Past projects 10
Ready, Focus, Go!
Funded Mar 6, 2025Thank you so much for helping to fund this project. Words are not enough to describe the impact of your generosity.
I hope that this will give many students the opportunity to focus better in school. Now, more than ever, students will have the chance to connect with their peers because they are able to self regulate.
The headphones will allow the students to hear only desired sounds and conversations that they can handle. They can block some or most distracting background sounds to help them concentrate better.
The sensory seat will allow them movement that promote better engagement and redirect disruptive fidgeting behaviors. They are better able to focus when engaged in subtle movements. It gives them "just-the-right" fit to move and at the same time enables them to complete their work while moving.
These are just some of the benefits that my students will experience from your generous donation. God bless you always!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pia
Garden to Kitchen Initiative
Funded Oct 24, 2024Words cannot express our gratitude to your generous donation. My students were very excited when the packages arrived. It's like opening birthday presents! The smiles on their faces as they choose their chef hat and apron is priceless.
Since receiving the kitchen appliances, the students have learned how to make simple recipes using some of the harvested ingredients in the garden. They have learned how to make marinara sauce using the fresh ripe tomatoes. They can now make their own pasta sauce at home. They are looking forward to learning other simple recipes that they can make independently.
The tools and equipment are giving my students a strong foundation in functional life skills that enhance their cognitive development and emotional well-being. Thank you for giving them a head start in life.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pia
Going Green: Life Skills for Students with Disabilities Part 3
Funded Oct 16, 2023Thank you for your donation. Because of your generosity, the students continue to care for the environment.
When the packages arrived, the students were very excited. When they opened the boxes, they wanted to use food grinder and start composting, as well as set up the water barrel for the greenhouse.
In the classroom, the students learn how to care for plants. They learned that some plants do not survive the winter months. Having a greenhouse will protect the plants from the harsh cold weather. Even when they are in the greenhouse, plants still need heat and lights to survive.
During the winter months, the greenhouse will stabilize the environment by maintaining the temperature and protecting the plants from extreme cold. It will also allow the students to grow hardy crops, such as herbs, all winter. When students participate in hands-on gardening activities, they demonstrate more concern and willingness to care for living things.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pia
Going Green: Life Skills for Students with Disabilities Part 2
Funded Aug 3, 2023Thank you for your donation. Because of your generosity, the students learn how to care for the environment.
When the packages arrived, the students became very curious. When they opened the boxes, they were interested in learning what the items were for. They became even more excited when the school had a ground-breaking/unveiling ceremony for the greenhouse and composting center.
In the classroom, the students learn how to care for plants. They learned that some plants do not survive the winter months. Having a greenhouse will protect the plants from the harsh cold weather. Even when they are in the greenhouse, plants still need heat and lights to survive.
During the winter months, the greenhouse will stabilize the environment by maintaining the temperature and protecting the plants from extreme cold. It will also allow the students to grow hardy crops, such as herbs, all winter. When students participate in hands-on gardening activities, they demonstrate more concern and willingness to care for living things.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pia
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 12 other donors.Going Green: Life Skills for Students With Disabilities
Funded Jul 2, 2023Before anything else, I would like to thank you again for your generous donation and fulfilling the projects.
When the packages arrived, the students became very curious. When they opened the boxes, they were interested in learning what the items were for. They became even more excited when the school had a ground-breaking ceremony for the greenhouse and composting center.
In the classroom, the students learn that composting is environmentally responsible and allows schools to comply with New York's Recycling law. They learned that composting is good for the earth and a great way for students to learn about food, resource recovery, and closed-loop systems. Composting is a great way to bring the school together since it requires the the entire learning community to participate.
The practical, hands-on work of collecting food scraps for composting creates opportunities for the students to develop problem solving and communication skills. The students see the impact of composting in the environment and a better understanding of the importance of diverting food scraps and organic material from the landfill. They realize that composting and recycling allow students and staff to see first-hand how much they would be able to reduce their trash disposal.
Over time, the compost will enrich and build healthy soil. The compost will be ready by springtime. During the winter months, the greenhouse will stabilize the environment by maintaining the temperature and protecting the plants from extreme cold. It will also allow the students to grow hardy crops, such as herbs, all winter. When students participate in hands-on gardening activities, they demonstrate more concern and willingness to care for living things.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pia
This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Supporter and 7 other donors.Ready, FOCUS, Done! Part 2
Funded Oct 18, 2021Thank you very much for your donation. Words are not enough to describe the impact of your generosity. My students are able to focus better.
While wearing the headphones, my students hear only desired sounds and conversations that they can handle. They can block some or most distracting background sounds to help them concentrate better.
The sensory seat allows them movement that promote better engagement and redirect disruptive fidgeting behaviors. They are better able to focus when engaged in subtle movements. It gives them "just-the-right" fit to move and at the same time enables them to complete their work while moving.
The fidget toys has reduce the anxiety and stress of my students. It has helped the coordination and fine motor skills of my students.
These are just some of the benefits that my students manifested from your generous donation. God bless you always!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pia
Ready, FOCUS, done!
Funded Sep 26, 2021Words are not enough to thank you for your generous donation. The moment my students opened the boxes, they smiled and knew that the toys and sensory equipment are for them. My students helped me assemble the Balance Ball Chairs. The students who use the Balance Ball Chairs do not have to rock and tilt their school chair precariously. All they need to do is bounce and move the Balance chair in a safely manner. My students who use the Balance Disc Wobble Cushion Stability Core Trainer are now sitting upright, no longer slumped on their table while working. When the students seemed overwhelmed by the amount of work, they request for the Sensory Stress Ball, Stress Relief Fidget Balls or Light, Medium, Heavy Resistances, Sensory Stress and Anxiety Relief Squeeze Toys. When some of them are not able to get a sense of their body and start twirling or rocking, they reach out for the Ankle Weight or Weighted Vest or Weighted Bar. The occupational therapist use the massager to help in alerting students with a low arousal level.
While my students will always experience sensory issues or overload, they have the means to self-regulate that will help them behave appropriately and focus in school.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pia
Sensory Integration Activities For Children In The Autism Sp
Funded Sep 13, 2015My students are always overjoyed to participate in our class sensory activities! They just think they are having fun when they are actually working strenuously at building essential skills with their bodies. The donated sensory equipment has enabled us educators to make the lesson fun and creative. The activities look like turning work into play.
The resulting sensory exercises and activities helped my students fulfill their sensory needs and allowed them to focus on classroom activities. The students have more body awareness, and are able to calm down, hence minimize aggression. The students are more aware of their needs and are asking for the weighted blanket or weighted vest when they know they are having a hard time coping in class. There are times when the students will request to go to the sensory room to get the extra sensory input in order to get organized and attend better to a task. They are more self-confident because they are able to self-regulate.
On a daily basis, my students are engaged in and take ownership of their learning not only during sensory class but also throughout the day. Their independence and confidence in themselves have improved. The sensory equipment has made a positive impact on the lives of my students.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pia
Life Skills For Students With Multiple Disabilities
Funded Mar 15, 2014My students are always overjoyed to participate in our class cooking and gardening activities! They take pride in shopping for the ingredients that will be used in our weekly cooking activity. The donated cooking utensils have enabled us as educators to promote student knowledge of a wider variety of kitchen tools and types of food. The resulting cooking exercises target real life skill development so students learn to plan and prepare meals in a functional, balanced manner.
Our thematic unit study sponsored by your donations has also enhanced student math and social skills. Students have also been challenged to work collaboratively in small teams as educators work alongside them to address communication and community-based learning objectives in language arts and social studies, respectively.
The students have also designed, planted and continue to care for a vegetable, herb and flower garden in our school. The regular, hands-on tasks of caring for the plants, working collectively to harvest vegetables and maintaining record logs to promote comprehension of horticultural concepts has been a unique and life-changing experience for our students to treasure and grow from.
The students eagerly await the upcoming summer and fall harvest seasons to share and savor the fresh, delicious and healthy fruits of their garden labor.
On a daily basis, my students are engaged in and take ownership of their learning during cooking and gardening activities. Their independence and confidence in themselves has improved.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Pia
This classroom project was brought to life by Disney and 14 other donors.Writing Made Easy
Funded Dec 15, 2011I would like to express my gratitude for your generous donation to my classroom. The writing materials you donated helped my students every day. The tactile cards and the tracing maze encouraged my students to practice their handwriting in a fun way. Best of all, they wrote their first Valentine card using the writing implements with the weighted grips.
With your help, my students were able to have these vital resources needed to succeed in literacy learning. These written exercises support a learning environment that gives confidence to students with unique and physical challenges.
Once again, I would like to say thank you on behalf of my students who have utilized the newfound learning tools that you have sponsored. Education and learning happen because of your generosity.
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With gratitude,
Ms. Pia
This classroom project was brought to life by NEA Foundation and 13 other donors.