{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"PS993 @ PS208","outOfStateSupporters":34.8,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":2192463,"projectId":10362803,"letterContent":"Every day in our self-contained classroom, my students remind me that learning can happen in so many different ways. Some students communicate with words, while others use AAC devices, pictures, gestures, or facial expressions to share what they know and how they feel. With the right supports, every student has a voice, and every accomplishment matters.\r\n\r\nThe new resources have become an important part of our daily learning. Laminating pouches and Velcro allow me to create durable visual schedules, matching activities, task boxes, communication supports, and hands-on learning materials that students can use over and over again. The rolling teacher chair allows me to move easily between learning stations and be there when a student needs an extra prompt, encouragement, or helping hand.\r\n\r\nOne project that has brought particular joy to our classroom is our Birthday Chart. Students can find their names, recognize their birth month, practice sequencing the months of the year, and celebrate one another. For some students, recognizing their own name or finding their birthday is a meaningful accomplishment. More importantly, our Birthday Chart sends a simple but powerful message: **You are important, you belong here, and we are happy to celebrate you.**\r\n\r\nWhen my students first saw the new materials, they were excited to touch, explore, and interact with them. Watching a student independently match a picture, complete a task, make a choice, or successfully communicate what they want is incredibly rewarding. These may seem like small moments, but in our classroom, they are big victories. Every step toward independence builds confidence.\r\n\r\nOur next steps are to continue creating new hands-on activities and visual supports that meet each student where they are. We will use these materials during literacy, math, communication, social skills, functional learning, transitions, and independent work. We will continue using positive reinforcement and classroom snacks to help students stay motivated, regulated, and ready to learn.\r\n\r\nI am deeply grateful to the donors who made this project possible. Your generosity reaches far beyond the materials themselves. You are helping us create opportunities for students to communicate, participate, make choices, become more independent, and experience the pride that comes with success.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in our amazing students and for helping our classroom be a place where every child can **learn, move, grow, and thrive.**","fullyFundedDate":1785521381949,"projectUrl":"project/helping-our-amazing-students-learn-move/10362803/","projectTitle":"Helping Our Amazing Students Learn, Move, and Thrive!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Leah Dworkis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2192463_orig.jpg?crop=1194,1194,x0,y19&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1771941317992","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/leahdworkis"},{"teacherId":2192463,"projectId":10393358,"letterContent":"My students and I are so excited to use the new phonics books from our project, **\"New Year, New Readers: Phonics Tools for Success.\"** These resources have already become an important part of our classroom literacy routine. My students have a wide range of learning needs, and many of them benefit from visual supports, repetition, modeling, and hands-on learning experiences. The new phonics books give them meaningful opportunities to practice early reading skills in a way that is engaging, accessible, and appropriate for their individual levels.\r\n\r\nWe are using the books during small-group reading lessons, individualized instruction, independent practice, and literacy activities throughout the school day. Students are working on recognizing letters, identifying letter sounds, matching letters to sounds, building simple words, connecting pictures with words, and developing early vocabulary and comprehension skills. The books allow us to practice the same skills repeatedly while keeping students interested and motivated.\r\n\r\nWhen my students first saw the new materials, they were excited and curious. They immediately wanted to look through the books, explore the pictures, and see what was inside. For my students, having colorful and engaging materials can make a big difference in their willingness to participate in a lesson. Watching them choose a book, turn the pages, point to pictures, and attempt to identify letters or sounds was a wonderful classroom moment. Some students were especially proud when they recognized a letter or sound they had been practicing. Seeing their smiles and excitement when they realized, \"I know this!\" reminded me how important it is to provide students with materials that allow them to experience success.\r\n\r\nOur next steps are to continue strengthening foundational reading skills through structured and differentiated phonics instruction. We will continue practicing letter recognition and letter sounds while beginning to blend sounds, build simple words, match words to pictures, and expand vocabulary. Students will also have opportunities to use the books independently and with support from teachers and paraprofessionals. We will use visual cues, repetition, modeling, wait time, and positive reinforcement to help each student participate and make progress.\r\n\r\nMost importantly, we want our students to understand that they are readers and that their voices, ideas, and efforts matter. For many of my students, learning to read begins with recognizing a letter, connecting it to a sound, matching a word to a picture, or successfully turning the pages of a book. Each of these accomplishments is an important step forward.\r\n\r\nI am incredibly grateful to our donors for providing these phonics resources for our classroom. Their generosity is helping us create more opportunities for students to practice, learn, communicate, and grow. These books are not simply reading materials—they are tools that help my students build confidence, independence, and a love of learning. Every new sound recognized, word built, and page explored is another step toward becoming a confident reader.","fullyFundedDate":1785521166072,"projectUrl":"project/new-year-new-readers-phonics-tools-for/10393358/","projectTitle":"New Year, New Readers: Phonics Tools for Success","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Leah Dworkis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2192463_orig.jpg?crop=1194,1194,x0,y19&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1771941317992","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/leahdworkis"},{"teacherId":5267082,"projectId":10360286,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our project, \"Rock, Read, Create! Storytelling Through Art and Imagination.\" Your generosity helped bring learning to life for my students and gave them new and exciting ways to explore literacy, creativity, and self-expression.\r\n\r\nMy students learn best through hands-on, engaging experiences. The materials from this project allowed us to connect reading and storytelling with art, imagination, and sensory exploration. Students participated in activities that encouraged them to make choices, communicate their ideas, explore different materials, and become more actively involved in their learning.\r\n\r\nFor my students, every opportunity to communicate, create, participate independently, and successfully complete an activity is an important accomplishment. It was wonderful to see their excitement as they explored the new materials and used them during our classroom lessons and activities.\r\n\r\nThese resources have helped make our classroom an even more engaging and supportive learning environment, and they will continue to benefit my students throughout the school year.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in my students and helping provide them with meaningful learning experiences. Your kindness and generosity truly make a difference in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1783014802708,"projectUrl":"project/rock-read-create-storytelling-through/10360286/","projectTitle":"Rock, Read, Create! Storytelling Through Art and Imagination","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Regina","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5267082_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1759244536049","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/victoria-regina2"},{"teacherId":1465245,"projectId":9787607,"letterContent":"Why I chose the need for a desktop computer for my classroom. There were many factors but maninly because unlike mobile devices, a desktop computer creates a permanent, dedicated space for study, fostering better posture and improved mental focus on the task at hand. \r\n\r\nAlso, computer based learning is learner centered. It enables students to revisit challenging concepts at their own pace and access a wealth of knowledge instantly, promoting greater understanding to the task at hand. \r\n\r\nThank you for your support with this project for my class.","fullyFundedDate":1768421767783,"projectUrl":"project/can-you-research-this/9787607/","projectTitle":"Can You Research This?","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Manley-Ryder","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1465245_orig.jpg?crop=1029,1029,x36,y194&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1588117433706","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/j-manley-ryder"},{"teacherId":1465245,"projectId":9762306,"letterContent":"Thanks to you my students learning has a more postive impact on them. \r\nWe are now able to print, laminate, and use reusable, dry-erase materials over and over again in our classroom environment. In an era where hands-on, engaging, and sustainable education is vital, these resources have transformed our daily teaching practices from simple paper-based lessons into dynamic, durable learning experiences.\r\n\r\nThese tools allow us to create tailored, reusable task cards and stations that meet diverse learning needs. Students stay engaged longer with colorful, tactile, and interactive resources.","fullyFundedDate":1764673708804,"projectUrl":"project/print-laminate-use/9762306/","projectTitle":"Print, Laminate, Use","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Manley-Ryder","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1465245_orig.jpg?crop=1029,1029,x36,y194&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1588117433706","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/j-manley-ryder"},{"teacherId":1465245,"projectId":9510501,"letterContent":"Your support of my classroom for this project of the Glow forge has been a game changer for both the staff and students in my room. My classroom has been transformed from a space where students consume information to a makerspace where they create, iterate, and innovate.\r\nThe Glow forge has completely changed the landscape of our learning. Rather than just following instructions, my students are now designing, prototyping, and fabricating their own, unique creations. \r\nThe Glow forge has not only provided them with tangible rewards for their efforts but has also instilled a sense of pride and ownership in their education. It has bridged the gap between imagination and reality.","fullyFundedDate":1758899004552,"projectUrl":"project/glowforge-magic/9510501/","projectTitle":"Glowforge Magic!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Manley-Ryder","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1465245_orig.jpg?crop=1029,1029,x36,y194&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1588117433706","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/j-manley-ryder"},{"teacherId":1465245,"projectId":9509097,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity with supporting my students has had a large impact on them. \r\nThe remarkable progress and positive impact observed in our students through our \"Environmental Responsibility and Life Skills\" initiative has been seen not only in the classroom but also when they are in the cafeteria for breakfast and lunch. By integrating basic vocational skills into our daily routine; specifically teaching students to clean up after themselves and care for their shared spaces, we have seen a profound shift in student attitudes and capabilities.\r\n\r\nThis would have never been possible without your help. Thank you, thank you and thank you again.","fullyFundedDate":1758847274945,"projectUrl":"project/getting-back-to-the-basics/9509097/","projectTitle":"Getting Back to the Basics","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Manley-Ryder","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1465245_orig.jpg?crop=1029,1029,x36,y194&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1588117433706","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/j-manley-ryder"},{"teacherId":1465245,"projectId":9650002,"letterContent":"Thanks to your support the snack shop we have started has impacted our students in so many ways. We run the snack shop 4 days a week and shop to refill our supplies every Friday. \r\n\r\n Students learn to handle money, make change, and understand the basics of budgeting and profit. They see firsthand how price sensitivity affects consumer choices and learn to adjust their purchase based on price and what they know will sell. \r\n\r\nThey are responsible for marketing their products, managing inventory, they each have a job and are learning to work as a team.","fullyFundedDate":1758720062972,"projectUrl":"project/what-can-i-buy/9650002/","projectTitle":"What Can I Buy?","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Manley-Ryder","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1465245_orig.jpg?crop=1029,1029,x36,y194&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1588117433706","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/j-manley-ryder"},{"teacherId":2192463,"projectId":10135848,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our classroom project. Because of your kindness, my students now have access to a Shark vacuum and a Wet Swiffer—tools that will make a meaningful difference in their daily learning and growth.\r\n\r\nMy students are nonverbal or have significant speech, language, and cognitive delays, and they require intensive support to build foundational life skills. With these real-life cleaning tools, they will now have the opportunity to practice important skills such as following multi-step directions, building independence, and taking responsibility for their environment. These hands-on experiences will help them develop confidence, motor skills, and a sense of pride in their accomplishments.\r\n\r\nJust as importantly, your support helps us maintain a clean and safe classroom. Many of my students explore their environment through touch and sensory play, so keeping our space free of dust and germs is essential for their health and well-being.\r\n\r\nYour generosity directly impacts their learning, safety, and independence every single day. Because of you, my students are able to grow, explore, and succeed in a supportive and structured environment.\r\n\r\nWe are truly grateful for your kindness and belief in our classroom. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of my students.","fullyFundedDate":1774706419486,"projectUrl":"project/helping-our-students-clean-and-learn-wit/10135848/","projectTitle":"Helping Our Students Clean and Learn with Real-Life Tools","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Leah Dworkis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2192463_orig.jpg?crop=1194,1194,x0,y19&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1771941317992","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/leahdworkis"},{"teacherId":2192463,"projectId":10123293,"letterContent":"Thank you for your incredible dedication, compassion, and unwavering commitment to your students in your self-contained autism program. The work you do every day goes far beyond traditional teaching—it is deeply meaningful, highly specialized, and truly life-changing for the learners you support. Your students, who are nonverbal and experience significant speech, language, and cognitive delays, rely on your patience, creativity, and intentional planning to access the world around them. The way you describe their love for learning, despite the challenges they face, is a powerful reminder that ability is not defined by communication method, but by opportunity and access.\r\n\r\nYour focus on alternative communication shows a profound understanding of how essential it is for every child to have a voice. Whether through assistive technology, visual supports, or sensory-based engagement, you are helping your students build bridges to expression, independence, and connection. This is not just instruction—it is empowerment.\r\n\r\nThe classroom environment you are intentionally shaping is equally inspiring. You recognize that sensory regulation is not optional for your learners; it is foundational. By seeking to add the Cozy Corner bean bag, you are creating more than just a soft seating option—you are building a safe retreat where students can decompress, self-regulate, and return to learning in a calmer, more grounded state. Deep pressure input is a powerful tool for many autistic learners, and your understanding of its importance reflects both expertise and empathy.\r\n\r\nYour consideration of a teacher chair on wheels highlights your flexibility and student-centered approach. You are not confined to a desk or traditional teaching space. Instead, you move fluidly throughout the classroom, meeting students at their level—on the floor, at low tables, or wherever learning is happening. This mobility strengthens connection, encourages engagement, and allows you to provide immediate support, modeling, and reinforcement exactly when it is needed most. It is a simple tool with a profound impact on instructional presence and accessibility.\r\n\r\nThe shimmering sequin wall is a beautiful example of how sensory and academic learning can blend seamlessly. For your students, tactile and visual stimulation is not just enjoyable—it is meaningful exploration. The act of flipping sequins supports fine motor development, encourages cause-and-effect understanding, and provides a calming, repetitive motion that can reduce anxiety and increase focus. Transforming a plain wall into an interactive, sensory-rich experience demonstrates your ability to think creatively and purposefully about every inch of your learning environment.\r\n\r\nWhat stands out most is your holistic view of your students. You are not only planning lessons—you are designing experiences that honor regulation, communication, movement, sensory input, and emotional safety. You see your students as capable learners who deserve dignity, accessibility, and joy in their education.\r\n\r\nThank you for advocating so strongly for resources that bridge structured learning with sensory support. Your efforts ensure that your classroom is not only functional, but nurturing and responsive. Educators like you make an extraordinary difference in the lives of students and families every single day. Your work is a powerful reminder that when environments are thoughtfully designed and hearts are fully invested, every child can grow, connect, and shine in their own unique way.","fullyFundedDate":1773080629383,"projectUrl":"project/creating-a-sanctuary-for-success-seating/10123293/","projectTitle":"Creating a Sanctuary for Success Seating for Sensory Growth","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Leah Dworkis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2192463_orig.jpg?crop=1194,1194,x0,y19&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1771941317992","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/leahdworkis"},{"teacherId":2192463,"projectId":9939712,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom through DonorsChoose. Your generosity means more to my students and me than words can fully express. Because of your kindness, my students will have the opportunity to create personalized shirts, tote bags, and hats that allow them to communicate in ways that feel natural, meaningful, and exciting.\r\n\r\nIn our classroom, communication looks different for every child. Many of my students are nonverbal or have significant speech and language delays, so expressing their thoughts and feelings can be very challenging. However, every day they work incredibly hard to find their voices. They communicate through gestures, pictures, communication devices, drawings, and brave attempts at words. Every effort is celebrated, and every attempt matters. Your support recognizes the importance of these efforts and gives my students tools that help their voices be seen and heard in new ways.\r\n\r\nThe materials you helped provide will transform learning into something hands-on and engaging. Instead of only practicing communication skills on paper, students will design items they can wear and carry with pride. A shirt might display a favorite color, hobby, or positive message that represents who they are. A tote bag might feature a symbol, picture, or vocabulary word they are learning in class. A hat might include images or designs that bring them joy and help express their personalities.\r\n\r\nThese projects are more than simple crafts. They become meaningful communication tools that allow students to express their thoughts, interests, and identities. When students proudly wear something they created themselves, it becomes a powerful confidence builder. It also opens the door for conversations with peers, teachers, and family members. Classmates may ask about the design on a shirt or the pictures on a bag, which encourages natural social interaction and communication.\r\n\r\nFor many of my students, starting a conversation or expressing an idea can be difficult. Having something they designed themselves helps give them a starting point and makes communication feel more comfortable and exciting. These personalized items help turn creativity into connection, learning into pride, and effort into celebration.\r\n\r\nYour generosity is helping create a classroom environment where every student feels valued, capable, and empowered. You are not just providing supplies—you are helping my students build confidence, independence, and meaningful ways to connect with others. These experiences will stay with them far beyond our classroom walls.\r\n\r\nOn behalf of my incredible students, thank you for believing in their abilities and supporting their growth. Your kindness is helping them share their voices, express their creativity, and show the world who they are. We are deeply grateful for your support and the opportunities you have made possible for our classroom community.","fullyFundedDate":1766439288263,"projectUrl":"project/wear-your-words/9939712/","projectTitle":"Wear Your Words","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Leah Dworkis","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2192463_orig.jpg?crop=1194,1194,x0,y19&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1771941317992","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/leahdworkis"},{"teacherId":5267082,"projectId":9778854,"letterContent":"You Didn't Just Donate Materials — You Created Moments of Joy and Discovery\r\nWhen the boxes arrived in our classroom, my students were immediately curious and excited. For many of them, new materials are more than just supplies — they are opportunities to explore the world in ways that support how they learn best.\r\nAs a teacher in a 6:1:1 classroom serving students with autism and diverse learning needs, hands-on learning tools make an incredible difference. Many of my students learn through movement, touch, and visual exploration. Because of you, our classroom now has resources that truly meet them where they are.\r\nOne of the most memorable moments happened during our literacy centers when we introduced the fidget sight word games. My students were thrilled to learn that reading could feel like play. As they moved the pieces and searched for sight words, I watched students who usually struggle with focus remain engaged and proud as they recognized words they had been practicing.\r\nThe headphones have also become a daily essential in our classroom. Many of my students benefit from reduced noise and clear audio during digital learning activities. With these headphones, they can focus on reading and math programs independently while feeling calm and supported.\r\nNext, our students will continue observing their terrariums as part of an ongoing science investigation while connecting literacy and vocabulary to what they see growing. These experiences help turn abstract concepts into real understanding.\r\nYour generosity did more than fund a project — it opened doors for exploration, independence, and discovery for students who benefit deeply from hands-on learning.\r\nFrom the bottom of our hearts, thank you for believing in our classroom.\r\nWith gratitude,\r\nMs. Regina & Students","fullyFundedDate":1765817380126,"projectUrl":"project/lets-explore-problem-solve-and-grow-a/9778854/","projectTitle":"Let's explore, problem-solve, and grow as learners and individuals.","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Regina","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5267082_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1759244536049","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/victoria-regina2"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_2024","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":null,"numTeachers":null,"percentFrplEligible":87,"percentAsian":42,"percentBlack":5,"percentWhite":27,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":19,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"US Census Data for the surrounding geographic area","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":2,"gradesServed":"Not specified","studentTeacherRatio":null,"demographicsDataSource":"Census ZCTA","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"UNCLASSIFIED","ncesMetroType":null},"inStateSupporters":65.2,"schoolId":2024,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about PS993 @ PS208 on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"PS993 @ PS208","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/new-york/district-75-city-wide-programs/ps993-ps208/2024"}