for them and they love working on their letters using this new resource! \r\n Thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping my students learn their letters, letter sounds, and how to trace and write their letters! You are AMAZING!","fullyFundedDate":1762196695322,"projectUrl":"project/basic-educational-resources-for-letter-w/9787825/","projectTitle":"Basic Educational Resources for Letter Writing!","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":1751148,"projectId":9787770,"letterContent":"Wow! What a beautiful surprise! Thank you very much for providing these terrific resources for my young students with Autism! My students are working so hard this year and now with the wonderful new supplies you have so generously provided, they are working even harder! \r\n My students are learning to identify, sound out, trace, and write the alphabet. These are important foundational skills that my students need to practice daily. With the terrific resources you have sent us, my students get to practice identifying and writing their letters without getting bored! Different resources keep my students happy and engaged in the activity! They love the Trace and Write board because they can practice writing the letter, and then magically erase it and do it again! My students love sliding the lever over to erase! It is so funny!\r\n The Alphabet Theme Box is also a wonderful addition to our classroom! Inside this bin, there were letter stampers, stringing beads with letters, magnetic letters, and much more! All of these items are helpful for learning letters! My students use these to practice receptive and expressive letter identification for both upper and lower case letters! My students are now able to identify all uppercase letters and are now working on identifying lowercase letters! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!","fullyFundedDate":1761837580175,"projectUrl":"project/basic-resources-to-help-me-write-my-lett/9787770/","projectTitle":"Basic Resources to Help Me Write My Letters!","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":660143,"projectId":9886925,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support in providing pasta and tomato sauce for our students and their families, especially during this financially straining time. Because of you, we are able to send home comforting, nutritious food to help them through our long holiday break. When some of the pasta became unavailable, we were able to supplement with ramen, ensuring that every family still receives a meaningful care package. These gifts mean more than you can imagine. Your kindness is helping to decrease the stress for families who often struggle the most during this season.\r\n\r\nAfter seeing how impactful our Thanksgiving food drive packages were, we knew that these new items would once again make a tremendous difference. Your donation is allowing us to reach our neediest families with warmth, dignity, and holiday cheer. Everything is being lovingly packed in bright red bags with endearing notes to bring a little extra joy into their homes. Our families are deeply grateful for your generosity, and we are, too. Thank you for helping us support our entire school community in such an important and heartfelt way.","fullyFundedDate":1763481769439,"projectUrl":"project/oh-snap-inclusive-holiday-meals-for-eve/9886925/","projectTitle":"Oh SNAP, Inclusive Holiday Meals for Every Family","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":5728371,"projectId":9896770,"letterContent":"Our learners are visual and hands on learners. This project has enabled our learners to get creative while learning the pre requisite skills needed to complete tasks in the classroom both academically and socially. \r\nThese items are very motivating for children with Autism. We are working on block imitation, building imitation, functional play and other pre requisite skills to meet the requirements needed for STEM activities. Many of our students do not have access to these types of materials but thanks to your donations we are now able to give them new learning experiences!","fullyFundedDate":1763597741057,"projectUrl":"project/building-bright-minds-hands-on-stem-for/9896770/","projectTitle":"Building Bright Minds: Hands-On STEM for Early Learners with Autism","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":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"}],"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"}