Mrs. Manzella's Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 6

• Chromebooks for Our Class

  Funded Oct 9, 2020

  As an educator, we know how important technology is to education. When the pandemic took us by surprise, we had to use that technology as quickly as possible to continue educating our students. In order to do so, all available technology needed to be sent home with students for remote learning. As a result, the building itself was left void of any technology. This technology allowed, students, teachers, staff, parents and administrators to remain in constant contact with each other, as well as continue to further their education.

  After a long spring and summer, students returned to us in hybrid form. By affording us this opportunity to purchase the chrome books, we have been able to bring some technology back into the building. Which is very much needed. Our students interact both hybrid and in person with this equipment. This interaction is essential for both educational purposes and mental well being.

  The new chrome books allow our students to use technology which is both necessary and easy to understand. Chrome books are both powerful and simple in operation. It is wonderful to have new technology to keep our students up to date and thriving. Thank you all so much for helping our students to continue to grow and develope.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Manzella

  This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and 168 other donors.

• Jump, Jump, Jumping Back In The School Year!

  Funded Oct 12, 2020

  First,I would like to thank each and everyone of you. You are all amazing, generous and I cant you enough. In a time where movement is so import and essential, you have made this task a lot easier and fun. Emphasize on the fun part!

  These trampolines have put a smile on my kids faces (as well as staff, we love them too!) and are killer workout as well. We have used them for obstacle courses, trampoline challenges, basketball shooting challenges, kickball, and just to jump and have fun. (pictures are amazing)

  My main goal for this equipment was to get them excited and moving. I mean who doesn't love trampolines? It took the fun factor and movement to another level. However, it did more then I had imagined it would. It brought some traits and leadership still I underestimated but was blown away. I began to see students who are normally shy really open up. In addition, I began to see students emerging with amazing creativity. I plan to incorporate this and expand on from now on.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Manzella

• We Can Have A Ball Together

  Funded Feb 28, 2012

  Thank you for this wonderful gift that you have given to my students.  This was not a learning experience for them but if you could only see how excited they were when I rolled the omnikin ball out.  At these grade levels they are really learning the basis of sharing, cooperation and teamwork.  This is instilled in every activity.  The omnikin ball forces them to work together and they do not even realize who much they have learned and benefited. 

  We work in a small area with high class numbers and this is the perfect way for students to all  be involved, be active and have a ball!  None of my students have ever used such equipment and thanks to your generosity they had and will have wonderful experiences with it.  Thank you for allowing my students to have the same wonderful experience that made me want to become a PE teacher.

  Thank you

  Ms. M”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Manzella

  This classroom project was brought to life by Seth Sprague Foundation and 6 other donors.

• Come Tumble For Our Teamwork

  Funded Jan 10, 2018

  Thank you so much for this wonderful donation. I have been using these mats for so many activities. The first and most important is using these for any activities that involve safety. Since I do like to do challenging and exciting activities this has been so needed. Your donations made this possible.

  One activity we do is the spider web. This activity involves lifting other students students throw a pretend spider web. This activity is not possible with out the mats. This is a activity to build character, community and trust. The younger ones can now do tumbling. These are all wonderful activities that were not possible before.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Manzella

• What An Awesome Web We Weave

  Funded Dec 8, 2016

  Thank you so much for your generous donation. This particular piece of equipment is used just the way it sounds, like a spider web. The major lesson around this is cooperation, teamwork, communication and a huge amount of trust. Students pretend its a real spiderweb. They need to get the whole team through the spider web holes without touching the web. They do this by assessing the different ways to get through, sharing ideas, trial and error and ultimately solve the problem as a group. The consequences for doing incorrectly or making mistakes is given as a group as well. This is used as early as kindergarten with the students using the bottom of the web to get through, all the way up to 5th grade where they are lifting each other and placing each other through the top holes of the web. As they get better, the lesson gets harder, such as only using a hole 2xs and closing it up. Everyone is involved and participating. Leaders emerge and shine in this game. The looks on there face when they are given that responsibility and trust on my part is priceless. This project adventure type game is emerging in PE classes and is being a factor that schools are being encouraged to do. Its amazing to see them take over the lesson.

  The reaction of every students that saw the big spider web was overwhelming. They had never seen anything like it, curiosity was peaked and they were ready to learn about it. It was a environment of excitement and fascination. It caught their attention immediately and they were ready to start. Every student could relate and loved that is was like "spider-man." They felt very proud that they were able to accomplish a task they felt was "too hard" and "impossible"

  In an extension of this lesson, we were able to attend an actual project adventure field trip. Through fund raisers in the school, were able to put those actual skills we used in those lessons into a real world application. The 4th and 5th grade students attended a field trip to Alley Pond Park, in Queens, NY. They completed all outdoor cooperative tasks in teams. At the end of the day they were treated to zip lining where they used all the skills listed above to complete it and a little dash of courage as well. (maybe more then a little) Ultimately in the end, the students need to see why they are learning things and how they will use it through their lifetime. This type of donations allowed me to do this is progressions and the students love it. This will be used every year after this and will evolve even more, as a learn different way to manifest it into my lessons. So in reality you enable me to also benefit from your donation by making me a stringer teacher.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Manzella

• Ball is Life...O.K. Maybe Not, But It's Fun

  Funded Mar 9, 2016

  To All Our Generous Donors,

  I would to take the time to take you so much for your generosity in funding my project to improve my schools Physical Education and recess time. It is truly amazing what a difference it has made to the students, as well as, my ability to have quality Physical Education classes. As a result of this donation, I am able to plan and executed basketball lessons that are inclusive and allow all students to have their own ball. I was unable to do this in the past and the students are very excited. In addition, I have seen a major jump in skill and confidence level amongst my younger students that benefit the most from being able to have consistent, hands-on material to work with.

  Recess time is so much fun for my students now. We have a large, underutilized yard for recess. My students are asking for use of this equipment from when they are doing morning line up. The yard is buzzing now with excitement and activity. The participation has doubled and the students are engaged and having a blast! They are practicing, playing group games and organizing their own basketball games amongst the other students.

  This gift was one that will be used to fullest. This adds to the vision I have for my students to allow them the quality of physical education I would like to present to them. Thank you once again for all your help.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Manzella