{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Columbia Secondary School","outOfStateSupporters":19.4,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":1683058,"projectId":9314324,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our project, Biology Beyond the Book: Learning That Comes to Life! Because of your generosity, my students have been able to experience biology in a more hands-on, engaging, and meaningful way. We are using the new resources to support classroom labs, investigations, models, and activities that allow students to explore biology beyond notes, worksheets, and textbook diagrams. These materials have helped students see that science is not just something they read about—it is something they can observe, question, test, and understand through experience.\r\n\r\nMy students were excited when they first saw the materials and immediately began asking when they would get to use them. One memorable classroom moment was watching students work together during a lab activity, making observations, discussing their ideas, and connecting what they saw to the biology concepts we had been studying. Students who are usually quiet or hesitant became more engaged because the hands-on materials gave them a concrete way to participate. These experiences helped students build confidence, curiosity, and stronger scientific thinking skills.\r\n\r\nThe next step for my students is to continue using these resources in upcoming biology lessons as they investigate cells, body systems, genetics, homeostasis, ecology, and scientific inquiry. They will keep practicing important lab skills such as collecting data, analyzing results, collaborating with classmates, and explaining their conclusions using evidence. Your support has helped create a classroom where biology truly comes to life. Thank you again for investing in my students and helping them experience science in a real and memorable way.","fullyFundedDate":1747315738090,"projectUrl":"project/biology-beyond-the-book-learning-that-c/9314324/","projectTitle":"Biology Beyond the Book: Learning That Comes to Life!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Bulalang","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1683058_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1478725330788","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ibulalang"},{"teacherId":1683058,"projectId":9706052,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our project, Hands-On STEM Labs for Biology Students. Because of your generosity, my students have been able to experience biology through hands-on investigations that make science more meaningful and exciting. We are using the new resources to support lab activities where students observe, test, collect data, and explain biological concepts using evidence. These materials have helped transform lessons from something students only read about into something they can actually see, explore, and understand.\r\n\r\nMy students were excited when they first saw the materials and immediately wanted to know when they would get to use them. One memorable classroom moment was watching students work together during a lab investigation, carefully making observations and discussing what their results meant. Students who are sometimes hesitant to participate became more engaged because they had real materials in front of them and a clear purpose for their work. These hands-on experiences helped students build confidence, ask better questions, and connect biology to real-world science.\r\n\r\nThe next step for my students is to continue using these materials in upcoming biology labs as they strengthen their skills in experimental design, data collection, analysis, and evidence-based explanations. They will apply what they learn to topics such as cells, body systems, genetics, homeostasis, ecology, and scientific inquiry. Your support has helped create a classroom where students do not just learn about science—they practice being scientists. Thank you again for helping bring STEM learning to life for my biology students.","fullyFundedDate":1762787031687,"projectUrl":"project/hands-on-stem-labs-for-biology-students/9706052/","projectTitle":"Hands-On STEM Labs for Biology Students","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Bulalang","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1683058_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1478725330788","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ibulalang"},{"teacherId":1683058,"projectId":9361848,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our project, Experiential Learning: Rat and Pig Hands-On Dissection Lab. Because of your generosity, my students were able to experience anatomy and physiology in a hands-on, memorable, and meaningful way. We used the rat and fetal pig specimens to study body systems, compare organ structures, and better understand how different systems work together to maintain life. Instead of only seeing diagrams in a textbook, students were able to observe real organs, identify structures, and make connections between what they learned in class and what they saw during the lab.\r\n\r\nMy students were excited, curious, and a little nervous when they first saw the materials, but that quickly turned into engagement and focus. Many students asked thoughtful questions as they examined the specimens, such as how the heart connects to blood vessels, how the digestive organs are arranged, and how the pig's anatomy compares to human anatomy. One powerful classroom moment was watching students work together carefully and respectfully as they identified organs, labeled structures, and discussed how form relates to function. Students who are usually quiet became active participants because the lab gave them something real to observe, touch, and investigate.\r\n\r\nThe next step for my students is to use their observations from the dissection lab to strengthen their understanding of body systems and prepare for upcoming biology assessments. They will continue analyzing how organs work together, comparing animal and human anatomy, and explaining their findings using scientific evidence. These materials helped create an unforgettable learning experience and allowed my students to see themselves as scientists. Thank you again for helping bring biology to life in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1755887186362,"projectUrl":"project/experiential-learning-rat-and-pig-hands/9361848/","projectTitle":"Experiential Learning: Rat and Pig Hands-On Dissection Lab","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Bulalang","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1683058_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1478725330788","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ibulalang"},{"teacherId":1683058,"projectId":8975794,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my project, Biology Labs with Varied Materials and Innovative Tools. Because of your generosity, my students have been able to experience biology in a much more hands-on and meaningful way. We are using the new lab materials and tools to explore important biology concepts through investigations, models, and experiments instead of only reading about them from a textbook. These resources have helped students make real connections between classroom lessons and the work scientists do in the real world.\r\n\r\nMy students were very excited when they first saw the new materials. Many of them immediately asked, \"Are we using these today?\" Their curiosity and enthusiasm reminded me why hands-on science is so important. In class, students have been using the materials to investigate topics such as cells, body systems, genetics, homeostasis, and how organisms interact with their environment. One special moment was seeing students who are usually quiet become more engaged during lab activities because they had something real to observe, test, and discuss with their classmates.\r\n\r\nThe next step for my students is to continue building their lab skills, including making observations, collecting data, analyzing results, and explaining scientific ideas using evidence. These materials will continue to support future labs and help students prepare for biology assessments, including Regents-style investigations and higher-level science courses. Most importantly, your donation has helped create a classroom where students feel like scientists. Thank you again for investing in my students and helping bring biology to life.","fullyFundedDate":1733282462033,"projectUrl":"project/enhancing-biology-labs-with-varied-mater/8975794/","projectTitle":"Enhancing Biology Labs with Varied Materials and Innovative Tools","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Bulalang","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1683058_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1478725330788","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ibulalang"},{"teacherId":9827099,"projectId":9462988,"letterContent":"Thank you for helping us stock our classroom with deodorant, Band-Aids, and other basic care supplies. These are the kinds of things students do not always ask for out loud, but they absolutely need.\r\nWe have already used the supplies during regular school days, after gym, and during busy class periods when students are moving around, working in groups, or just trying to get through the day. A Band-Aid or a quick chance to freshen up can be the thing that lets a student come back to class instead of sitting there distracted or embarrassed.\r\nWhen students first saw the materials, they were surprised in the best way. A few asked, \"Can we really use these?\" That told me a lot. Having these items available makes the classroom feel more practical, caring, and safe.\r\nNext, we are continuing our science work with labs, group activities, and classroom routines that require students to show up ready to participate. These supplies help make that possible. They give students a little privacy, a little confidence, and one less thing to worry about.\r\nThank you again for supporting our classroom and our students in such a useful, real way.","fullyFundedDate":1753400356698,"projectUrl":"project/helping-students-stay-fresh/9462988/","projectTitle":"Helping Students Stay Fresh","teacherDisplayName":"Mx. Carter","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9827099_orig.png?crop=470,470,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1730914916438","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9827099"},{"teacherId":9821833,"projectId":9698608,"letterContent":"My students are so grateful for you all your donations that gave us access to physical calculators in our classroom, and during testing season. With the challenge of digital math tests, students struggle with making their work feel tangible and feeling confidence over their answers. The access to calculators has made such a huge difference, giving them the opportunity to prove their answers, check their work, and feel confident as they took their end of year assessment. Many of my students do not have their own calculators, and having access to our classroom calculators has made learning math much more enjoyable for them.","fullyFundedDate":1758899169864,"projectUrl":"project/multiply-success-ti-34s-for-every-stude/9698608/","projectTitle":"Multiply Success: TI-34s for Every Student","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. McGonigle","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9821833"},{"teacherId":9822298,"projectId":9703929,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of my project. Because of your donation, I am able to transform our counseling office into a safe, clean, and welcoming space for students. What was once a dusty book storage area is now becoming an environment where students feel comfortable seeking support and a safe place for socioemotional learning. Your generosity directly supports students' well-being by ensuring they have a clean environment for their emotional, social, and academic growth. Maintaining a clean environment and providing students with tissues, hand sanitizers, wipes, etc. is essential for promoting student health, comfort, and well-being.\r\n \r\nThank you again for funding this project!","fullyFundedDate":1758045096147,"projectUrl":"project/supplies-for-middle-school-counselors-o/9703929/","projectTitle":"Supplies for Middle School Counselor's Office","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Fernandez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9822298"},{"teacherId":9821833,"projectId":9535749,"letterContent":"Through the supplies provided in this project, our math classroom is space of collaborative and low stress work, where students can effectively and instantly share their thoughts and processes to learn from one another. Even my most hesitant and shy learners are eager to share and show their work using these tools. They love being able to show all different types of thinking- I have to make a detailed list of who's turn it is to share using our doc-cam, to come up to the whiteboard. Students eagerly write their answers on their mini-whiteboards to show their thinking and problem-solving.","fullyFundedDate":1755731171389,"projectUrl":"project/making-learning-visible-for-mathematicia/9535749/","projectTitle":"Making Learning Visible for Mathematicians","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. McGonigle","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9821833"},{"teacherId":1683058,"projectId":7513989,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, this school year has become one of the most engaging, energizing, and truly hands-on years my students have ever experienced in science. The new laboratory materials you helped fund have transformed my classroom into a space where students do not just learn biology—they experience it. I want to share how meaningful this transformation has been and how your support has directly shaped student learning every single day.\r\n\r\nThe moment the boxes arrived, my students immediately knew something exciting was about to happen. As we unpacked micropipettes, microtubes, agar, dialysis tubing, safety equipment, and other essential tools, the room buzzed with a mixture of curiosity and disbelief. Several students said things like, \"Wait—this is what real labs use!\" and \"We get to do this for ourselves?\" For many of them—especially those who have never stepped into a university or professional lab—this was their first time holding authentic biotechnology tools. Their faces lit up as they realized they would no longer be limited to diagrams or videos: they would actually get to do real science.\r\n\r\nOne moment that stands out happened during our unit on cell transport. In previous years, students learned osmosis using demonstrations or pre-prepared images. This year, because of your support, students conducted a full osmosis and diffusion investigation using dialysis tubing, sucrose solutions, and mass-change calculations. They recorded data, created graphs, compared predictions with outcomes, and debated why some samples gained mass while others lost it. Several students took out their phones to photograph their setups—not because it was required, but because they were proud of what they had created with their own hands. One student told me quietly, \"I feel like a real scientist.\"\r\n\r\nAnother highlight was our enzyme catalysis and cellular respiration lab series. Using the new materials, AP Biology students were able to design and carry out full inquiry-based labs that used to be impossible due to lack of equipment. Instead of watching videos of spectrophotometry, students used safe color-change indicators and timed reactions themselves. Rather than reading about experimental design, they built their own procedures, tested variables, revised trials, and justified claims using evidence. These are the moments that help students not only understand complex content, but also see themselves as capable problem-solvers and future STEM professionals.\r\n\r\nThe impact of your donation has extended far beyond a single assignment or class period. Students are now consistently using the equipment in every major unit—whether preparing DNA models, conducting osmosis investigations, working with gel simulations, using micropipettes to build essential lab skills, or gathering quantitative data for CER (Claim-Evidence-Reasoning) writing. Having access to reliable, high-quality tools has raised the rigor of our labs and has allowed students from all backgrounds—including English language learners and students with special needs—to access learning in more meaningful, hands-on ways.\r\n\r\nRight now, students are preparing for an even more advanced project: our DNA fingerprinting and gel electrophoresis simulation. Because of your support, they have already practiced micropipetting techniques and understand the safety protocols required for real molecular biology work. Their next steps will include analyzing \"crime scene\" DNA samples, interpreting gel results, and modeling biotechnology careers. These are experiences that build confidence, spark curiosity, and open doors.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has ensured that my students—many of whom aspire to careers in medicine, nursing, research, engineering, and public health—are getting the kind of laboratory experiences that prepare them for those futures. You have given them a classroom where science feels alive, empowering, and exciting.\r\n\r\nOn behalf of my students and myself, thank you for believing in them. Thank you for supporting hands-on learning. And thank you for making it possible for us to transform a regular classroom into a true laboratory of discovery.","fullyFundedDate":1699647569062,"projectUrl":"project/biology-hands-on-lab-materials-for-2023/7513989/","projectTitle":"Biology Hands-On Lab Materials for 2023-2024","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Bulalang","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1683058_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1478725330788","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ibulalang"},{"teacherId":4189569,"projectId":9506144,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for the incredible supplies for my students in Writing Revolution. When we had our first class, the students were quite withdrawn and hesitant to participate. I introduced an icebreaker of hexagonal thinking: having students describe themselves and then find areas of matching interest and connect the hexagons. When the students saw the colorful pens and pencils they lit up and dove into the project. This created an immediate sense of community and trust within the class - an essential for students to begin to write.\r\n\r\nEach time we meet, the students come up to our pens container to choose which pen they will use. They then grab the composition notebooks and begin to write. One student requested an extra notebook, so she can jot down her ideas for writing poetry. I also will write in my composition notebook as they are writing. The students say they are beginning to feel like real writers - a real coup for students who have struggled to write in the past. It is interesting how something so simple as having the writer's notebooks and special pens brings joy to the students.\r\n\r\nLearning to write is not an easy task. Being able to create a sense of community and having my students feel as if they have access to special supplies has helped them to begin the hard work of developing this essential skill. Thank you for making this possible!","fullyFundedDate":1753985489296,"projectUrl":"project/writing-revolution-giving-students-tool/9506144/","projectTitle":"Writing Revolution: Giving Students Tools They Need to Communicate Effectively","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Crawford","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4189569"},{"teacherId":8530486,"projectId":9613224,"letterContent":"Thank you for helping to fund the tools for my engineering classes! When my students learned that a group of people donated to give them these resources, they were really touched. In my class, students explore design thinking and engineering. They use digital tools to create 3-D models and create prototypes of their designs.\r\n\r\nThese tools help my students see their ideas come to life. I want my students to have the chance to engage in hands-on learning while being safe. Students operating 3-D printers must wear gloves and safety glasses. And cutting or drilling activities can now be done with the proper tools.\r\n\r\nWe are looking forward to using all of these tools throughout the year. I am in awe of my students' creativity and I can't wait to see what they create next!","fullyFundedDate":1755715235859,"projectUrl":"project/keeping-safe-in-the-engineering-classroo/9613224/","projectTitle":"Keeping Safe in the Engineering Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Hagen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8530486_orig.jpg?crop=2099,2099,x0,y349&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1770825373473","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-g-hagen"},{"teacherId":8530486,"projectId":9601617,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting my classroom. The new thermometers funded through this project were vital to thermodynamics experiments. My students used them in our Thermodynamics unit in AP Physics 2. They allowed students to take precise measurements and see what we were learning come to life.\r\n\r\nIn one lab, students used the new thermometers to measure temperature and calculate the heat transfer between two samples of liquid. This experience allowed them to demonstrate the conservation of thermal energy experimentally.\r\n\r\nThe Boyle's lab materials also helped students to see the relationship between pressure and volume. This helped them make connections to the ideal gas law.\r\n\r\nYour support made these connections possible. From my AP Physics 2 students and I, thank you!","fullyFundedDate":1755377074174,"projectUrl":"project/exploring-thermodynamics-in-harlem/9601617/","projectTitle":"Exploring Thermodynamics in Harlem","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Hagen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8530486_orig.jpg?crop=2099,2099,x0,y349&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1770825373473","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-g-hagen"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_94736","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":714,"numTeachers":47,"percentFrplEligible":46,"percentAsian":10,"percentBlack":20,"percentWhite":27,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":35,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":4,"gradesServed":"6 - 12","studentTeacherRatio":"15.2:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":80.6,"schoolId":94736,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Columbia Secondary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Columbia Secondary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/new-york/new-york-city-dept-of-ed/columbia-secondary-school/94736"}