{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"PS Q177 Robin Sue Ward School","outOfStateSupporters":35.4,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":1750109,"projectId":8737912,"letterContent":"Thank you so much in supporting the generosity of helping my students create this space for our school community! Our student volunteers have still been maintaining this space by sweeping, vacuuming, and cleaning weekly, as well as restocking items that may need replacement. Our entire student body benefits from these enhancements, as they have a space to visit when they need to\r\n calm down or take a break. The sensory tent is definitely a favorite , as it provides a private, yet supervised, space for our students. Thank you for your generous support and helping our students!","fullyFundedDate":1725676345277,"projectUrl":"project/creating-a-sensory-space/8737912/","projectTitle":"Creating a Sensory Space","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kresic","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1750109_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1605807132464","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ckresic"},{"teacherId":3251152,"projectId":10138236,"letterContent":"Donations to our urban farm have had a tremendous impact on our students, our classroom, and our school community. These contributions have provided much more than materials and supplies—they have created meaningful learning opportunities that help students develop academic, social, vocational, and life skills in a hands-on and engaging environment.\r\n\r\nOur urban farm serves as a living classroom where students learn through real-world experiences. With the support of donated tools, seeds, soil, lumber, gardening supplies, chicken feed, and farm equipment, students are able to participate in every aspect of maintaining a working farm. These resources allow students to plant, grow, harvest, care for animals, and prepare products for our farmers market. Each activity provides valuable opportunities for learning that extend far beyond traditional classroom instruction.\r\n\r\nFor many of our students, who have autism and other disabilities, hands-on learning is one of the most effective ways to build skills and confidence. Donations have allowed us to create structured learning experiences that support communication, problem-solving, teamwork, and independence. Students learn how to follow directions, complete multi-step tasks, manage responsibilities, and work collaboratively with peers. These are essential skills that will help them succeed in school, at home, and in future employment settings.\r\n\r\nThe farm has also provided meaningful opportunities to connect academic learning to real-life situations. Students apply mathematics when measuring garden beds, tracking plant growth, collecting data, and managing inventory for our farmers market. They strengthen literacy skills by reading instructions, creating labels, maintaining journals, and communicating with customers. Science concepts come to life as students explore plant life cycles, animal care, ecosystems, weather patterns, and sustainable agriculture practices. Through these authentic experiences, students gain a deeper understanding of academic concepts and their practical applications.\r\n\r\nOne of the most significant impacts of the donations has been the growth in student confidence and self-esteem. Students take pride in seeing the results of their hard work as seeds grow into vegetables, flowers bloom, and chickens produce eggs. They experience a sense of accomplishment when products they helped create are sold at our farmers market. These successes help students recognize their abilities and understand that their contributions have value.\r\n\r\nThe donations have also strengthened social and emotional development. Working on the farm encourages patience, responsibility, perseverance, and cooperation. Students learn how to support one another, solve problems together, and celebrate shared achievements. The farm creates opportunities for positive peer interactions and helps foster a sense of belonging within the school community.\r\n\r\nAdditionally, the urban farm has become a bridge between our classroom and the larger community. Students interact with staff, families, and community members through farm activities and market events. These experiences help build communication skills and provide exposure to potential career pathways in agriculture, horticulture, animal care, and entrepreneurship.\r\n\r\nUltimately, donations to our urban farm have transformed learning for our students. They have created opportunities for hands-on education, increased student engagement, and helped develop the skills necessary for greater independence and future success. Every donation has contributed to a program that empowers students to learn, grow, and thrive while making meaningful contributions to their school and community.","fullyFundedDate":1774355467577,"projectUrl":"project/urban-farm-2026/10138236/","projectTitle":"Urban Farm 2026","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. O'Donnell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3251152"},{"teacherId":3251152,"projectId":10099814,"letterContent":"We would like to express our sincere gratitude for your generous donation of sensory seating for our sensory garden. Your support is helping us create an inclusive, welcoming, and therapeutic outdoor learning environment where all students can learn, grow, and thrive.\r\n\r\nThe sensory garden serves as a unique space where students can engage with nature while developing important social, emotional, and life skills. For many of our students, particularly those with autism and other disabilities, having access to a calm and structured outdoor environment can make a significant difference in their ability to regulate emotions, focus attention, and participate in learning activities. Your donation of sensory seating helps make this possible.\r\n\r\nThe seating provides students with a comfortable and secure place to rest, observe, reflect, and engage with their surroundings. Whether students are participating in a lesson, reading a book, practicing communication skills, or simply taking a moment to regulate their sensory needs, these seating areas offer valuable support. The availability of appropriate seating encourages students to spend more time outdoors, fostering a stronger connection with nature and promoting overall well-being.\r\n\r\nYour contribution also enhances opportunities for social interaction and community building. Students can gather together to share experiences, work collaboratively on projects, and develop meaningful relationships with their peers. The sensory seating creates inviting spaces where students feel comfortable participating in group discussions, cooperative activities, and outdoor learning experiences.\r\n\r\nIn addition to supporting sensory and social development, the seating contributes to the overall accessibility of our garden. It ensures that students of varying abilities have a place where they can comfortably engage in activities and enjoy the benefits of being outdoors. This aligns with our commitment to creating an environment where every student feels valued, included, and supported.\r\n\r\nThe impact of your donation extends beyond the physical seating itself. It sends a powerful message to our students that members of the community believe in them and care about their success. Your generosity helps create opportunities for meaningful experiences that build confidence, independence, and a sense of belonging.\r\n\r\nOn behalf of our students, staff, and school community, thank you for your kindness and support. Your donation of sensory seating is helping transform our sensory garden into a place of learning, relaxation, exploration, and connection. We are deeply grateful for your investment in our students and for helping us provide an environment where every child has the opportunity to flourish.\r\n\r\nThank you for making a lasting difference in the lives of our students. Your generosity will continue to benefit our school community for years to come.","fullyFundedDate":1773850758250,"projectUrl":"project/sensory-seating-for-community-sensory-ga/10099814/","projectTitle":"Sensory Seating for Community Sensory Garden","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. O'Donnell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3251152"},{"teacherId":3251152,"projectId":10131055,"letterContent":"Donations of supplies to our farmers market mean much more than simply providing materials. These contributions directly support meaningful learning opportunities for students while helping our farm and market thrive. Every donated item, whether it is gardening tools, seeds, soil, lumber, animal feed, packaging materials, tables, or market supplies, becomes an investment in the education, growth, and future success of our students.\r\n\r\nOur farmers market is an extension of the work students do throughout the school year on our farm and in our chicken coop program. Students learn to plant, grow, harvest, care for animals, and prepare products for sale. Donations provide the resources needed to create authentic, hands-on learning experiences that cannot be replicated in a traditional classroom setting. Through these experiences, students develop vocational, academic, communication, and social skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.\r\n\r\nFor students with disabilities, these opportunities are especially meaningful. Working on the farm and participating in the farmers market allows students to practice real-world skills in a supportive environment. They learn responsibility by caring for plants and animals, problem-solving by overcoming challenges in farming, and teamwork by working alongside peers and staff. At the market, students gain experience with customer service, handling transactions, organizing products, and communicating with members of the community. These are valuable skills that increase independence and prepare students for future employment opportunities.\r\n\r\nDonations also help create a sense of pride and ownership among students. When students see seeds grow into vegetables, eggs collected from chickens sold at market, or handmade products purchased by customers, they experience the satisfaction of seeing the results of their hard work. This builds confidence, self-esteem, and motivation. Students begin to understand that their efforts have value and that they can make meaningful contributions to their school and community.\r\n\r\nBeyond supporting student learning, donations strengthen connections between the school and the community. Every contribution demonstrates a belief in our students and in the importance of inclusive educational opportunities. Donors become partners in helping students develop life skills, explore career pathways, and gain experiences that prepare them for adulthood. Community support shows students that people care about their success and are invested in their future.\r\n\r\nDonations of supplies also help ensure the sustainability of the farmers market. By reducing operating costs, donated materials allow more resources to be directed toward educational programming, farm improvements, and expanding opportunities for students. This support enables us to grow the program, reach more students, and continue offering valuable hands-on experiences year after year.\r\n\r\nUltimately, donations to our farmers market represent opportunity, empowerment, and community. They provide students with the tools they need to learn, grow, and succeed while helping create a program that teaches responsibility, independence, leadership, and confidence. Every donated item, no matter its size, contributes to a larger mission of preparing students for meaningful and productive futures.","fullyFundedDate":1773059350030,"projectUrl":"project/farmers-market-2026/10131055/","projectTitle":"Farmer's Market 2026","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. O'Donnell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3251152"},{"teacherId":9745189,"projectId":10196894,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity and support. My class, staff, and I truly appreciate your donation. Without your help, our students would not have been able to create and sell their 100% handmade greeting cards within our community.\r\n\r\nThrough this meaningful experience, my students learned so much. Their imagination and creativity blossomed, while their money management, communication, and social skills greatly improved. Most importantly, they gained confidence and pride in their hard work.\r\n\r\nYour kindness and support made this opportunity possible for our students, and we are incredibly grateful. Thank you again for believing in our classroom and our students.","fullyFundedDate":1776978226358,"projectUrl":"project/spreading-kindness-through-handmade-card/10196894/","projectTitle":"Spreading Kindness Through Handmade Cards","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Wahrman","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9745189"},{"teacherId":9997923,"projectId":9865008,"letterContent":"Wow! Thank you for your generous support to our community service project! My students were so excited to have the materials we needed to get this food drive up and running. The large totes were perfect for my students to place at various locations around the school, making it easy for our staff and students to drop off donations. They were able to easily carry food donations using the handles on these totes. The large boxes were sturdy, and the perfect way to package items to deliver to the food pantry. We were so excited to be able to do this for our community!","fullyFundedDate":1763483618049,"projectUrl":"project/food-drive-donations/9865008/","projectTitle":"Food Drive Donations!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Peduzzi","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9997923"},{"teacherId":9888923,"projectId":10068195,"letterContent":"Our students were so happy to receive these items to stock their student leader center! After opening the boxes, the students were delighted to sort and stock all of the engaging, highly motivating prize items we received from this project! We love the art supplies, trinkets, and sensory items, and our students love the chance to give their peers an exciting reward for kindness and promoting good behavior and a positive school climate. My students are working hard daily to do this for the school community, and we hope to continue to promote kindness and positivity here at P177Q.","fullyFundedDate":1770136666945,"projectUrl":"project/keeping-our-community-kind/10068195/","projectTitle":"Keeping our Community Kind!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Keltsma","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9888923"},{"teacherId":10075427,"projectId":9783901,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support in funding flexible seating furniture for our sensory space. Your kindness is already making a meaningful difference in the daily lives of our students.\r\n\r\nFor many of our students with special needs, having access to comfortable, adaptable seating is more than just a convenience—it is essential. These materials help create a calming environment where students can regulate their emotions, stay engaged, and feel safe and supported throughout the day.\r\n\r\nBecause of you, our students now have a space that honors their individual needs and empowers them to learn in ways that work best for them. Your contribution is not just furniture—it is comfort, access, and opportunity.\r\n\r\nWe are incredibly grateful for your support and belief in our students.","fullyFundedDate":1761568590593,"projectUrl":"project/mental-health-for-our-school-community/9783901/","projectTitle":"Mental Health for our School Community","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Schmidt","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10075427"},{"teacherId":10075427,"projectId":9455931,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support in funding flexible seating furniture for our sensory space. Your kindness is already making a meaningful difference in the daily lives of our students.\r\n\r\nFor many of our students with special needs, having access to comfortable, adaptable seating is more than just a convenience—it is essential. These materials help create a calming environment where students can regulate their emotions, stay engaged, and feel safe and supported throughout the day.\r\n\r\nBecause of you, our students now have a space that honors their individual needs and empowers them to learn in ways that work best for them. Your contribution is not just furniture—it is comfort, access, and opportunity.\r\n\r\nWe are incredibly grateful for your support and belief in our students.","fullyFundedDate":1752167009731,"projectUrl":"project/sensory-items-for-all/9455931/","projectTitle":"Sensory Items for All","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Schmidt","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10075427"},{"teacherId":5313761,"projectId":10051763,"letterContent":"I can't thank you enough. The snacks are motivating and keeping the students from being hungry during our sessions. My students face challenges focusing and that is only made harder when they are hungry or cold. We have been warming up the heated stuffed animals, and the students have been taking turns holding them. They love having a warm 'friend' to hold.\r\n\r\nWe have been using the yarn to begin to learn some basic crochet and knitting. We have also been making simple gifts with the yarn to share with our families. Plans are underway to craft some special t-shirts. The students are working together to design the shirts while they share snacks and ideas.\r\n\r\nThe students were all so excited to begin these projects and they continue to show how motivated they are to learn. Thank you so much for your generosity.","fullyFundedDate":1772550487808,"projectUrl":"project/learning-starts-with-warmth-care-and-c/10051763/","projectTitle":"Learning Starts With Warmth, Care, and Comfort!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Nikols","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5313761"},{"teacherId":3251152,"projectId":9622961,"letterContent":"Farming in our school and local community has provided my special education students with powerful hands-on learning experiences that support academic, social, and emotional growth. Through planting, caring for animals, maintaining garden beds, and harvesting crops, students practice functional life skills such as following routines, problem-solving, teamwork, responsibility, and patience while also reinforcing math, science, and literacy concepts in a real-world context. The physical nature of farming activities supports sensory regulation and behavioral engagement, helping students build confidence and independence as they see tangible results from their work. Participating in community-based farming also strengthens communication and social interaction as students collaborate with peers, staff, and community members, fostering inclusion and a sense of belonging. Most importantly, the experience gives students pride and purpose—many of whom may struggle in traditional classroom settings—by allowing them to contribute meaningfully to their school and community while developing vocational skills that can support future employment opportunities.","fullyFundedDate":1757606123292,"projectUrl":"project/farming-in-our-school-local-community/9622961/","projectTitle":"Farming in our School & Local Community","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. O'Donnell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3251152"},{"teacherId":3251152,"projectId":9793694,"letterContent":"Fundraising through a bake sale for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation is benefiting my special education students in many meaningful ways that go far beyond raising money. First, it provides authentic, hands-on learning opportunities where students practice functional academics such as measuring ingredients, counting money, budgeting, reading recipes, and following step-by-step directions. These real-world tasks strengthen math, literacy, executive functioning, and problem-solving skills in a way that is motivating and concrete.\r\n\r\nSecond, the bake sale promotes social communication and vocational development. Students practice greeting customers, taking orders, making change, packaging items, and working as a team—skills that directly support future employment readiness and independence. For students with autism and language delays, these structured interactions build confidence, communication, and self-advocacy in a supportive environment.\r\n\r\nThird, connecting their efforts to a respected charity gives students a sense of purpose and community contribution. Knowing they are helping first responders, veterans, and families in need fosters empathy, pride, and civic responsibility. Many students who often feel marginalized experience the powerful realization that they can make a difference in the world.\r\n\r\nFinally, the project strengthens school and community inclusion. Families, staff, and community members engage with the students in a positive context, helping others see their abilities rather than their disabilities. This increases student self-esteem and belonging—critical factors for emotional and behavioral growth.\r\n\r\nIn short, the bake sale is not just fundraising; it is experiential learning, vocational training, social development, and community empowerment all in one activity.","fullyFundedDate":1762873400741,"projectUrl":"project/fundraising-for-heroes/9793694/","projectTitle":"Fundraising for Heroes","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. O'Donnell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3251152"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_1086","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":512,"numTeachers":88,"percentFrplEligible":86,"percentAsian":23,"percentBlack":29,"percentWhite":15,"percentIndigenous":3,"percentLatinx":26,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":1,"gradesServed":"Not specified","studentTeacherRatio":"5.8:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":64.6,"schoolId":1086,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about PS Q177 Robin Sue Ward School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"PS Q177 Robin Sue Ward School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/new-york/new-york-city-dept-of-ed/ps-177q/1086"}