{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"PS 261 Zipporiah Mills","outOfStateSupporters":26.8,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":119729,"projectId":9872055,"letterContent":"Thank you for your extremely generous donation! My students were overjoyed to make these puppets! We decorated paper plates to create the shell. We glued strips of paper to create legs. Then we added eyes to a the strip of paper that had a head and tail. The plates were then stapled together. The body strip of paper can be slid back so the turtle can tuck its head into its shell. These simple puppets really brought us a lot of joy and it was easy for us to follow the directions over Zoom! We appreciate your generosity!","fullyFundedDate":1764629311490,"projectUrl":"project/first-graders-would-love-a-puppetry-work/9872055/","projectTitle":"First Graders Would Love a Puppetry Workshop!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Melissa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp119729_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1688956535285","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/melissafarran"},{"teacherId":3225854,"projectId":9774473,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, our classroom has been buzzing with curiosity, creativity, and confidence. Students have been actively using the new toddler science center to explore cause-and-effect, make observations, and ask thoughtful questions during hands-on investigations. The kid-safe appliances and sturdy hardwood side table have become part of our dramatic play area, where students practice real-world skills, collaborate with classmates, and use language to act out everyday experiences.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the materials, their excitement was immediate. They were eager to explore the new tools and couldn't wait to touch, try, and experiment. The play dough materials including rollers, design wheels, and assorted cutters, quickly became favorites, giving students new ways to strengthen fine motor skills while expressing creativity. The classroom labeling pockets have also helped students take more ownership of their space by keeping materials organized and easy to identify.\r\n\r\nBecause of these new resources, students are continuing to build skills through meaningful, play-based learning. Our next steps include expanding our current lessons by combining science exploration with sensory and dramatic play. Students will continue using the materials to work together, solve problems, and apply what they are learning in new and engaging ways. Your support has truly enhanced our classroom environment and made a lasting impact on our students' learning experiences.","fullyFundedDate":1759849202390,"projectUrl":"project/pre-k-needs-supplies-for-center-activiti/9774473/","projectTitle":"Pre-K Needs Supplies for Center Activities!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lopez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/lopezm"},{"teacherId":119729,"projectId":9958113,"letterContent":"Thank you for your very generous donation. My students absolutely love these books! What If You Had Animal Feet teaches kids about the amazing variety of feet in the animal kingdom and their specialty functions! We learned about cheetahs' fast feet, mountain goats' nimble climbing hooves, and to flies' sticky feet! Our favorite nose to learn about in What If You Had An Animal Nose, was the saiga. Thank you for helping my students learn more about animals! This series is extremely popular in our classroom! We appreciate your generosity!","fullyFundedDate":1767121023377,"projectUrl":"project/first-graders-need-more-animal-books/9958113/","projectTitle":"First Graders Need More Animal Books!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Melissa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp119729_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1688956535285","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/melissafarran"},{"teacherId":119729,"projectId":9949634,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generous donation! Thanks to you, my students now have a book showing illustrations of creative and unique snowmen. My students will be inspired for snow days to come! One student made a snow turtle! Thank you for ensuring that my students have their very own copies of this special book! I know that my students will cherish this book! We also love that there are birds on many of the pages! We appreciate your generosity and your kindness. Donors like you are our heroes! Thanks again!","fullyFundedDate":1765192873100,"projectUrl":"project/first-graders-want-to-make-stupendous-sn/9949634/","projectTitle":"First Graders Want to Make Stupendous Snowmen!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Melissa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp119729_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1688956535285","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/melissafarran"},{"teacherId":119729,"projectId":9929105,"letterContent":"Thank you for your very generous donation. Thanks to you, my students will be able to practice their lowercase and upper case letter formation while having fun. My students really love using dry erase boards! Even my students who have excellent handwriting enjoy using these boards. It is a calming activity. Thank you for supporting my students. We appreciate all of your help! Thank you for recognizing the importance of supporting students with basic skills. Donors like you are our heroes! Thanks again!","fullyFundedDate":1764686487842,"projectUrl":"project/first-graders-need-handwriting-practice/9929105/","projectTitle":"First Graders Need Handwriting Practice!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Melissa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp119729_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1688956535285","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/melissafarran"},{"teacherId":119729,"projectId":9888365,"letterContent":"Thank you for your very generous donation. My students absolutely adore learning about animals. These books are full of fascinating facts. Three of our favorite animals that we learned about are archerfish, blue-footed boobies, and horned lizards. We loved learning about the blue-footed booby mating dance. We learned that archerfish spit at bugs on branches. The bugs then fall in the water and archerfish can eat them. Horned lizards squirt blood from special sacs in their eyes. They squirt the blood on predators. Thank you for helping my students learn more about animals. We appreciate your generosity!","fullyFundedDate":1763554782015,"projectUrl":"project/first-graders-want-books-about-animals/9888365/","projectTitle":"First Graders Want Books About Animals!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Melissa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp119729_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1688956535285","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/melissafarran"},{"teacherId":3032396,"projectId":10012582,"letterContent":"We started using our new math tools today, and the kids were so excited! I love watching them puzzling over challenging mathematical activities, using their spatial reasoning, and communicating excitedly when they make a breakthrough. \r\n\r\nWe have also introduced our new classroom library books, which are being passed around from student to student with joy, and sparking lots of conversations about stories and characters. \r\n\r\nIt might be cold outside, but our classroom is sparking to life with these fantastic new treats! Thank you so much for helping us learn and grow!","fullyFundedDate":1768484925514,"projectUrl":"project/restock-our-classroom-with-fun-and-learn/10012582/","projectTitle":"Restock Our Classroom with Fun and Learning!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lindsey","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3032396_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1528486586522","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-sproul"},{"teacherId":119729,"projectId":9790285,"letterContent":"Thank you for your extremely generous donation. Thanks to you, my students received three books to add to their home libraries. They were able to read about how people can make a difference by speaking up. I was thrilled to be able to give each of my students a copy of a Martin Luther King, Jr. biography. Dr. King's legacy is something that is celebrated annually at our school. Thanks to you, they will have a resource that they will be able to go back to each year. We were able to learn about the Montgomery bus boycott as well while we were reading the biography! Thank you for making a difference in my students' lives!","fullyFundedDate":1760742489042,"projectUrl":"project/first-graders-want-to-learn-about-martin/9790285/","projectTitle":"First Graders Want to Learn About Martin Luther King Jr","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Melissa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp119729_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1688956535285","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/melissafarran"},{"teacherId":10164160,"projectId":9831487,"letterContent":"The sand table has become one of the most exciting spots in our Pre-K classroom. Right now, we are using it with sand, and the children love digging, scooping, pouring, and building every day. One day, a group of children worked together to make a \"sand city\" with roads and tunnels. They talked about their ideas, shared tools, and helped each other when the sand fell apart. It was wonderful to see so much teamwork, problem-solving, and learning happening through play.\r\n\r\nWhen the children first saw the table, their faces lit up. They rushed over and couldn't wait to touch the sand and explore. Some said it felt like the beach, and others said it was like digging at a park. Even children who are usually quiet or unsure jumped right in and started playing and talking with friends.\r\n\r\nIn April, we will change the table from sand to water, and the children are already so excited about it. They will explore pouring, filling, floating, and sinking, and learn how water moves in different containers. This table will keep supporting curiosity, hands-on learning, and joyful exploration all year long. Because of your generosity, our Pre-K students have a special place where they can learn, play, and discover together every day.","fullyFundedDate":1760837909432,"projectUrl":"project/water-explorers/9831487/","projectTitle":"Water Explorers","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sam","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10164160_orig.jpg?crop=1295,1295,x133,y428&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1754778117758","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10164160"},{"teacherId":10164160,"projectId":9786557,"letterContent":"Our classroom has truly come alive with curiosity and excitement thanks to these new science and sensory resources. The children have been using the mini water sensory table every day to pour, scoop, measure, and experiment with what happens when materials move, mix, sink, or float. They talked through their ideas, made predictions, and adjusted their plans when things didn't work the way they expected, this was real science in action.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first saw the materials, they gasped, cheered, and immediately asked, \"Can we use it now?\" The magnifiers, motion tubes, and sensory tubes quickly became favorites. Children were especially excited to look closely at leaves, seeds, and classroom objects using the jumbo magnifiers and science viewers. They were amazed by how different things looked up close and proudly shared their discoveries with friends. The microscope slides were another big hit; students took turns observing insects and plants and describing what they noticed, using new vocabulary like \"lines,\" \"patterns,\" and \"tiny pieces.\"\r\n\r\nThese materials are now a core part of our science time and learning centers. We're using the weighing station and sorting sets to explore measurement and comparison, while the droppers, scoops, and magnetic wands strengthen fine motor skills alongside science exploration. The nonfiction science books have become go-to read-alouds and are helping students connect hands-on experiences to real-world science concepts.\r\n\r\nNext, students will use these tools to dive deeper into our current investigations, such as measuring, observing, predicting, and recording what they see. We will soon begin a new inquiry where children will explore how materials change, how living things grow, and how scientists use tools to learn more about the world. Because of your generosity, my students are not just learning about science; they are truly becoming scientists. Thank you for giving them the chance to explore, wonder, and discover every single day.","fullyFundedDate":1760804794984,"projectUrl":"project/pre-k-little-scientists/9786557/","projectTitle":"Pre-k Little Scientists","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Sam","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10164160_orig.jpg?crop=1295,1295,x133,y428&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1754778117758","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10164160"},{"teacherId":3225854,"projectId":9733861,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for providing our classroom with a laminator. This simple piece of technology has already made a big difference in how my students learn and engage with materials.\r\n\r\nBecause we can now laminate resources, students are able to reuse learning tools instead of treating them as one-time papers. We've laminated task cards, math games, reference sheets, and writing organizers, which allows students to practice skills again and again using dry-erase markers. This has helped them focus more on learning and less on worrying about making mistakes. It has also made lessons more interactive and hands-on.\r\n\r\nWhat excites my students most is that their work feels more \"official\" and important. When they see their charts, flashcards, or group activities laminated, they take pride in using them and caring for them. They love knowing that something they use today will still be around tomorrow and throughout the year.\r\n\r\nSome students have especially connected with this new technology, particularly those who struggle with confidence or fine motor skills. Being able to erase and try again has reduced anxiety and encouraged them to participate more freely. I've also seen students who need extra repetition benefit from laminated practice materials they can use independently or in small groups.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has helped create a more engaging, supportive, and sustainable learning environment for my students. Thank you for investing in our classroom and in their success.","fullyFundedDate":1758898735552,"projectUrl":"project/pre-k-students-need-a-laminator/9733861/","projectTitle":"Pre- K Students Need a Laminator!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lopez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/lopezm"},{"teacherId":119729,"projectId":9685197,"letterContent":"Thank you for donating these bird cards! My students were absolutely overjoyed to receive them as a holiday gift. These cards will help my students learn more about birds! The cards describe their nests, where they live, and what they eat. They include a QR code so students can listen to their calls. Thanks to you, I was able to give my students a special, but also educational gift. My students will deepen their love of birds with this gift! It will also provide them with some more screen free activities! Thank you for supporting my students!","fullyFundedDate":1757502768512,"projectUrl":"project/first-graders-want-to-learn-about-birds/9685197/","projectTitle":"First Graders Want to Learn About Birds!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Melissa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp119729_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1688956535285","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/melissafarran"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_593","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":563,"numTeachers":57,"percentFrplEligible":31,"percentAsian":5,"percentBlack":15,"percentWhite":48,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":19,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"9.9:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":false,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":73.2,"schoolId":593,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about PS 261 Zipporiah Mills on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"PS 261 Zipporiah Mills","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/new-york/new-york-city-dept-of-ed/ps-261-philip-livingston/593"}